Bulgarian Transportation of the Week: Donkey Carts!
Friday, March 28, 2008
Donkey Carts! (магарска талига!)
I have no idea if that's grammatically correct Bulgarian
One of the most interesting modes of transportation in Bulgaria. These carts are predominately used by the Roma. They are distinct on the roads and always make for a good photo opportunity. Sadly, according to the Peace Corps Bulgaria Volunteer Handbook, section 23, subsection 1.1.2 "Volunteers are expressly prohibited from using the following forms of transportation:...Horse or donkey carts" (the manual also prevents us from operating vehicles powered by steam. Yeah...I have no idea either). Perhaps if we petition the Peace Corps to allow us if we wear helmets. This plan, however, may attract stoning from local children. But I digress...
The donkey cart is one of the most interesting forms of transit in Bulgaria. It's safe to say that every city in Bulgaria has donkey carts. I have even seen them dodge traffic in the capital, Sofia. They can be quite a road hazard. I mean, out in rural Missouri, I've had to stop to let a herd of cows cross a dusty road. I never would have imagined seeing a similar situation with four lanes of traffic in a metropolis of over a million. Understandably, I had heard rumors of a national ban on donkey carts one public roads. This, of course, would hit one segment of the population very hard. However, I was unable to find any support whilst researching for this article.
Aside from traffic hazards and potentially comical pictures (photo to the lower left was not taken in Bulgaria), donkey carts also contribute the hazard of poop. Lots and lots of poop. You can tell you're in a donkey cart area with the stacks of poop (literally) littering the street. Bonus points if the poop is on a traditional cobblestone street. It gives a "blast from the past" feeling.
The bott
om line: donkey carts give an aura of traditionalism regardless where you are in Bulgaria. They make a good photo opportunity to show a "Lexus and Olive Tree" comparison of life in Bulgaria. They also are impractical (and a illegal for PCVs regardless) except for local travel. Nevertheless, I'll never get tired of hearing the clip-clopping of a mammalian drawn wagon.
J-Dub "The Duke" Paperstax
Posted byJimmy at 12:01 AM
Labels: Trasportation of the Week
contesting second sentence.
Also, a friend told me a funny story about the Mayor of Sofia complaining on a live news feed about the problem of donkey on the road where they were standing. Basically, it is a busy road where donkey carts obstruct traffic and whatnot. Anyway, during the news feed, someone on a donkey cart rode by. The camera person followed the donkey cart as it rode off into the sunset, and then when the camera cut back, the Mayor was seen shaking his head in frustration while looking at the ground. That's live news for ya, Boyko.
hahah, aren't they great! God, I miss that =)
Bulgarian donkey carts sound fascinatng. But where did you find the first photo? It is of my husband and his sister in Ireland in 1970 or 1971!