It could’ve been deadly.
On an isolated road in southern Armenia – close to the Iranian border, I attempted to hitchhike over the mountains from Meghri to Kapan.
But after a lack of traffic, I let a rough, chain-smoking taxi driver persuade me to accept his ride.
I agreed to $20 for the 60 kilometer trip.
It was a good move.
The Meghri to Kapan Road
No vehicles, only the odd truck, mostly stopped because of the snow and ice coating the road. A few, with chains, still ventured forward.
However, even our car got in serious trouble as we slid down the road and halted just short of the edge (it would be my second-icy road disaster within as many days in Armenia).
The driver was shitting himself.
And I confess, it got my heart racing.
But we spun out of it and slowly backed down-hill to a dry patch of road, before attempting the icy slope again.
On the outskirts of Kapan, we stopped at a petrol station.
Soon I noticed a guy SMOKING A CIGARETTE RIGHT NEXT TO THE PETROL PUMP.
F*ck !!!
Deciding not to push my luck further, I walked away from the gas station and awaited the taxi from a safe distance.
It’s one thing to die an icy death; but another extreme to be burnt alive.
We finally reached Kapan city, stopping in the quiet river valley downtown.
Thankful to have arrived without accident, I tipped him. He thanked me. His expression said, Yeah, I really worked for this extra cash.
Neither of us had expected such a mission.
Travels in Armenia – 2011