Pochtalion Pechkin at work

For those who have no idea what the title means, the link below is a must-to-see. As a child, I loved this animation character, and even then understood that the local mailman Pechkin took rules too seriously. And yet, he loved his job, and everybody loved him....

Mailman has been such a special profession, over centuries this was the person who kept the remotest villages in touch with the world, carried important messages, life-saving parcels, love letters - his bags stuffed with stories and secrets. One of the most beautiful Chinese movies I have ever seen was about a postman, who has been delivering post his whole life. In the end he leaves for one last journey visiting the rural mountain communities together with his son, who is overtaking the job. Amazing scenery, tranquility, philosophical depth...and a postman, on his tiring journey, dutifully treading his path.

Ok, now lets return to reality and every day life. Maybe postman once was a noble profession, but it is hard to believe in it nowadays. Especially in Georgia, a post office is a mystical place for me. The system seems to be constructed to discourage people from using the post office services. And I'm not complaining - listen to the facts:

1.It is always so hard to FIND the post office. I couldn't find any photo of the post office building, but usually I look for the most run down house on the street, often with bars on the windows, and a tiny A4 format piece of paper on the door that mentions "POST". It looks something like that:

It says that the post office moved to another place - but there the sign looked almost the same

2.Once you get to the post office, you have to know how it operates. And it can be different in different places. If you want to send stuff, just bring it with you, and there you can get all the envelopes, stamps and everything you need. Don't bring your crazy ideas about just buying stamps - why do you need them after all? If you are persistent, you will be sent to another office next door; in a smaller office you might even get to buy those stamps - and a shrug with shoulders as a bonus.

Interior of one small post office, recorded by one German traveler in 2008. He seemed quite charmed and probably enjoyed his stay here quite a lot!

3.When you are sending stuff, it is always better to know the name of countries in Georgian or in Russian. And be prepared to pay quite much, too. I heard the fast delivery service in Tbilisi costs the same by Georgian Post and by DHL. And to send even a letter abroad can cost ~2 EUR, depending on the weight. So if you didn't get a Christmas postcard from me, please don't take it personally!

4. When you want to receive anything, you should know what it is, when it supposed to arrive, and look out for it in advance. Some of my friends learned the hard way that most of the parcels are sent to one specific post branch in Tbilisi. Mailmen usually do not bring letters or parcels at home - and nobody uses postboxes!

Ant this is why. Photo taken by Simon Chirgwin, http://flic.kr/p/8DdQAQ

So, mailmen come to your home, and bring a small piece of paper which says that you received something at a post office. It has a code and a post office's address, where you have to go and take it. And if its worth exceeds 300GEL - pay custom fee, 18%.
 Sometimes mailman cannot reach the person - if nobody is at home (and postbox is not an option), he can stick the post office note to the door. Today elevator at our house was not working, so I found mine stuck to the door of elevator itself. It's worth to read whatever you find new on your way home!

Whenever I visit a post office, I get the feeling that my case is somewhat special. Several times I was asked, what it is that I got (how can I know - you have my letter, people!). Once my first name was not written, and it caused some puzzle behind the counter. Another time I wanted to send a little thicker envelope, and it became an object of consultations for quite some time. I always wear my best smile to the post office :)

Oh well. At least there are no queues there, ever!