Woman cyclist seen in Gyumri streets every day
Before the first snowfall in Gyumri, one could see a 60-year-old woman riding a bicycle in the city streets.
Lyuda Bilbilidi was born in Gyumri and never wanted to live anywhere else, despite her deep Greek roots. Bicycle has become a major means of transportation for her.
"I do not use fixed-run taxis because I cannot bear loud music and overcrowding," says Lyuda Bilbilidi.
In 2010, she twice went to Yerevan on her bike. The journeys took her 12 and 8 hours respectively. She tried to get to Tbilisi but had to return from Alaverdi.
"It was a difficult ordeal for me. I had to return because of my ill health," said Lyuda.
"Usually I wear headphones in order not to hear the street noise and unpleasant replicas. Twice I was hit with stones, once on the head. I was injured but I was not angered at the world."
It is already forty years Lyuda has been wearing pants and cutting her hair short.
"If they like me, they will not pay attention to my appearance. I have never spruced up. I used to smoke but at the age of 30 I gave it up as I realized that smoking was harmful to my health," she said.
After the 1988 earthquake, Lyuda's hands ached for a long time.
"I could not even hold a glass. But I was not discouraged or disappointed. I saw evil living inside people and I learnt to love people and life even more. Every day, I lift this bike with these hands and take it to my apartment on the second floor," said Lyuda.
