The “modi modi” man

Like all cities, Tbilisi can be a difficult place to park a car but help is at hand. Almost every conceivable place that can accommodate a car is watched over by a man who will help you park, watch over your vehicle while you are gone and help you reverse out when you return.

The tall person calls these parking attendants “modi modi” men. “Modi” is the Georgian word for “come” and the parking attendants shout it to let the driver know it is safe to reverse out of the parking place into the street.

The “modi modi” men are all self employed and charge a fee of 20-50 tetri which they collect when you return to your car.

If it is a long street there may be several “modi modi” men, each with their own section.

Each “modi modi” man carries a stick that he waves vigorously when directing drivers in and out of a parking space. The tall person likes the “modi modi” sticks and has asked De to get him one for Christmas. He said he will use it to direct the little person to bed each night.