Chisinau

peaceful people,good nationality food

I’ve been to Chisenau on five different occasions. The photo of the gates of the city is exactly as it appears until you get up close — then you see the squallor of a city that has given itself to a Communist form of government.

I have some dear friends who live in this city and they are what makes it worthwhile to my visits there. But if you are looking for a vacation spot, keep looking.

For an indepth journal of my impressions in Moldova, see my page at http://www.angelfire.com/nt/theology/moldov01.html

Go to the market near the bus station. Excellent people watching. Sit in the park with an ice cream. Go look at the Opera House and the craft stalls there. A guy with gold teeth called Victor sells clay Ocarinas. They are really cool.

Everything is cheap.

Fags = 10p – 50p for a pack.

Beer = 30p – 90p for a bottle

Room was cheap.

People nice.

Flights, however, expensive.

I really liked Moldova because it was my first experience in what i would call a second world country. their culture isn’t wasteful, but thats not by choice either. I was here for a training camp and a tournament, and so I had some time to snoop around and see the site. Unless you have a reason to be there though, I wouldn’t go out of my way. But for me, I would live there, modestly, remebering what its like to not have it all at my beck and call.

The Moldovan capital still has a lot of the characteristics of pre-capitalism eastern Europe. I’ve been there twice.