Blogs from Chisinau, Centre, Moldova, Europe

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Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau December 24th 2022

Why Moldova? This was a question we were asked repeatedly. For me, it was a last minute trip as my Christmas plans and backup plans were canceled. I had seen this trip listed and was curious: wine cave? Cycling? Trains? Yup! I knew a couple of people in this group of eleven women and one man. We flew to Bucharest where we quickly made it thru customs, were picked up and taken to the train station. We had about 5 hours to kill before our trip, so we just hung out in a coffee store inside the station, occasionally harassed by a territorial / homeless man. The station was fine and decorated a bit for Christmas, but aside from a couple places, you need cash to pay for things, especially the toilet. Our train came a ... read more
Dinner at Taifa's
Cherry Bar
Memorial park

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau August 28th 2021

Das Zimmer kostete bei Booking. Com mit samt aller meiner Genius 2 Vorteile 49.00 Euro, bar 42.00, so viel zu den günstigen Konditionen. Seit der Unabhängigkeit wird hier die lateinische Schrift verwendet, damit kann ich wenigstens lesen, was ich nicht verstehe. Eine kleine Verbesserung. Nachdem ich bis in den Nachmittag im Zimmer war, entschied ich mich doch noch für etwas Tourismus und nahm den Trolley Bus ins Zentrum (10 cent). Auch hier wird die Unabhängigkeit gefeiert, nach dem Zerfall der Sowjetunion wurden die Staaten alle etwa zeitgleich unabhängig. Deshalb taumle ich also von einer Festivität in die nächste. Hier spielen Schnittblumen eine große Rolle, viele haben einen Strauß dabei. Wahrscheinlich gibt es auch eine Militärparade, so wie letzte Woche in Kiev. Jedenfalls wimmelt es in der Stadt von Polizei. Corona gibt es nicht und ich habe ... read more

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau August 28th 2021

Das Zimmer kostete bei Booking.com mit samt aller meiner Genius 2 Vorteile 49.00 Euro, bar 42.00. So viel zu den guten Preisen dort.? Seit der Unabhängigkeit wird hier die lateinische Schrift verwendet, damit kann ich wenigstens lesen, was ich nicht verstehe. Eine kleine Verbesserung. Nachdem ich bis in den Nachmittag im Zimmer war, entschied ich mich doch noch für etwas Tourismus und nahm den Trolley Bus ins Zentrum (10 cent). Auch hier wird die Unabhängigkeit gefeiert, nach dem Zerfall der Sowjetunion wurden die Staaten alle etwa zeitgleich unabhängig. Deshalb taumle ich also von einer Festivität in die nächste. Hier spielen Schnittblumen eine große Rolle, viele haben einen Strauß dabei. Wahrscheinlich gibt es auch eine Militärparade, so wie letzte Woche in Kiev. Jedenfalls wimmelt es in der Stadt von Polizei. Corona gibt es nicht und ich habe ... read more
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Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau January 1st 2020

1st Jan: The journey from Bender to Chișinău didn't take took long, only a hour or two if I remember correctly. The journey was pretty smooth sailing even the 'border' between Transnistria and Moldova proper was quick and straight forward. There wasn't much to see on the journey as it was dark outside. When we reached our hotel, it felt like I was back in the real world. Our hotel felt like a palace compared to the place we had stayed in Transnistria, in reality it probably wasn't that nice, but it was a definite step up. After checking in and chilling for a bit, we decided to head out for some dinner. Since it was New Year's Day, not too many places were open. We had really wanted to try Andy's Pizza as it is ... read more
Cosmos Hotel
Chişinău
National Hotel

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau May 7th 2017

In the morning we went by coach with our Moldovan guide, Natalia, to Orhei Vechi . First we visited a small museum with various archaeological finds. Following this we walked up to a very small monastery church carved into the rock. As we weren't going to be having lunch until mid afternoon I bought a pretzel from a girl selling them part way up the hill to the monastery. It didn't taste as good as I thought as it took all the moisture away from my mouth! The monastery church was very atmospheric. In the corridor, leading down to the church, was what I presumed to be the monk reading aloud. The church was filled with the smell of incense and the flickering of candles, including people crossing themselves in front of the various icons. This ... read more

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau May 6th 2017

From the railway station to our hotel was a market, which looked more like a car boot sale. The unusual thing was that all the items were laid on the floor. It included old TVs, mobile phones, many clothes and shoes. We were staying at the Hotel Cosmos which certainly looked very soviet in style. The hotel had 22 floors but I don't think there was anyone staying higher than floors seven or eight. There didn't seem to be many guests, apart from us and the players in a Moldovan football team. Some of met our Moldovan guide, Natalia, for a short walking tour of Chisinau, the capital of Moldova. I liked Chisinau, and it was certainly not as bad as some of the descriptions I had read about it before the trip. I felt very ... read more
Our Moldovan guide, Natalia, holding up a Soviet Union passport!
Parliament building
Cricova!

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau May 6th 2017

Left Manchester on Friday 5th from Liverpool to Bucharest. The flight was with Blue Air, a Romanian low cost airline, who I've never heard of before. I was lucky to have all spaces free next to me so I was able to stretch out. No food was provided apart from a small sweet given before we landed! Landed on time and then met my pre-booked taxi to take me from the Airport to the Railway station. I tried to explain where I was going to visit in Moldova but I had problems with my pronunciation and so it took some time for him to understand where I was going. Had some time to wait at Bucharest airport to meet rest of the group I was travelling with. I was travelling with Lupine Travel and there was ... read more
Wheels!
Looking from our carriage

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau September 15th 2016

"Why are you going to Moldova?" asked the Romanian border officer. "Why are you going where?" you might ask. The average European may have heard of this country wedged between Romania and the Ukraine, but the average person from outside of Europe very likely has not. Certainly before I set out travelling, I had only heard of Moldova because the country's football team occasionally popped up on fixture list for European qualification campaigns - I believe England played them home and away in qualification for the 2014 World Cup - and because I saw it on a map. It is very much Europe's final frontier of sorts - its last unknown state. So to answer the Romanian border officer's question, I was going to Moldova because no-one has heard of it and therefore I was intrigued. ... read more
Grand Dining Hall
Moldovan Parliament Building
Inside The Cathedral Of Christ's Nativity

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau June 7th 2016

The countries of the former Soviet Union hold a special appeal for your intrepid travel writer, partly due to the difficulties Australians face in obtaining a visa. The life of a traveller includes destinations that are more challenging to get to, which can add to the allure of travelling there. To be honest I knew next to nothing about Moldova before I began chatting with an online friend over the last few months, but once my interest was piqued I did some research into the country as a potential travel destination. To my surprise Australians don't require a visa in advance to visit Moldova, as opposed to the other countries of the former Soviet Union. This proved the catalyst for a visit to Moldova which shares a border with Ukraine and Romania, and pondering the dilemma ... read more
Orthodox church
Lovely boulevard
Building in the city

Europe » Moldova » Centre » Chisinau March 18th 2016

It was a Bank Holiday in Moldova. We wondered why it was so quiet in the streets of Chisinau. International Women's Day apparently. It was worldwide, but the Other Half didn't get a day off in the UK or she could have added Transnistria to her collection. An open air concert was in full swing. Well, not quite - but it was happening. The combined total crowd was about 150. The compere was a reincarnation of a 60's version of Sonny Bono. He looked pleased with himself, as he introduced the top acts of Moldovan music. The enthusiasm of the crowd suggested perhaps, but the numbers did not. The Matt Munro of Moldova came on. He failed to ignite the crowd. A blonde bombshell spruced herself up in the changing area - a van - and ... read more
Chisinau
Victory Monument
Cathedral of Theodor Tiron




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