Blogs from Tiraspol, Transnistria, Moldova, Europe

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Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol December 30th 2019

30th Dec: We left Odessa and drove to the Trasnistrian/Moldovan border. The journey didn't take too long and I slept through most of it. The borders weren't too bad, just a bit tedious as the staff were too busy playing computer games to actually do any work. Also, because we were entering Moldova via Transnistria, our guide had to take all our passports to the Moldovan immigration booth to it stamped as we needed the proper Moldovan entry stamp or there would be problems when we leave Moldova. Transnistria, or Pridnestrovia as it is known in Russian, is an unrecognised, breakaway state. It is considered part of Moldova by the UN and only other breakaway states recognise it as its own country. The journey then took another hour or so to reach Tiraspol, the capital city. ... read more
Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Civil Registry

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol October 5th 2016

My cycling trip from Kishinev (capital of Moldova) to Transnistria (conflict zone) was 70km and was easy to do. So after a good breakfast i started around 10:00 and I arrived about 2pm in Transnistria where border control is present. Even though you are still officially in Moldova, it is a conflict zone so they want to check and see your passport. Then they give you a ticket where it stands that you must leave within 12 or 24 hours. They give me a ticket of 24 hours. It is special to be here in transnistria. The conflict zone since the Soviet era did not want to reunite with Moldova and isolated remained surrounded by the red Soviet army. It is, Therefore, a zone-which you normally can entrance but need out again within 24 hours. It ... read more
At the streets of Tiraspol
The blue plastic money

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol September 18th 2016

Ever wanted to know what life was like back in the USSR? Transnistria - a 'state' within a state, recognised only by themselves - is about as close as you can get. When Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union, a sliver of land just to the east of the Dniester River didn't want to go with them. There was a short civil war in 1992 which was ended by a ceasefire. These days, the Moldovan government recognises Transnistria as an autonomous territorial unit; Transnistria regards itself as an independent republic but is not recognised as one by any UN member state. Nevertheless this "country that isn't" has gone on to develop its own constitution, government, parliament, flag, national anthem, currency, military, police, postal system and licence plates. This promised to be interesting. No place proud ... read more
Communist Block
City Hall
Notable Transnistrians

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol March 5th 2016

A group of girls became rather loud. It was Friday night. They had consumed a few drinks. One in particular, had clearly had consumed one too many! The volume rose further. The scene was probably being repeated all over Europe. It wasn't unusual, but in Tiraspol, Transnistria it seemed to be so. We were sitting in 7 Fridays on 25th October Street. There were few people in the restaurant and few passing on the street outside. We are familiar with the term ..... quiet night in ......but perhaps not the quiet night out! In Tiraspol, you would use to the latter term - it seemed dead. We had dined on a very good pizza and were drinking Russian beer (at 15 Transnistrian Roubles a pint), whilst surveying the Tiraspol nightlife. The menu in 7 Fridays had ... read more
Tiraspol
Tiraspol
Tiraspol

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol March 3rd 2016

Transnistria. Trans-Dniestr. Transdniestria. Pridnestrovian Moldovan Soviet Socialist Republic. The country that doesn’t exist! According the majority of the world, the enclave in the east of Moldova, isn’t there. It isn’t an East / West thing either in terms of recognition. Western Europe doesn’t recognise it as a country and neither does Russia. Moldova – who believes it is still their territory - certainly doesn’t, but has chosen to tolerate it in it’s own backyard since the brief but intense conflict in 1992. The rest of the world was looking the other way, when Transnistria separatists decided to take the fight to Moldova concerned about the new nation looking West when they wished to look east to Mother Russia. It is quoted that over 500 died in fighting, before an uneasy truce was made with the Russian ... read more
I Love Tiraspol
Tank Monument
Christmas Cathedral

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol March 31st 2013

So, onto the rest of Moldova, by which I mean 'anything other than Chisinau and surrounds'. A rented car plus driver seemed like a solid enough plan, and appeared, even prior to departure, to be the kind of arrangement which would make 2 separate areas of Moldova visitable in the context of one full day. The first port of call was destined to be the most rural location of the lot - the monastery, cliffs and caves at Orheiul Vechi, and the place which the guide book described as the country's most spectacular sight. Visibility wasn't favourable enough to view this spot in the most glorious context, but the rocky edges of the cliffs, coupled with the sight of the river in the valley down below, and the monastery perched atop the highest plain was enough ... read more
Tank (Tiraspol; Transniestr)
City emblem (Bender; Transniestr)
The fortress (Bender; Transniestr)

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol July 10th 2012

Yesterday evening we had made arrangements for accomodation in Tiraspol and had planned to leave quite early in the morning. But in the morning we found an sms from the host saying we should arrive only around 2pm. So, we spend the morning at the hotel using internet and blogging. We left eventually by a bus a bit before noon. As mentioned before, Tiraspol is located in Transnistria area, which is an autonomous breakaway republic in Moldova. We were kind of nervous because we had heard officials at border crossing were asking for bribes and harrassing westerners also in other ways. On the way it however became obvious that what we should have been worried about was the traffic and the driving style of our maxitaxi driver. He (and other drivers) were making insane passings all ... read more
Tiraspol had its share of Soviet style monuments
On a tank in Tiraspol

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol August 8th 2009

Transnistria Wikipedia - Transnistria Having met our new dutch friends, Vicky no longer felt obliged to go to a territory where she might never come back from so I (Fiona) headed off for the adventure! Obviously, given the night before it was rather a later start than planned... but we made it to the central bus station around midday and headed off to Transnistria in a negotiated private car with some other randoms. After some standard perilous driving, we arrived at the border and definitely on our best behaviour. Now we'd heard all sorts of stories about the border control - bribes, fines, threats etc etc. We had prepared ourselves with some dollars and thought we could blag it. But, suprisingly, absolutely no need. It was a perfectly simple border crossing! We filled out a form, ... read more

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol September 2nd 2008

Early morning we got ready to do a day trip to Tiraspol, capital of the self proclaimed republic of Transnistria, perhaps only Russia recognizes it, anyway you cant stay for longer than 6-8 hours in the area if you try to spend the night, will be lots of hassle, there is a border we need to cross and we heard bad things about the way customs deal with foreigners says our homestay host but we really wanted to get there so we wing it. took the minibus to the Central bus station, where we were supposed to meet Tuuka and Yarom our 2 Finnish friends we met on the bus from Brasov to Chisinau. Got there no sign of them so we looked up the terminal where the minibus leaves for Tiraspol, found it and bought ... read more
TIRASPOL
TIRASPOL
TIRAPOL

Europe » Moldova » Transnistria » Tiraspol June 30th 2006

Day 50, 20th July. Sângera - Benderi (TRANSDNIESTRA) - Tiraspol - Stepova (UKRAINE) Andrew swam across the lake early to wish us well on our way, and we carried on east along the road in hot weather again. The roads were different than we were used to. Virtually empty of people, no horses and carts, no workers in the fields. Just before Benderi the landscape became wild and completely unused; then, a checkpoint with a Russian tank guarding it, we were waved through. Then the border control of the self-proclaimed Trandniestran Moldovan Republic. It was a time-capsule of the Soviet Union, hammer and sickle emblems on the guards caps and also on the coins we found out later. There were a collection of little huts, and in one we were ‘sold’ transit visas for $5 each! ... read more
Communist Signs
Tiraspol
Bendery




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