One more in my exotic country series - Moldova

I should have posted this earlier because this was actually more an extension of my prior trip to Romania. So basically every now and then i go find a random country on the atlas and plan a trip. Moldova is one of those that ended up on my list. It was right across the border from Romania and a handy addition to Bucharest Because it is generally off the beaten track so first up a bit of background. Moldova is one of the countries that emerged when the Soviet Union collapsed, but before it was integrated into the USSR in the 1940s it was by and large Romanian. And to this day this Romanian vs Russian debate can be rather sensitive to some people in the country. For the traveller though it does mean you have a strange mix of both Moldova is a very small country. The capital Chişinău is small, well maintained, but not much to see particularly and you can finish it in 0.5-1 day, with or without a guide. Like a lot of the former Soviet Union it’s actually incredibly safe to walk around. Your bigger frustration is probably communication just have google translate handy and set for Russian or Romanian There are 3-4 main itineraries that lead out of the capital. The most popular one is a day trip to Transnistria. It’s a narrow strip of land that has declared itself independent from Moldova but is recognized by no other country in the world (no not even Russia though Russia does bankroll it). For all purposes and intents it’s a defacto independent country. The architecture and parts of society are still very Soviet. Monuments, tanks, model labourer awards, parades. That’s more of a cover. You do run into a bit of a chicken and egg problem - the independent authorities of Transnistria know foreigners come here for Soviet tourism, so they are more than happy to indulge and in parts of the country there are Soviet themed cafes that are clearly gimmicks for visitors. Do note that beneath the cover of this all it’s anything but a communist state in fact chunks of the economy is controlled by one single oligarch. It is nonetheless a sufficiently different experience vs the rest of Moldova and is worth your day trip (book via local agencies) Moldova is also well known for its wineries and multiple vineyards organize visits. I am not much of a drinker and did not visit any but most tourists I’ve met dedicated at least a day to it Moldova is interestingly well connected by flights to and from Turkey, but if you are doing this as a side trip there are overnight buses and trains into the country from Bucharest Overall a minimalist itinerary of Moldova is around three days, but you can also add a day or two for other side visits to destinations like the old orhei monastery. Then it’s a been there done that one more country on your country body count list….