From Baltic to the Black Sea #11
Chisinau, Moldova
10 September 1999
Dear all,
Yesterday, I visited Transdnestria but missed the bus to Comrat, capital of Gagauzia. Felt quite sad at missing the opportunity to stay at a Gagauz (a Christian Orthodox Turkish tribe) home. I rang my Gagauz friend to apologise. No bus to remote Comrat until the following morning, but I have to set off for Kiev in the afternoon. Felt very disappointed at failing myself and friends, especially knowing the legendary hospitality of the Turkish/Turkic peoples.
To comfort myself (lame excuse), I had dinner at the city’s most expensive restaurant – a fantastic meal at a place where lots of personal bodyguards and drivers (all dressed in suits and ties) of the diners stood outside waiting – the Lonely Planet says ministers dine here. Seeing the intimidating crowd, I almost didn’t go enter the restaurant – I thought some mafia chiefs were in – which was probably true – ministers, businessmen and mafia – they were probably all the same. In any case, I was the only diner in casuals.
Anyway, it was an enjoyable Moldovan meal – Moldovan/Romanian cuisine is sophisticated compared to Ukrainian or Baltic cuisine and the meal cost only US$10. The waiters dressed in tuxedos and light candles at your table. They speak English too and the one serving me was an engineering graduate – sad fact of life in ex-Soviet states. I also met a group of World Bank officials and had some red wines with them.
This evening I will take an overnight train to Kiev, capital of Ukraine. I will arrive there smelling like a pig, for the city’s water supply has been shut down for repairs and I couldn’t take a bath. The well-trained staff at Hotel National, one of the best in Chisinau, had taken the liberty not to inform me in advance. The smiling front manager told me that I was lucky as I had washed up the day before. I am indeed impressed by their fantastic service and kind consideration.
Pray that I will survive the Moldovan-Ukrainian border checks – crossing ex-USSR borders are mini-adventures by themselves.
See you guys again in Kiev.
regards,
Wee Cheng
Did you like this article?
Share it
Place a comment| Now you can also comment with your Facebook Account |
Rate this story
Follow Us
Subscribe to the BootsnAll articles RSS feed
Related articles found in:
Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe Travel Stories, Europe, Europe Travel Stories, From Baltic to the Black Sea, Moldova, Moldova Travel Stories, Tan Wee ChengRead similar items found across the BootsnAll Travel Network:
From Baltic to the Black Sea: TWC’s Odyssey Through The …
From Baltic to the Black Sea #9
Be the 1st to write Kiev Travel Stories
What are the stupidest things travelers argue about? BootsnAll staff writer Jessica Spiegel talks about the ones she hates most, and includes a plea that we never argue about them again.
[Read more]
If you are wondering whether it would be worth it to bring your young children on a trip with you, reading Rachel Denning’s experiences and advice will likely convince you.
[Read more]
Somali pirates and Halloween pirates seem to get all the press these days, but there is a rich history out there of the real thing. Steve Bramucci takes us to five places where pirate tourism is easy to find.
[Read more]
Would you like to pretend you are Michael Palin, or perhaps someone else who gets to stay in historic colonial hotels in the East? Here’s a cheaper way, as Inga Kastrone takes us on a tour if 8 of the finest of these landmark properties.
[Read more]
You are probably aware of the big wine industries in Argentina and Chile, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Eileen Smith lives in Chile and here she explains where to look and what to taste throughout the continent.
[Read more]
