When I meet new people and tell them that I am from Moldova, they are usually very curious to find out as much information as possible about my country. There are lots of beautiful and special things about this country however we are not perfect and there are things which will sound pretty weird for people who were not born in Moldova. Let's start :)
1. Moldova? Where is it? Is it in..?
No, Moldova is not the river Moldau in Czech Republic and it has nothing to do with Maldives. Actually here it is. A tiny country situated between Ukraine and Romania.
I'm sure if I wasn't born in Moldova I would never know about it's existence. It is always pleasant to introduce it to new people.
2. You would never think it is in Moldova.
Welcome to Old Orhei! The views are extremely beautiful and the old monastery built on the edge of the hills is pretty impressive. This is the place where monks used to spend their lives. It is very quite there and this makes you feel relaxed and far from your busy life.
Bucuria! The best company ever. Chocolates, candies, toffees, candies fruit jelly... They produce everything! These are the best sweets I have ever eaten and I've tried a lot as I can not live a day without having something sweet.
4.We are bilingual!
That's something we are extremely proud about! There are several languages spoken in Moldova but the majority of population are bilingual, they speak Russian and Romanian. There are also spoken languages as Ukrainian and Gagauz.
5. Love wine? We were making it before the French!
Moldovan wines are delicious. Welcome to the wine cellars! The cellars extend from 100 km to 250 km. You can taste red, white or rose wine and also all kinds of sparkling wines.
6. Want something extreme? Try the RUTIERA journey.
Let me explain what "rutiera" means. It can be defined as public transport, a mini-bus, which stops wherever you want on its route. Rutiera usually develops big speed due to the drivers who race with other cars during driving. Why is it extreme? Because they screech to a halt when you point where you want to disembark and accelerate away when you are halfway out the door.
7. Moldovan fashion.
I don't mean that every person from Moldova would dress like this but you can often see:
- Men wearing sandals with socks and smart shoes with sport trousers
- Women wearing heels in the countryside where you don't have roads
- Labels as ADADIS, PUMbA and Naik
8. The carpets on the walls.
Carpets were meant to be on floor. NOT!
It is very popular in the countryside to put traditional carpets on the walls and also beds. This tradition has got a long history as the carpets were considered the family relics and they were transmitted from generation to generation.
9. Moldovan weddings.
Moldovan people always follow the traditions. Usually the guests at the wedding dance "Hora" which is a traditional Moldovan dance. Here are the videos of a proper Moldovan weddings with traditional dance and music. "PLEASE do not try at home!"
10. Cuisine
There are 3 main dishes :
Zama - a very healthy chicken soup with vermicelli, carrots, lovage and onion
Mamaliga - porridge made out of yellow maize flour which is served with pork meat, cheese and sour cream
Placinte - traditional pastry usually filled with cheese,egg and fennel
And something about Chişinău...
Maybe Chişinău is not a perfect city, we might have big, crater-like potholes in the roads which it's very difficult to avoid while driving (especially when there's no lighting). We might use the pictures of celebrities (hello Cheryl Cole!) for our hairdressers' salons without even asking their permission. That's why living or just visiting this city and this country provides a unique and unforgettable experience.
But we still love our country and our home city. These are some of my favourite pictures of Chişinău.
With love,
Margo x
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