Moldova
Until I met Natalia — a native Moldovan — I’d never thought about visiting this country. I had to google “Moldova” to learn how this corner of Europe has been conquered and occupied by almost every major European and central Asian power. Moldova’s borders have changed many times and are still changing.
Moldova is the size of Maryland. Nine rivers meander peacefully through its rolling hills, the highest of which is only 430 meters above sea level. Locals will tell you that their country’s most scenic spot is the viewpoint of The Heart of Moldova, a heart-shaped island on the Ukrainian border. Moldova’s most visited place is the Orheiul Vechi, an historic cave complex on a narrow bend of the Răut River where man-made caves have been inhabited since the Stone Age, and eventually became an Orthodox monastery in the XIV century.
Moldova is the most agrarian country in Europe with 57% of its 2.6 million citizens living in rural areas. Although Moldova is one of Europe’s poorest countries, there’s a refreshing simplicity about a place where people get their water from wells, use horses and donkeys for transport and grow their own food.
With fresh, organic food and with vineyards covering 5% of the country, Moldova is a dining and drinking paradise. Every meal I had here was memorable, from the country lunches to the feasts served at wineries. Note: Although Moldova is the 139th largest country by area, it is the 20th largest wine producing country in the world.
Moldova’s capital and largest city is Chişinău, population about 500,000. This is an attractive, modern city graced by early XX century buildings and plenty of green city parks.
I timed my visit to be in Chişinău on August 27, the 32nd anniversary of Moldova’s independence. National Day is celebrated with speeches, music and parades. Click the video above to see the opening ceremony and part of the national anthem.
After President Maia Sandu made her speech, the crowds were treated to three of the best marching bands I’ve ever seen. The video above is 27 minutes of marvelous music coupled with cool choreography. Can you play a trumpet while dancing?
In a small country like Moldova, it’s possible to meet the president. After the bands finished playing, President Maia Sandu mingled with the crowd to shake hands with citizens … and even a few non-citizens like me! Thanks to her media connections, Natalia and I were interviewed on TV about our travels. Here’s the first interview.
Finally, here are two vlogs Natalia produced of our Moldovia road trip, going from north to south.
Chişinău is the least visited capital city in Europe. With this blog, our two TV interviews and these videos, Natalia and I hope to change that.
Even though I watched all your videos from Romania, Moldova Ukraine, I like more those vlogs. Your excellence of narratives gives me more of a real picture of your travels and it’s always full of information. Stay safe, and thank you
Nick…you and Natalia have given your followers a great intimate tour of Romania, a little bit of Ukraine, and Moldova. You are the absolutely the opposite of the “ugly” American traveler. Keep it up!
I was lucky enough to travel to these 3 countries in 2019 with a small group, but your individual travel shows so much more of the people, the food, the wine. and the land that it truly makes to return. Thank you.
I am so impressed with Moldova — and their language, of which I have now heard a generous slice. The more I hear, the more I feel I would love to know it. I wonder whether it is considered one of the South Slavic languages. It reminds me of the language spoken by a family I knew in Cleveland Ohio who were from the city of Llyubliana, which is in Yugoslavia, and theirs is a South Slavic language. There are many delightful tongue-twistings in these languages. And they are completely different from the Russian language.. Definitely quite different.
I watched and listened to the ENTIRE marching band performance. I absolutely love marching bands. The tunes they played, or some of them, were rather familiar. One, I think, was “Hernando’s Hideaway”. Others seemed to be from the Vaudeville tradition. I must not forget to mention the food: FABULOUS.
Natalia is a talented vlogger! And so nice to see you, Nick, in your native habitat — traveling and graciously playing the role of guest. It’s refreshing to see an American who isn’t desperate to talk, talk, talk all the time about himself. When you do speak of yourself, you almost always relate your culture to their culture, so it’s interesting to everyone. Among the many benefits of following your journey is learning how to behave away from home (and maybe even at home).