My Country-MOLDOVA(travel guide)

Moldova  is a small land-locked country in Eastern Europe, north of the Balkans, surrounded by Romania to the southwest, across the Prut river, and Ukraine to the northeast.

 Understand

The capital of Moldova is Chişinău. The local language is Romanian, based on the Latin alphabet, but Russian is widely used. Moldova is a multiethnic republic that has suffered from violent ethnic conflict. In 1994, this conflict led to the creation of the self-proclaimed Transnistria Republic in eastern Moldova, which has its own government and currency but is not recognized by any other country. Economic links have been re-established between these two parts of Moldova despite failure in political negotiations. The major religion in Moldova is Orthodox Christian.

Moldova's population is occupied mainly in food production and processing. Once known as "the garden" of the Soviet Union, Moldova has now lost most of its traditional Russian markets for agricultural products and is exploring new international markets.

Climate

Continental cold and snowy winters, mild springs and autumns, and warm to hot summers.

Terrain

Landlocked. Rolling steppe, gradual slope south towards the Black Sea. Well endowed with various sedimentary rocks and minerals including sand, gravel, gypsum, and limestone. Natural hazards : Experiences landslides (57 cases in 1998) due to extensive soil erosion from poor farming methods

Elevation extremes : lowest point: Dniester River 2 m
highest point: Dealul Balanesti 430 m

History

Formerly part of Romania, Moldova was forcefully incorporated into the Soviet Union at the close of World War II.
 Independence - 27 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday - Independence Day, 27 August (1991)
Constitution - new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979

Although independent from the USSR since 1991, Russian forces have remained on Moldovan territory east of the Dniester River supporting the Slavic minority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed a "Transnistria" republic.

The poorest nation in Europe, Moldova became the first European (former Soviet) state to elect a communist government and president in 2001. In 2011, the current balance of communists in the Moldovan legislature is 40%. It teeters on returning to communist government but a democratic coalition retains control.
Map of Moldova
Transnistria (Stinga Nistrului)
Break-away region east of the Dniester River, on the Ukrainian border, where Russian forces are supporting the Slavic minority population, mostly Ukrainians and Russians, who have proclaimed an unrecognized Transnistria republic.
Cities
 Chişinău - Capital - An administrative municipality (municipiul). A nice city to go and visit for some days, and to walk around in.
 Get in
Citizens of US, EU, CIS countries, Canada, Norway, Switzerland, Japan do not need a visa to enter Moldova and can stay in the country for up to 90 days within a six month period without registration [2]. Citizens of other countries must either obtain visa in the nearest Moldovan embassy or alternatively could obtain visa on arrival in Chisinau airport and on some land border crossings provided that officially endorsed invitation letter from Moldova is obtained beforehand.

If, being a motivated person, you are coming into Moldova via Ukraine, be aware you may be crossing Transnistria. Some buses from Odessa go through Tiraspol, while others go around, exchanging the two border crossings with more time on the road. Transnistria is an unrecognised "state" between Moldova and Ukraine, which broke off from the country after a war in 1992. As of this year (2010) there are few issues for Westerners in crossing Transnistrian borders by bus, although foreign travellers have experienced problems in the past. There is, however, a small chance that foreign tourists may be asked to pay bribes, although the buses which travel between Moldova, Transnistria and Ukraine usually handle negotiations at the border well, collecting passports and negotiating with Transnistrian authorities. Also, there is no Moldovan border check between Transnistria and Moldova as Moldova does not recognise Transnistria as a state, so you might have some explaining to do when you try to leave Moldova without an entrance stamp.
By plane
Busiest air connections exist to Bucharest, Budapest, Istanbul, Moscow, Munich, Timisoara, and Vienna. Prices are relatively high. The cheapest tickets can be bought to Bucharest, Istanbul, Kiev and Moscow. Moldova has three air companies. It is also possible to get relatively cheap tickets from Munich with Lufthansa/Air Moldova. They were around 190 Euro (return) in May 2010.
By train
Possibly the cheapest way to get into the country is to take the overnight train. There are daily trains from Romania and Ukraine. Train from Bucharest is about US$40. Since flights into Bucharest cost approx. US$200 less than those into Moldova, this is the best option if you have the time. At the border crossing the cars are lifted individually onto larger gauge wheels to fit Moldovan tracks. Crossing the border from Ukraine is smoother, the track width is similar to Moldovian tracks.
By car
When coming by car one should be sure to use a border crossing with a (non-stop) visa issuing office. You will have to pay a small road tax at the border.
By bus
There are regular buses connecting Chişinău with Bucharest, Kiev and most major Romanian and Ukrainian cities. There are 5 to six buses per day to and from Bucharest. Due to a longer stay at the border the trip takes around 10 hours. You will also be able to travel to most European cities by bus with Moldovan bus companies. When coming by bus one should be sure to use a frontier with a (non-stop) visa issuing office.
Kiev, 2 daily, 250 lei, 12 hours
Moscow, 4 daily, 700 lei, 30 hours
Odessa, 20 daily, 90 lei, 5 hours
Sevastopol, daily 430 lei, 18 hours
Brasov, 5 daily 200 lei, 12 hours
By boat
Although the country is landlocked, there is a ferry service between Giurgiulesti in Moldova and Istanbul, Turkey, plying the river Danube to reach the Black Sea. They leave Giurgiulesti every Monday and arrive at Istanbul the following Wednesday. It's not certain if this ferry service is only limited to the high season or not.
Get around
The most reliable and extensive domestic transport is bus - you will get to most parts of the country.
Chisinau is the main transportation hub for the country. The three bus stations serve every city and town in Moldova. The fastest form of transport are small passenger vans which seat around 15 people. Larger buses are also used and are marginally safer, because they travel at slower speeds.
Inner city transit in Chisinau and larger cities are manly mini-bus (Rutiera in the regional dialect of Romanian; marshrutka in Russian). They are privately operated. One pays after sitting down, by passing the money to the person in front of them, making a chain until it reaches the driver. If needed, change is also passed back the same way. So don't be alarmed if random people behind you start handing you money when they board. In the center of town on the busiest streets there is a state run trolleybus system.
Talk
The state language of Moldova is Romanian, officially referred to as Moldovan. Russian is also widely spoken in the country, both as a first and second language. Ukrainian and Gagauz are recognized minority languages, with official status in areas with high concentration of speaker populations. English and, to a lesser extent, French are popular foreign languages taught at most schools in Moldova.
See
The second biggest city in Moldova, Bălţi, merits a visit as well as the capital. Nice pedestrian zone around the central square. Check out the old part of the city.
Ungheni is also one of the most beautiful cities in Moldova with a lot of nice places to see.
Moldova is famous for its wines. With top rate wines at bargain prices, it is Moldova’s main tourism draw.
Cricova - Moldova’s second largest wine cellar has over 120 kilometers (75 miles) of underground roadways. Only a 15 minutes drive from Chisinau, it is a favorite of tourists. +373 22-277 378.
Purcari - One of the oldest wineries in Moldova, Purcari wine has been drunk by Russian Emperor Nicolai II, the English King George V and Queen Victoria. It is especially famous for Negru de Purcari. +373 22 29 59 11.
Milestii Mici - With over 200 kilometers (125 miles) of underground roadways, Milestii Mici is registered in the Guinness World Records as the biggest wine collection in the world. It may be easer to book a tour through a travel agency as one must provide a car for the tour. [3] +373 22 382 333.
Capriana monastery - One of Moldova’s most prominent monasteries only 40 Kilometers (25 miles) from Chisinau. Buses run hourly in the morning.
Soroca - Known as the "Romani (Gypsy) capital of Moldova." The hill on the west side of town has numerous ornately decorated Roma houses. The city also boasts the Soroca fort built by Stefan cel Mare in 1499. It was an important link in the chain of fortifications which today are located in Moldova and Ukraine along the Nistru river. Hours can be sporadic especially in the winter. On the road into town, 5 kilometers to the south of Soroca there is a Monument called “The Candle of Gratitude”. One can reach the 29.5 meters (98 feet) summit by walking up the 600 stairs.
Bender - Another fortification is The Fortress of Bender, however it is being used as a military training ground and is off limits. The best views are from the bridge going towards Tiraspol.
Tiraspol - Moldova's second largest city has a number of museums and a nice park along the Nistru river. Tiraspol is located in the break away region of Transnistria.
Orheiul Vechi - Moldova's best known sight is a 13th century Cave Monastery located about a half hour drive from Chisinau. Just up the road is a tourist center with a small museum, restaurant and hotel. Call ahead to make sure it's open at 235-34-242. One public bus leaves from the Chisinau central bus station everyday at 10:20, but the return bus does not come until 4:00. In the vicinity are huge cliffs that contain another six complexes of interlocking caves. It is highly advised to not explore them without the help of an experienced guide. The remains of a Turkish bath house is also just off the river.
Pushkin Museum - One can visit the house where Pushkin lived when in exile from Russia during the years 1820-23.
Chisinau History Museum - Spend a few hours exploring the exhibits.
Cathedral Park - Better known as Central Park, it is in the very center of Chisinau. The center is adorned with the Nativity Cathedral, the main church for the city. To the Southwest is the Triumph arch constructed in 1841 which is the center piece of The Great National Assembly Square. Across Stefan cel Mare Boulevard is the Government House. The city’s biggest flower market is on the north side of the park along Banulescu Bodoni street. At the intersection of Stefan cel Mare and Banulescu Bodoni is a statue of Stefan cel Mare.
Memorial Park - A little way-out of the center is the is a memorial commemorating the victory of the Soviet army in WWII. There is also an eternal flame in memory of Chisinau’s unknown soldiers who died in WWII. Behind is a military and a civilian cemetery.