Transnistria and Moldova by www.born2travel.it

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09 June Tiraspol (TRANSNISTRIA)

In an old Skoda we leave Odessa, Ukraine and the carefree mood of a very pleasant holiday place! We head towards Chisinau, through the mysterious Transnistria!

I have heard a whole lot of controversial stories about this small Russian-Moldovan territory... it is an area that intrigues me a lot! We cross a series of fairly isolated Ukrainian villages devoted only to farming, and in about an hour we reach the border between Ukraine and Transnistria. Well yes, this small territory, despite having its own flag, a Parliament, a currency (the Transnistrian ruble), post, police, army and borders controlled by its own border force!

The checks are quick and, in no time at all, we head towards Tiraspol, its capital!

10 June Chisinau (MOLDOVA)

Rough roads, dense woods and in about an hour and a half we reach the decaying outskirts of Chisinau, the capital of Moldavia or Moldova. I confess that everything seems makeshift, rusty old Ladas parade alongside big, modern cars, people with bags and buckets of cherries crowd at the stops of old and not very reassuring buses...

Along the outskirts we travel down roads of evident Soviet make and style... but the historic centre is quite different from the outskirts... there are many little places and very nice, westernised restaurants...

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