Chisinau revisited

I took the opportunity to make a retrun visit to Chisinau today, usig the bus service an travelling in with olgaand her father, as Boris had an appointment at the hospital in Chisinau.

The trip was a cross between travelling up the A470 and that of driving to the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, with the driver going as fast as he could so he could maximise his pick ups for the day.

One gets all manner of freight along side the traditional horse and cart ... and on has to say the countryside is full of activity, with old and young herding animals and birds, the selling of local produce with young children holding up bags of produce hopeful that the passing vehicles will stop to purchase.

At times these vehicles were traveling three abreast despite the narrowness of the road with sudden breaking if something came i n the opposite direction.

I guess it still beats the London M25 because transport got through!

i was dropped in Botannica the area I lived in 1993 and found my old home with little trouble - but on knocking I found the family I had lived with no longer resided there!

My hope had always been that I would catch up with some of the people I had known before but I guess there is a lesson there in moving to look to the present and future rather than kwell on the past.

I was able to catch the trolley bus into the city. They complained about them being old even then but they still run in competition with many small minibuses that are now operating!

The old and the new taken from the trolley bus as we came into the main part of the city

I couild not resist capturing this picture of the fire engine assisting in preparations for tomorrows celebrations in front of the Parliament Building






There is no mistaking the political slant of the politicians with the national flag and European Union flag displayed all Stefan St Mare the main street in Chisinau.

I had made the best effort to brace the heat and visit some of the art galleries in the city .... but to no avail they were either closed on Friday or closed for refurbishment!

So I tried the Chsinau Beer and a local food dish before retiring to the coolness of Pushkin Park

Here is one of the main features of the city centre, a place of worship that has been rebuilt since my last visit!

it was a hot trip back on the bus, but I was aware enough to catch this contrast in Causeni as i found my way home ... the old couple bringing their cow in for the night (Quite possibly the same cow I photographed yesterday) up against the modern bars that adourn the street.

What is progress? I'd like to think allowing the two to co-exist allowing each to prosper and be valued ... but with many having to migrate and work abroad and leave children in villages with Grandparents means this is not the case in Moldova.

And finally,,,, I have been eating seperately fron the family but

Olgas father has taken to us having a Vodka before eating and

to night choose to join me and we had several shots of Vokda

with the course of the meal.

It is an interesting development, acceptance on their part

and when have you not known me to embrace local ciustoms??