{"id":5471,"date":"2023-08-31T07:33:55","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T07:33:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zoa.com\/2023\/?p=5471"},"modified":"2023-09-10T10:29:45","modified_gmt":"2023-09-10T10:29:45","slug":"moldova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zoa.com\/2023\/travel\/moldova\/","title":{"rendered":"Moldova"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A short swim across the Prut River takes you to Romania.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The Heart of Moldova on the Dniester River<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Caves along the R\u0103ut River have been inhabited for 1000’s of years. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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<\/em>, a heart-shaped island on the Ukrainian border. Moldova’s most visited place is the Orheiul Vechi<\/a>, an historic cave complex on a narrow bend of the R\u0103ut River where man-made caves have been inhabited since the Stone Age, and eventually became an Orthodox monastery in the XIV century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A cool drink from a roadside well<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Traditional transport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Vineyards everywhere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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So many wines to choose from!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Mamaliga, cheese, veggies and wine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Dinner at the Tronciu Winery<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> country in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trains go to Romania and Ukraine<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Chi\u015fin\u0103u City Hall (1901)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Cathedral Park is in the center of town.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Moldova’s capital and largest city is Chi\u015fin\u0103u, population about 500,000. This is an attractive, modern city graced by early XX century buildings and plenty of green city parks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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