Moldova

... with Natalia Gligor, volunteer and websurfer, Chisinau, Moldova.

I meet Natalia at the park, just besides Chisinaus main street Stefan cel Mare. Natalia does not have Internet at home at the moment, but that's no problem in the Chisinau park where both Internet and electricy is for free. Instead of relying on old prejudices about desperation and poverty she believes that everyone should come to Moldova and check for him/herself what it's really is about. Then, maybe you will find out that Chisinau actually is a great place!

Where: Vlaicu Parcalab, Chisinau, Moldova.

Who:  Tamara Ciochina (daughter), Maria Chiochina (mother), Constantin Chiochina (father), Liudmila Razinova (friend)

Eat and drink: Placinte cu branza (cheese pies), Placinte cu varza (cabbage pies) with sour cream. Home made red wine, made from Isobala grapes from the farm of Tamaras grandmother.

Moldova is possibly the poorest country in Europe. It has a reputation of human trafficking, organ trafficking and the traffic in the capital Chisinau is not really hospitable either. According to the World database on Happiness, Moldovans are the least happy people in the world. So, then, shouldn’t they be outright suicidal all of them? It is a gloomy, grey and rainy day when I arrive in Chisinau. I have to change hotel room three times because of the smell of smoke (doesn´t make any difference really).

But first I had to get there. Join the trip!