Eastern Europe -

Moldova, a walk around Chisinau

Gosia — Thu, 26 May 2022 17:17:53 +0000

A walk around Chisinau leaves no illusions. Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe and can be seen at first glance. Destroyed buildings and broken sidewalks can be seen when you deviate from the main street. Representative streets, on the other hand, reminds the former glory days. Built with a typical Soviet grandeur, now they look quite grotesque and ask for at least some facelift. However, such a charm of Chisinau, I personally liked this city very much. Some buildings are slowly being brought back to life, such as the State Circus. Shortly after opening in 1981, it was the largest facility of this type in Moldova, equipped with the most modern equipment. The economic crisis that followed Moldova’s independence eventually led to its bankruptcy. Currently, part of it has already been made available for circus activities. Generally Chisinau is not a tourist city and the number of attractions here is quite limited. Bazaar The bazaar near the bus station is the main centre of activity. Nowhere in Chisinau have I seen such a bustle and so many people as here. The atmosphere of this bazaar reminded me of a big market in Warsaw, which used to be in the place of present National Stadium. Army Museum While being in the area, it’s worth visiting the Military Museum, where you can learn more about the Second World War and the Stalinist repressions that took place in Moldova. The exhibition outside the building in the form of fighters and airplanes is available free of charge. Parliament with the Triumphal Arch The Parliament building is an important place on the map of Chisinau. Opposite the Parliament is the Triumphal Arch, built in 1840 to commemorate Russia’s victory over the Ottoman Empire. Valea Morilor Park – cascade to the lake In the competition for the most charming place in Chisinau, the first place is taken by the Valea Morilor park, located right next to the city centre. The main advantage of the park is quite a large lake, with a boulevard and a beach. You can also admire amazing views from the cascading fountain. The view is great both from the top and the bottom. Little Prince Everyone knows the figure of the Little Prince from the book by the French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Its popularity is so great that Little Prince even has a figurine by the Chisinau lake. It’s quite surprising, especially since neither the author of the book nor its hero had anything to do with Chisinau. The idea of creating an unusual monument occurred to one of the city’s inhabitants during walk along the lake. Iron balls on a metal fence reminded him of the asteroid B-612, Little Prince’s planet. However, the Little Prince Monument is easy to overlook. It is only 115 millimeters high and is the smallest monument in Moldova. Kilroy has beaten me again … While walking around Chisinau, I came across a supposedly inconspicuous graffiti: Kilroy was here. It is one of the most famous inscriptions in the world that became popular during the Second World War. Similar graffiti I saw in Washington D.C. More information about it you can find here. Mysterious construction You can also see a strange pink structure on the outskirts of Chisinau. At first glance, you might think that this is some kind of “fancy artistic vision”. I won’t hide that I was a bit confused when I realized that this is a monument commemorating the Moldovan soldiers who died in World War II. Abandoned cemetery An abandoned Jewish cemetery is also an interesting place. At the end of the 19th century, Kishinev was inhabited by a fairly large group of Jews. Everything changed on April 6, 1903, when there was a pogrom of the Jewish population, as a result of which 47 Jews were killed and about 600 were injured, not to mention the destroyed and plundered houses. Street art In Chisinau you can also see many murals that, more interestingly, refer to the tradition of this country. However, that doesn’t mean they’re boring. Even the stops are adorned with the traditional motifs. Street art is not limited only to murals, in Chisinau you can see other interesting ideas to diversify the urban space ? Prices Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe, therefore prices are much lower here. Honestly, it isn’t a country visited by crowds of tourists, so even in high season it is easy to find nice accommodation. For example, an apartment with amazing view for four people cost around 50€ per night. A second course in a very good restaurant costs about PLN 35-50. I especially recommend the La Taifas restaurant, serving traditional local cuisine.

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Kiev – 13 reasons to visit the capital city of Ukraine

Gosia — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 22:16:47 +0000

I visited Kiev this year on my way to Chernobyl. I admit that I didn’t expect to see “fireworks” on the spot. I don’t know, maybe it was a matter of my attitude, but for sure I didn’t fall in love like in Lviv. Even though it’s really worth seeing this city due to an interesting mix of past and modern times. In total, I counted thirteen reasons why the capital of Ukraine deserves tourists’ attention. Mother Motherland Statue It’s a huge monument, more than 100 meters high, standing on one of the Kiev hills. It’s one of the largest structures of this type in the world. It is even taller than the Statue of Liberty. Mother Motherland holds a sword in one hand and in the other, a shield with the coat of arms of the USSR. Nearby hill offers an amazing panorama of Kiev. Park and Mariinsky Palace Mariinsky Palace is an example of another interesting point on Kiev’s map, due to its characteristic blue colour. Glass Bridge An ideal place for an afternoon walk is the Glass Bridge, which offers an amazing panorama of the centre of Kiev and a characteristic pedestrian bridge across the Dnieper. Right next to the bridge is the Arch of Friendship of Nations, a relic of the past which is a symbol of Russian-Ukrainian friendship. The arch looks quite modern and is an interesting tourist spot. However, as a consequence of decommunization laws, the government is planning its demolition. Orthodox church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on the water One of the most interesting religious buildings in Kiev is the Church of Nicholas the Wonderworker. The building itself may not arise great fascination, but its location on the water is certainly unique. It is also an interesting viewpoint on the Dnieper embankment. Chernobyl Museum Definitely, this place is worth visiting before a trip to Chernobyl. The theme of this museum is the Latin slogan: “est dolendi modus, non est timendi,” which can be translated: “there is a limit of sadness, anxiety has no limits.” Outside the museum, you can see the vehicles used in the rescue operation. The exhibition halls are connected with long stairs where you can see road signs of the affected towns. The exhibition presents the tragedy of people living in these areas during the disaster. It presents the rescue operation and the effects of the reactor accident. It’s a kind of a mausoleum dedicated to the victims of Chernobyl. Zhytniy market This place is an absolute must to see everyday life in Kiev. You can buy groceries here, as well as try local dishes. In addition to the grocery section, there’s also a clothes and workshop part, all in one place. The market hall is very easy to recognize, the appearance of the building does not raise any doubts in what period it was built ? Abandoned Billionaire Ghetto The Billionaire Ghetto is a term for the Vozdvizhenka District. The name Vozdvyzhenka comes from the local church of Chrestovozdvyzhenska, known as the baptism site of the famous Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov. Colorful tenement houses and elegant surroundings indicate that it’s a luxurious neighbourhood. However, the strangest thing is that these candy buildings look completely deserted. In 2003, it was decided to build an exclusive district in this place, but the crisis in 2008-2009 resulted in a lack of interest in new, very expensive apartments. Currently, the colourful, art nouveau buildings of Vozdvizhenka are an ideal place solely for photo sessions. Four times better than in Brussels Brussels is known for a peeing boy, while Kiev is known for as many as four boys. What’s more, they together create a colorful fountain. The figurines are located in the Peizazhna Alley Park, where you can see many other unconventional sculptures. “City of Golden Domes” The golden domes and the characteristic blue facade of the monastery are visible from under the monument to Bohdan Chmielnicki. Anyway, it’s no wonder why Kiev is called “the city of golden domes”. The monastery was destroyed in the 1930s, and it was rebuilt only after Ukraine regained its independence. Orthodox church of St. Andrew Looking at the Kiev churches, it cannot be denied that the favourite colour of its inhabitants is blue. According to the legend, St. Andrew indicated that this place was to be dedicated to build a magnificent temple. It actually happened. The church is located in the oldest part of Kiev, in the very centre of the city, near the famous Independence Square. Independence Square The place known from numerous TV broadcasts is Independence Square with the characteristic Monument of Independence. It is also a favourite Kiev residents’ meeting place. It was the place of the so-called Orange revolution – protests against the rigging of elections by V. Yanukovych. For the second time in 2013, inhabitants of Kiev took the street again, during the so-called Euromaidan. They were pretesting against Yanukovych’s failure to sign an association agreement with the European Union. About 100 people lost their lives as a result of the clashes. Shukai While walking along the streets of Kiev you can meet many tiny bronze figures. They’re called Shukai, which means simply search, and as you can easily guess that you have to look thoroughly to spot them. On this site you can learn more about their history. Street art at the end I have to admit that Kiev surprised me with its very local street art scene. On the spot, I expected to see a gray, socialist reality, while the capital of Ukraine turned out to be surprisingly colourful. Of course, there are still plenty of places from a bygone era here, but at the same time you can notice that the inhabitants are trying to diversify this space. Effect? As for me, great ?

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Visit Chernobyl… before it fades

Gosia — Wed, 26 Jan 2022 19:04:06 +0000

Chernobyl, the name of this city to this day gives a lot of people the creeps, although many years have passed since the catastrophe. It took place on the night of April 25-26 in 1986 as a result of the nuclear reactor accident of the power unit no. 4. It’s one of the biggest disasters in the history of nuclear energy. A huge area was contaminated in Belarus and Ukraine, many people were forcibly displaced, a large part of the area was closed, and the radioactive cloud spread throughout Europe. How does this place look like now, 35 years after the catastrophe? This question has been bothering me for a long time. After all, this summer I decided to check it out. The disaster site looks completely different than in 1986. At the site of the nuclear power plant, you can see a huge steel sarcophagus, built in July 2019, which covered the original, threatening structure. The investment wouldn’t be possible without the external help, funds for this purpose, flowed from European Union, as well as 40 countries, including Poland. The new structure is to ensure safety for the next 100 years. I’m looking around and see that the area of the Chernobyl power plant doesn’t look deserted at all, it is evident that someone looks after the area. In particular, it’s necessary to control the closed reactors, reportedly it’s done by about 2,500 people staying here temporarily. Moreover, taking photos is only allowed from the perspective of the monument commemorating the tragedy, and yet on the other hand there is a whole complex of buildings that by no means look abandoned. Anyway, it’s enough to look at the mural, the trimmed lawns and the flowers planted to see that something is wrong here … Red Forest, Magic Forest … It’s located near the Chernobyl power plant, towards the city of Pripyat. The name comes from the characteristic pine trees which, under the influence of a high dose of radiation, died off changing green colour to the characteristic red one. This place has been exposed to the highest radiation doses in the form of a cloud of radioactive dust and is one of the most contaminated in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. Initially, it was planned to clear the area by removing and burying the irradiated trees, but this was abandoned when it turned out that the excavated soil was a major source of radiation. Currently, the area of the Red Forest is like an open-air laboratory. The effect of radiation is evident in the abnormal appearance and size of the vegetation. Apparently, currently the radiation level in the Red Forest can reach the level of 1 R / h (X-ray per hour), which is 10,000 µSv [microSevert), but in the majority of this area it is 100 µSv / h. Pripyat Pripyat was a modern city, built from scratch to support the power plant. The people living here could use the well-developed and well-thought-out infrastructure in the form of: schools, kindergartens, shops, sports and entertainment facilities and hospitals. The city was created specifically for the needs of power plant employees. The average age of its inhabitants was about 26 years. It can be said that it was a prestigious location, the inhabitants of Pripyat were selected by the security apparatus. There were many people willing to settle down in Pripyat, because living conditions were perfect here. New apartments were taken for free, and electricity bills were covered by the power plant. Wages were much higher than in the rest of the country, and the shops were full of goods. Moreover, the inhabitants of Pripyat had access to products that others would not even dream of at the time. However, time stopped here in April 1986. Currently, the city has been largely looted and devastated, and the rest has been literally taken over by nature. I was surprised by the amount of vegetation on the site, Pripyat looks like a huge jungle. It’s really difficult to see any buildings here. While visiting Pripyat, you can see the hospital that played an important role in the rescue operation right after the disaster. It was here that the victims of the explosion were brought, while the clothes used in the rescue operation were left in its basement. You can imagine that the radiation here is very high. A bit further, next to the river station building, you can see water saturators. Inside there used to be a café called “Pripyat”, but now you can see an interesting stained glass window. The Polissya Hotel is one of the most characteristic landmarks in Pripyat. It could accommodate over 100 people. There used to an observation deck with a café on top of it. The hotel was used as a rescue headquarter. The upper rooms were made available to government employees overseeing the course of the rescue operation. From here, the movement of helicopters involved in extinguishing the reactor was also coordinated. The radiation level is slightly higher here, about 1 µSv/h. Near the hotel there’s a market where you can see damaged shelves and tills. It’s also worth taking a look at the Avanhard Stadium, which has never been used. Its opening was scheduled for May 1, 1986. Currently, it does not resemble a modern facility that can accommodate 5,000 fans. First of all, there’s no treadmill, it was quickly removed when it turned out that it had absorbed a high dose of radiation. The rest also doesn’t resemble the times of the former glory, and the facility is gradually being taken over by nature. The faith of the stadium is also shared with abandoned amusement park with the characteristic Ferris wheel. It was built specifically for the May 1st celebrations, but was never opened. Destroyed, metal structures look like from the worst horror, and the awareness of the increased levels of radiation at certain points (e.g. next to the Ferris wheel) really gives you the chills. The Ukrainian authorities have plans to activate the Chernobyl area economically by creating, for example, recycling bases. There was also an idea to revitalize the area and create a large open-air museum here. It’s no wonder that the authorities want to do so, it would be a real money-making machine. Unfortunately, if they do so, Chernobyl won’t be the same place anymore.

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Russian Woodpecker – Duga in Chernobyl Exlusion Zone, Girl off the Trail

Gosia — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 20:42:37 +0000

Russian Woodpecker (Duga) was my first point during exploration in Chernobyl, although I must admit that I would prefer it to be the last – such a cherry on the cake of the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. I won’t hide that I went to Chernobyl, mainly to see the famous Moscow’s Eye not the site of the nuclear power plant disaster. Moscow’s Eye is the colloquial name given to the Soviet over-the-horizon radar system, which in the USSR was called Duga, or “bow”. The system consisted of three radars with a range of 3,000 km. Radars were transmitting and receiving devices that used the reflection of short radio waves from the ionosphere. It can be said that during the Cold War, they constituted the pinnacle of Soviet technology. Their task was the early detection of fired ballistic missiles with nuclear warheads. They were able to do it surprisingly quickly, just within 3 minutes after launching. For this reason, they have been aptly called the Moscow’s Eye. Each of the radars operated in a different frequency range and covered a different area of the globe. The radar in Chernobyl covered the most strategic area – the north-eastern part of the USA together with the North Pole, the radar in Nikolaev on the Black Sea – Asia, and in Komsomolsk on Amur – the west coast of the USA together with Alaska. The Duga makes a really great impression, mainly due to the scale of this structure. The facility is 150 m high and 700 m long. The whole complex, including the radar and the technical infrastructure, was kept secret. The radar is only 10 km from the nuclear power plant, but its location in the middle of the forest makes it invisible. A self-sufficient town was created for the staff, protected by the military. The location may have been perfect, but the radar’s existence was betrayed by the way it operated. When transmitting signals, Moscow’s Eye made a characteristic sound resembling a woodpecker knocking on a tree. For this reason, Duga is called Russian Woodpecker in English. The sound emitted by the radar was intense enough to interfere with radio and television broadcasts. Over the years, many conspiracy theories have arisen around Duga. There were voices that it’s used to control people’s minds or shape the weather. Chernobyl Russian Woodpecker was shut down in April 1986, due to the Chernobyl disaster, it was feared that the increased radiation would destroy the radar. Ultimately, the radar was shut down in 1988. However, Chernobyl disaster wasn’t the only reason why Duga was shut down, modern satellite technologies proved to be much more effective.

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Odessa, Ukraine – “Long Live the Bribe” and an elegant makeshift

Gosia — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 20:05:52 +0000

Odessa – a popular resort at the Black Sea. It’s considered one of the most beautiful cities in Ukraine. In my opinion, of all the places I have visited in Ukraine, it’s certainly the most elegant city. However, my heart has long belonged to Lviv (which I wrote about here). In general, my thoughts about Odessa turned out to be in line with reality. Odessa aspires to be an exclusive seaside resort but on the other hand, makeshift and kitsch can be seen at every step. However, I must admit that this mix makes this city so interesting ? The most recognizable building in Odessa is the Opera House. Apparently, its interior makes an amazing impression and tickets for the shows are quite cheap. Unfortunately, due to the lack of time, I didn’t have the opportunity to check it. A tourist hot-spot is definitely Deribasivska Street. There are numerous pubs, cafes and bars. The main attraction of this place, however, is the Monument of the Twelfth Chairs – which is the symbol of the city. The location of the chair can be recognized by a long queue of tourists waiting to take a photo of it. The Monument to the Oranges is also quite surprising. However, few people know that, according to the legend, this fruit saved the city … After the death of Tsarina Catherine the Great, power in Russia was taken over by her son – Paul I. Being an opponent of the location of a large port in Odessa, he cut off the city’s financing. In order to save Odessa from losing its city status, the inhabitants decided to bribe the tsar with a gift – four thousand Greek oranges. By the way, among the inhabitants of Odessa, the monument is also known under a different name: “Long live the bribe” ? The Potemkin Stairs are another symbol of Odessa. They were built to facilitate access to the port from the city center. The stairs extend to the horizon and seem to be endless. However, they are specially designed to make this impression. In fact, they’re not so challenging. Alternatively, you can take the iconic cable car to the top. In the vicinity of Deribasivska Street you can visit an elegant shopping center, somewhat reminiscent of the Victor Emmanuel II Gallery in Milan. The glass ceiling and decorated walls create a cool atmosphere of this place. An interesting building is also located on Vorontsov lane. At first glance, it does not really stand out with anything special, but when you look at it from a different angle, you get the impression that it consists of only one wall. It is only an optical illusion due to its triangular shape. When visiting the Old Town, it is worth straying from the main tourist route. You can then see Odessa from a completely different perspective. Old buildings and cars make this city even more interesting. Cozy spots can be seen right next to the ruined and often abandoned buildings. Street art, in the form of decorations on walls or murals, also appears here and there.. Most tourists visit Odessa mainly for the opportunity to rest at the Black Sea beaches. Evidently, the beach and the boulevard nearby are the most frequented places in the whole city. At the end of the tour, while waiting for the return bus to Chisinau, I decided to go around the station. I was incredibly lucky because I accidentally found a local market. The assortment included everything like: paintings, old clocks, kitchen utensils, RTV equipment, through tableware and clothes.

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New Year’s eve in Minsk – unexpected fireworks!

Gosia — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 07:56:55 +0000

Originally, New Year’s Eve 2018/2019 was supposed to be nothing special. I’ve never actually put pressure on New Year’s Eve celebration, but this time I decided that I’d look for a nice trip option for a change. Unfortunately, I showed a chess player’s reflex, being under an illusion that at the end of November, I would find some accommodation in Poland at a reasonable price. Looking for possible options, I took a map. I glanced at the eastern part, I thought that after all, Brest is not that far from Warsaw… I checked the offers of accommodation: a lot of nice apartments at very affordable prices. Waiting time for visa 10 days, green card available immediately, so it was clear I would spend that New Year’s Eve in Belarus! I announced this wonderful message to my friends and in a moment there were a few people willing to go there. Not to mention my best friend who decided to join us taking the Freedom Highway straight form Berlin! We all felt that trip would be memorable. That’s what really happened, in many ways it was very emotional… and to top it off it almost ended with deportation, but I’ll write about it in another post ? Planning a tour, I thought to myself: “if we were going to have a party, why not make it a big party?” Minsk seemed to be a perfect place to welcome New Year! I admit that I was curious about this city and its inhabitants, but I didn’t expect fireworks regarding New Year’s Eve party 😀 We were supposed to go to a concert in the city centre, so nothing interesting. Meanwhile, it turned out to be the weirdest party I’ve ever been to. As part of a short introduction, New Year is a very important holiday for Belarusians. This is because the socialist system of this country has denied the role of religion in society for many years. Celebrating all religious festivals was strictly forbidden. Although many people are getting back to Christmas tradition these days, still many Christmas customs are celebrated here on New Year. For example, contrary to the Western Europe, Belarusians decorate Christmas tree before New Year, because as followers of the Orthodox church, they celebrate Christmas only after New Year’s Eve. Generally, December 31 in Belarus looks like our Christmas. Families gather at tables full of traditional dishes. The mandatory positions on the Belarusian table are: herring, Olivier salad, caviar, mandarins and various cakes. Just before midnight, the President’s message is broadcasted on TV. When the clock strikes 12, just like in other parts of the world, Belarusians wish themselves all the best and drink champagne. Then they open gifts, just like we do on Christmas. During this time, Minsk is illuminated with colourful lights and looks very atmospheric. The raw architecture of the capital of Belarus is becoming more homely. The streets are decorated with garlands and various colourful lights. Places in the city centre are decorated with numerous Christmas trees. The New Year’s Eve party itself resembles parties organized in many European cities. Except the fact that music is more folksy and the concept of copyright does not exist here. However, I must admit that New Year’s Eve in Minsk surprised me very much for the other reasons. First of all, during the whole New Year’s Eve night I didn’t see not a single person who would be aggressive or totally drunk. In my opinion, people having fun at the concert acted pretty conservative. I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but there are only two explanations, this is thanks to a great organization of public order or Belarusians just have a better head do drink than we ? Minsk also surprised me for another reason. As I wrote earlier, I didn’t expect fireworks from that party. Meanwhile, as it turned out, fireworks were there but at the most unexpected moment. According to tradition, New Year’s eve is a holiday, mostly spent in the family circle, at midnight people stay at their homes toasting, expressing wishes and exchanging gifts. Only around 1 am they go outside, then a fireworks show is organized. However, apart from the open air event, Minsk has many other attractions to offer for New Year’s Eve. For example, you can take advantage of many interesting parties organized in restaurants. New Year’s Eve night at a good restaurant costs around € 30-50. Steam bath parties are also an interesting option. Generally, it is worth visiting Minsk on New Year’s Eve. Very affordable prices, delicious food, outgoing people and the opportunity to experience and see something new, can you imagine better beginning of the New Year? Personally, I’d love to go there again.

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Tiraspol, Transnistria – practical info, Girl off the Trail

Gosia — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 18:33:29 +0000

Transport: Tiraspol is located only 70 km from Chişinău and a little more than 100 km from Odessa. The easiest way to get there is from Moldova. Local coaches called marszrutkas shuttle from Central Bus Station, which is located next to the central market in Chişinău, near Stefan Cel mare street. Buses to Tiraspol runs from early morning to late evening, almost every 15-20 minutes. The ticket costs less than 2 €. You’ll find them at the stop no. 13. It takes about 2 hours to get to the capital of Transnistria – Tiraspol. At the border, expect only the Transnistrian control because Moldova does not recognise it. You can get there also by train which operates to Odessa in Ukraine but I don’t recommend this option as it’s longer and more expensive. Border crossing After checking the passport, you’ll get a special pass defining the maximum duration of your stay in Transnistria. This permission is issued for 10 hours, and it can be extended when you have accommodation. However, 10 hours is completely enough to visit whole Tiraspol. A pass should be kept with you when leaving the territory of Transnistria. If you stay longer than 24 hours, you should register free of charge at the police station. Failure to meet this obligation results in a fine of 750 $. Route Ukraine – Transnistria – Moldova When going to the Transnistria from Ukraine, it is important to remember that at the border, your passport won’t be stamped, because in practice it’s not Moldovan border. While you can easily enter the territory of Moldova in this way, the situation can get complicated during the further trip. It happens that the lack of entry stamp is considered by Moldovan customs as illegal crossing the border. In order to avoid this unpleasant situation, it’s best to register in one of the migration offices in no less than 72 hours, after coming to Moldova. Currency Due to the nature of the self-appointed country it is hard to find information about the current rate of Transnistrian currency – ruble. It can be exchanged only in Transnistria, and the official course is available on the website of the Bank of the Transnistrian Republic. Previously, there were plastic coloured coins reminiscent of chips for the game. More interesting, they were produced in the Poland, which almost ended with a diplomatic scandal. Coin production for “Russian separatists” was met with international outrage. It was explained that mint hadn’t produced currency but occasional chips and their usage as a means of payment was unknown to the manufacturer. Currency exchange When you go to Transnistria, it’s best to take dollars or euro with you. The exchange rate during my stay (in 2019) was as follows:– €1 – 18.4 rubles– Moldovan lei 1 – 0.92 rubles– Russian ruble 1 – 0.23 rubles– Ukrainian hryvna 1 – 0.59 rubles– US$1 – 16.1 rublesThe current rate can be checked here. There are no problems with cash exchange, as there’re a lot of exchange offices in Tiraspol. However, it is important to note that Transnistrian currency can be returned only in Transnistria, so it’s best to exchange small amounts. Prices You can guess that prices in Transistria are really low, even in the capital – Tiraspol: – three-course meal for 2 people in a restaurant – around 25€,– draught beer in a bar – around 1 €– a can of Coke – 0,6€– coffee – around 1€ Safety Transnistria is a relatively safe country, but you should remember to follow the rules. First of all, you must not take photos of military and state buildings and comply with the immigration regulations, including the length of permitted stay, which should be respected. In addition, it is important to bear in mind that there are no international agreements and conventions so in case of any problems, your national authorities won’t be able to help you. Although Transnistria has a state organisation and the law, you should be prepared that it won’t be respected in any case. In practice, it may turn out that everything depends on interpretation, read… the offcial’s mood. Check out more about Transnistria:

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Tiraspol, Transnistria – alternative reality

Gosia — Wed, 23 Oct 2019 19:02:48 +0000

Transnistria, self-appointed country with the capital in Tiraspol was my next direction after a visit to the Nogorno Karabakh. The perspective of seeing another so-called self-appointed country has been fascinating me for a long time. On the Internet you can find a lot of information about this place and, above all, warnings due to the unclear status of this area and possible threats to the tourist. The reason of my visit there wasn’t the desire to raise the adrenaline, but to see with my own eyes how it’s there. Transnistria, actually, the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic hasn’t been recognised on the international arena, even by Russia, which officially supports it financially and military. Transnistrian Republic occupies only about 10 % of the territory of Moldova and borders with Ukraine. The Capital – Tiraspol is less than 80 km from Chisinau – the capital of Moldova, but visit to this place guarantees a real time travel. Crossing the border itself is a specific tourist attraction. Border, which is recognised only by the Transnistria, is marked by a flag with a sickle and a hammer – currently the only flag in the world with this symbol. A little further there are tanks marked with the Russian flag. There’s a border crossing, but there are no Moldovan customs because officially it’s still a territory belonging to Moldova. What’s going on here? Welcome to the alternative reality of the Transnistrian Moldovan Republic… Some history Transnistria announced its independence from Moldova in 1990. This was a reaction to Moldova’s plans for the connection with Romania. The Independence of the newly created state has been automatically recognised by other self-appointed states: Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Currently, only in Transniestra you can find their embassies. You can see them in Tiraspol at 25 October street, 76. Other countries have refused to recognize a new country, including Russia, which so far has been supporting Transnistria. There are many political reasons, just take look at the location of Transnistria on the map, which is between Ukraine and Moldova which aspires to join European Union. But for Russian aid, Transnistria wouldn’t have had any chance to survive, completely cut off from foreign capital. Russian aid turned out to be essential in 1992 when Moldova decided to regain the lost lands. Moldovian offensive was then held by general Lebied. His famous words “if you do not stop the war, tomorrow I will eat breakfast in Tiraspol, dinner in Chisinau, and supper in Bucharest” was a sufficient argument to sign a peace treaty on the next day and to maintain the status of Transnistria to this day. Checkmate… Officially, however, Transnistria is still considered as autonomous territory of Moldova. In practice, it has its own government and president, currency – Transnistrian ruble and state services. To this day, Russian military is located here, which is especially visible at the border where you can see Russian tanks. On state offices next to Transnistrian flag, there’s also a Russian flag. International consequences are obvious, Russian help is not selfless. Strategic location of Transnistria between Moldova and Ukraine gives a good position to put pressure. In addition, Transnistria is taking bigger and bigger debts from Russia, but as it doesn’t officially exist, so the debt goes to the account of Moldova… How do people live in this country? Tourism is certainly not a branch of the economy here. The unclear international status of this place isn’t conducive to influx of foreign visitors. You won’t see shops of popular brands or famous chain restaurants, there’s no foreign capital. On the streets you can see only one characteristic logo of the local tycoon – Sheriff. Sheriff seems to be the owner of this country, because almost everything in Transnistria belongs to him. The logo of the company – a characteristic star can be seen at every step; from petrol stations, car salons and shops, and ending with a football club. It seems that people living here have two options of employment – in a state apparatus or a Sheriff. However, the most popular seems to be emigration, and you know where?…. to Poland! What to see Tiraspol – the Capital of Transnistria is a completely different reality. The typical socialist architecture resembles a bit of Minsk. Wide empty streets and propaganda billboards create a characteristic atmosphere of this place. The main artery of the city is October 25 street, where the most important government buildings and “tourist attractions” are located. Ja lublju Tiraspol Near the above mentioned embassy of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, you can take a photo with ” I love Tiraspol” mock-up. Alexandr Suvorov monument At the central point of the city is a Alexander Suvorov’s monument – a Russian general, who founded Tiraspol in 1792 Eternal fire to the victims of the war of Transnistria An important point of local tours is a monument commemorating the victims of the war of Transnistria, World War II and the war in Afghanistan. Next to the monument there’s a tiny orthodox church and a T-34 tank. Lenin from a postcard The most characteristic point of Tiraspol is the building of the authorities of the republic. What’s important, it is forbidden to take photos of the building itself, while you can freely take photos of the monument with the building in the background, isn’t it ridiculous? 😉 Green Bazaar Just behind the statue of Alexander Suvorov is the Green Bazaar – the main shopping center in Tiraspol. From the outside, it looks quite modern for this type of place, but inside there’s a typical homely atmosphere. In addition to local honeys, cheeses, vegetables and fruit you can try the perfect bread acid – kvas. Church of the Nativity This is the largest sacral building in Tiraspol. Victory Park This is the main meeting point of the Tiraspol residents. At the central point there’s a fighter plane monument. Where Marx meets Lenin The symbolic point of Tiraspol is the intersection of Marx and Lenin streets. In contrast, nearby you can see the Eiffel Tower. Where to eat A little absurd is an inconspicuous cafe called Free Cafe. Don’t let the pink color of the restaurant fool you, inside it is a true stronghold of communism! Aside from the decor, which consists of busts and paintings of Lenin, Stalin and Marx, a discotheque ball, artificial flowers and handwoven napkins, the real atmosphere of this place is created by the boss along with the “bartender”, both remembering Stalin’s times 😉 We’re going inside to drink something… in poor menu are only few drinks.Is there any local beer?Beer?! Well we have, Moldovan… and will you eat something?No only beer please… and for a friend an orange juiceOrange niet, cherry only…Won’t you eat? Come on, we have tasty food.Thank you, can we pay in euro?Euro?! Niet, I don’t know it. Rubel or dollar “ While the cafe is worth visiting to enjoy the local atmosphere, I recommend to eat in the nearby restaurant Kumanek, which serves local delicacies. Personally, I’m not a big fan of lard, as a matter of fact I don’t even like it, but I’ll admit that lard in Kumanek was a discovery for me! There’re many regional dishes in the menu, also popular in Ukraine like: borscht or vareniki, and for good digestion it’s best to drink excellent horseradish vodka.

Artykuł Tiraspol, Transnistria – alternative reality pochodzi z serwisu .

Belarusian cuisine – homely food!

Gosia — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 14:55:28 +0000

Belarusian cuisine is based mainly on products available in Belarus like: potatoes, cereals, pork, mushrooms and forest fruit. Dishes are prepared with simple ingredients and easy to cook. Due to the long and harsh winters and the nature of the work of the majority of the population, the traditional cuisine in Belarus consists of nutritious meals. However, the most characteristic is the preparation process. Dishes are mainly roasted, cooked and stewed and very rarely fried. Belarusian cuisine uses a small amount of spices while the mandatory element of almost every dish is cream. Restaurants in Belarus have a distinctive, homey look and offer numerous traditional dishes. There is no problem to find places where you can try local specialties, which often happens in Western European countries. On Belarusian Embassy site you can read: The implementation of the dishes of the Belarusian national cuisine is one of the requirements for catering facilities (except facilities, specializing in the preparation of national cuisine of other countries). That’s why Belarusian cuisine is on the menu of all restaurants and cafes. Breakfast For breakfast you can eat scrambled eggs or omelette served with bread and vegetables . The meat option includes bacon and homemade sausage with fried potatoes. In a sweet option, there are most often pancakes with cheese, cream and jam. You cannot miss fluffy cheese pancakes called syrniki served usually with cream, homemade jam, honey or apple mousse. Syrniki are very delicate inside, while from outside they are very crispy. While being in Belarus, don’t forget to try them! However, if anyone wants to bring back memories from childhood, he can always order ordinary porridge 😉 Dinner The perfect proposal for winter is aromatic soup, usually served with cream. In restaurants you can try slightly sour soup called soljanka? It is a traditional soup with addition of water from sour cucumbers, sausages, spices and cream 😉 Modern version can contain olives or capers. The perfect proposal for summer is chlodnik- soup with beetroots and cream served with cucumber, egg and dill. Among the meat dominates pork, although in Belarus you can eat also: veal, beef or poultry. Dishes are served with mushrooms or vegetables: mostly carrots, cabbage and beets. The staple are potatoes, which are also called “second bread”. Due to the large potato consumption Belarusians are called “potato people”. Personally I’m not a fan of potatoes due to their popularity in Poland. However, in Belarus, potatoes are rarely consumed simply boiled as it takes place in Poland. Potatoes are subjected to various processes like: grating, mashing, roasting or frying. It seems that the basic potato dish is draniki, known to us as potato pies, served with cream. Draniki is an universal dish, you can serve them with pork fat, mushrooms or meat. The popular potato dishes are also: potato casserole with bacon and onions, bliny – potato pancakes, potato sausage and kliocki (noodles) – potato cake served pork fat or bacon and fried onions. Flour dishes are also very popular. In Belarus, you can try kolduny – small dumplings served alone or as an addition to soup and pelmeni – dumplings stuffed with raw meat. Dumplings can be served from water or oven. You can also try sweet pierogi stuffed with various forest fruit. Belarus is also famous for excellent drinks and not necessarily just alcoholic. Popular are homemade compote, kvas, or tea with honey and spices. My number one was tea with orange, cranberries, sea buckthorn and rosemary. In Belarus there’s a wide selection of alcoholic beverages. In addition to vodka, very popular is also Krupnik and Zubrowka. I can recommend also : cranberry, horseradish and horseradish with honey vodka. Especially the last one is worth a try. However, in the middle of winter, after all-day sightseeing, I was most fond of mulled wine. Desserts Belarus also produces excellent chocolate and marshmallows called zefir. They resemble big meringues. In cafes you can try a variety of desserts and cakes. Try dates with mascarpone cheese served in restaurant La Kave in Brest Restaurants and prices: Recommended places to eat:– Vasilki and Kukhmistr in Minsk,– Karchma in Grodno,– La Kave in Brest,– coffee and cakes in Centralny Univiersam Snack Bar in Minsk. Food in Belarus is relatively cheap even in very good restaurants .For soup you have to pay around 2-3€ The cost of dishes – dumplings, pancakes or cheese cakes is also about 5-7 rubles. The cost of the second dish is about 6€. Coke costs about less than 1€. In elegant restaurants in the centre of Minsk prices are higher. For the second dish in the restaurant I paid 10€, while for dessert 6€.

Artykuł Belarusian cuisine – homely food! pochodzi z serwisu .