Moldova & Ukraine

The last leg of our journey in Eastern Europe found us leaving Romania on a minibus from Iasi, Romania to Chisnau, Moldova where we would hop a flight to Kiev. Right away the land flattened out as if the border between the two countries brought about an intentional change.

Chisnau, the capitol of Moldova, was our temporary home for only a few hours. They seemed to be in holiday mode. The streets downtown were full of vendors, tables and racks set up in hopes of selling anything and everything. After having pizza we wandered until we found a small park with a craft fair going on. I sat down and attempted to draw a few people making transactions and a couple TV people trying to interest passersby in talking to them.

When our time came to look for the right bus to the airport, I took on the task of searching for an English speaker. I found a young artist who pointed me in the right direction. He was tall with long blond hair tied back and his work was very stylized in black, greys and reds, simple designs but striking. I gave him a magnet and he seemed pleased but very self conscious about it.



A very cute little trolley-bus in Chisnau.

We arrived at the airport in Kiev only to find that our hostel had given a bus number that didn't exist. My son stopped a couple workers and asked for assistance in Russian. One young man spoke back in English which I found amusing, but he set us on the right path. I gave him a magnet. At first he refused because he thought I was trying to hand him cash but readily accepted when I told him it was just a small gift.

Our hostel was close to the stadium where the Eurocup soccer game between Ukraine and Spain, I think, that took place the following night. The streets were roped off for blocks with beer booths and a huge screen for the big event. My son took part in the festivities but I watched the game at the hostel. It was an exciting game because it was so close and even more so because Ukraine won.

Kiev is one of those cities with a well put together mix of old and very modern architecture. It has a history ranging between tragic and glorious with plenty of monuments to commemorate them. There are also some beautiful onion domes, my favorite being the Santa Sofia cathedral with its interesting restoration project.

I gave another magnet to the young man who ran the hostel front desk. He and his family were friendly and helpful, the rooms were clean and the beds comfortable but the showers were too cold for my taste.

A memorial for those who starved...

...and a monument to the founders.