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Welcome to Moldova
Moldova is a true wine kingdom. It's all about the wine here and if
you plan to come for a visit, don't forget to try it at least once.
Many people even make their own wine and store the bottles in
underground wine cellars in their homes. Also, they don't just drink
it from out of the bottle or a regular glass, but use a special
wooden cup, called butoi.
There are wine cellars all over the country. If you like to sample
these unique wines, traveling in Moldova won't only be above the
surface, but underground as well! Talking about underground travel,
there is an entire city that is completely underground. You'll
probably have never seen something like this before. Cricova is a
labyrinth of underground streets, which are all named after the
different types of wine, such as Pinot Street, Cabernet Street and
so on. This maze of wine cellars stretches for an amazing 37 miles
(60 km)!
Besides wines, Moldova has other surprises in store. About 4.5 miles
(7 km) southwest of Straseni lies the magnificent 13th century
Capriana Monastery, which was carved in a cliff. It consists of
three sections, each built in a different era. A small group of
Orthodox monks still live here today.
Chisinau, Moldova's capital, is a very green city with plenty of
leafy parks located on the banks of the Bac River. The city was
damaged in World War II, but you'll still be able to see many
cathedrals, museums and other architecturally interesting buildings.
Rolling green hills, peaceful lakes, sunflower fields, a few forests
and of course vineyards make up most of Moldova's countryside. In
the flat steppe, you might come across wild boars, wolves, foxes and
deer. But because the country is densely populated, the
possibilities of encountering wildlife are limited as are the
opportunities for remote outdoor adventuring. Lake Valea Morilor
offers opportunities for canoeing or cruising around with a
paddleboat.
If you don't know where Moldova is located, don't worry. You are
most probably not alone. On a map you find this small, landlocked
country between Romania and the Ukraine. Moldova is a fairly new
country. Between 1945 and 1991, it was a republic within the Soviet
Union, known as the Moldavian SSR. Moldova declared independence in
August 1991.
Security
Transnistria, a small region in northeastern Moldova has set itself
apart from the rest of the country. It is recommended to avoid
traveling here. Transnistria is diplomatically not recognized, which
means that in case of an emergency, consular support can't be
provided.
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