On wineries - my visitors have found Milesti Mici MUCH friendlier than the better known Cricova, and prefer it. (Though it's good to visit both if time permits). And you get an electric car trip through tunnels there as well.
Plus you can stop at the very nice, and little known open-air village museum on the way.
I though of something specific about Milesti Mici. Out last visit in October, they noticed that my wife was not drinking the wine while we were having the meal ta the end of the tour, (she was the driver), and without us asking they brought her a bonus bottle to take home with her.
>>>THAT'S<<< the kind of thing that makes me like them!
On museums - I'd add that if you are visiting the Valea Morilor park, (Or the Gastrobar restaurant come to that), the small museum on the history of Chisinau in the water tower by the university is well worth a quick visit. Magnificent views across the city from the top as well!
A couple of things I would add about language. I have found Moldovan people VERY patient and helpful with me, particularly in pharmacies. Restaurant menus often have pictures, (Andy's!), so you can point and smile.
Also put Google Translate on your smartphone! You can talk into it, show people a translation, and you can even point your camera at signs, and it will overlay a translation on the image for you! Great for everything from menus to washing machine instructions,
Yup, a friend from the UK who visited last October visited both, and said MM tried a lot harder. The guide stuck around to chat with us, and while we were waiting for the tour there's a nice little bar where you can start sampling early!
On wineries - my visitors have found Milesti Mici MUCH friendlier than the better known Cricova, and prefer it. (Though it's good to visit both if time permits). And you get an electric car trip through tunnels there as well.
Plus you can stop at the very nice, and little known open-air village museum on the way.
I though of something specific about Milesti Mici. Out last visit in October, they noticed that my wife was not drinking the wine while we were having the meal ta the end of the tour, (she was the driver), and without us asking they brought her a bonus bottle to take home with her.
>>>THAT'S<<< the kind of thing that makes me like them!
On museums - I'd add that if you are visiting the Valea Morilor park, (Or the Gastrobar restaurant come to that), the small museum on the history of Chisinau in the water tower by the university is well worth a quick visit. Magnificent views across the city from the top as well!
A couple of things I would add about language. I have found Moldovan people VERY patient and helpful with me, particularly in pharmacies. Restaurant menus often have pictures, (Andy's!), so you can point and smile.
Also put Google Translate on your smartphone! You can talk into it, show people a translation, and you can even point your camera at signs, and it will overlay a translation on the image for you! Great for everything from menus to washing machine instructions,
Very good. The restaurants you recommend that I know I like.
I'd add that a local can often knock down hotel prices by a LOT! (At least, my wife could when I first started to come here).
Great article!
A great guide to have for my next trip to Moldova!
Yup, a friend from the UK who visited last October visited both, and said MM tried a lot harder. The guide stuck around to chat with us, and while we were waiting for the tour there's a nice little bar where you can start sampling early!