Even when we (my wife and I and our three teenage children) lived for two years in Moldova in the mid-1990s, it was possible to see and experience to some degree what Tiina writes about, to get some hint of what Moldova and its people have to offer. It is beautiful to see the good things that have developed since then and to read well-written accounts like Tiina's.
I agree, there's always been a story about potential. It's exciting to see this start moving towards something more real (in terms of tourism, etc). And frustrating that it's moving so slowly.
This post makes me feel hopeful about my former Peace Corps country. We Americans try to be competent coaches, but Estonians certainly have a deeper understanding (if you'll excuse me: "lived experience") of the kinds of things that need to be addressed and the steps for moving forward.
Moldova's agricultural landscape, with soft hills and river bluffs, is beautiful in a serene way that you don't quite get in the Big-Ag countries, which means that driving parts of any tours will be just as satisfying as the historical destinations. The birding is good as well, I believe because fewer pesticides are used in the fields and home market gardens. And then there's eco-tourism: I often felt like an eco-tourist in my village, which still grew, raised, and preserved most of its own food.
My site village also has the home (and maybe remnants of the observatory) of the solar astronomer Nicolae Donici. His early 20th c upper middle class home still stands not only as the home of an important historical person, but also as an example of that type of historical housing. In the villages, it's possible to sense history back to a certain point, but a was erased during Soviet and post-Soviet times. That village also has an abandoned tomato sauce factory, which died with the U.S.S.R., since the Soviets had ensured that industry in their "Republics" made them dependent on each other: while Moldova had all those tomatoes, another country made the jars, another the lids, another the labels, etc.
When I took a look at the village on Google Maps, I noticed a couple of nearby hotels showing up. Things are happening.
As for Chișinău, I always liked the old Chișinău State Circus (which according to Google Maps is in use.)
I have enjoyed reading these stories and love the encapsulation and history of this project written here. It has given me much more depth than I was able to gain as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 2015-2017. Changes are coming for the better of the people and the country. There is so much that Moldova has to offer for tourists. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people. A trip there will be very fulfilling for those seeking knowledge of the people and places of this beautiful country.
Even when we (my wife and I and our three teenage children) lived for two years in Moldova in the mid-1990s, it was possible to see and experience to some degree what Tiina writes about, to get some hint of what Moldova and its people have to offer. It is beautiful to see the good things that have developed since then and to read well-written accounts like Tiina's.
I agree, there's always been a story about potential. It's exciting to see this start moving towards something more real (in terms of tourism, etc). And frustrating that it's moving so slowly.
This post makes me feel hopeful about my former Peace Corps country. We Americans try to be competent coaches, but Estonians certainly have a deeper understanding (if you'll excuse me: "lived experience") of the kinds of things that need to be addressed and the steps for moving forward.
Moldova's agricultural landscape, with soft hills and river bluffs, is beautiful in a serene way that you don't quite get in the Big-Ag countries, which means that driving parts of any tours will be just as satisfying as the historical destinations. The birding is good as well, I believe because fewer pesticides are used in the fields and home market gardens. And then there's eco-tourism: I often felt like an eco-tourist in my village, which still grew, raised, and preserved most of its own food.
My site village also has the home (and maybe remnants of the observatory) of the solar astronomer Nicolae Donici. His early 20th c upper middle class home still stands not only as the home of an important historical person, but also as an example of that type of historical housing. In the villages, it's possible to sense history back to a certain point, but a was erased during Soviet and post-Soviet times. That village also has an abandoned tomato sauce factory, which died with the U.S.S.R., since the Soviets had ensured that industry in their "Republics" made them dependent on each other: while Moldova had all those tomatoes, another country made the jars, another the lids, another the labels, etc.
When I took a look at the village on Google Maps, I noticed a couple of nearby hotels showing up. Things are happening.
As for Chișinău, I always liked the old Chișinău State Circus (which according to Google Maps is in use.)
I have enjoyed reading these stories and love the encapsulation and history of this project written here. It has given me much more depth than I was able to gain as a Peace Corps Volunteer in 2015-2017. Changes are coming for the better of the people and the country. There is so much that Moldova has to offer for tourists. It's a beautiful country with wonderful people. A trip there will be very fulfilling for those seeking knowledge of the people and places of this beautiful country.