My Moldova trip began with two inexpensive plane tickets. I wanted to visit a country I had never seen, wander its streets and take photographs. As departure approached, though, videos I came across added a little anxiety to the excitement: what would happen when we arrived at the border?
Worries after booking the flights
I usually start planning a trip by looking at flights. Moldova was no different: my wife and I booked our tickets before doing much detailed research. About a month before departure, videos about travellers being questioned or turned away at the border made us nervous.
We prepared explanations of our trip in Romanian and English, hotel bookings, citizenship documents, our marriage certificate and documents showing our work. These were precautions we personally chose to take.
Passport control at the airport
The airport was small, so we reached passport control quickly. We were asked about our return tickets, hotel reservation, reason for visiting and length of stay. We were then taken to a waiting room with green seats, where about thirty people were waiting.
About ten minutes later, an officer called me. Everything in my bag was checked. Seeing my camera, the officer asked whether I was a tourist. My amateur radio licence and Turkish identity card also drew attention. I had presented my Bulgarian passport on arrival, so I explained my dual citizenship. Different photographs on my documents prolonged the check.
Eventually, we were allowed through. Including the wait and inspection, the process took about twenty minutes. This was our personal experience; it does not mean every traveller will have the same one.
First impressions of Chișinău
Relieved to have passed passport control, we exchanged dollars at the airport. When we saw the rates in the centre, we realised we had been hasty. On our trip, the difference was noticeable.
We took public transport route 30 into central Chișinău. The wide streets, parks and small bakeries caught my attention. Starting the day with coffee and a pastry was a pleasure. While walking through a park in autumn, we even came across the filming of a musical.
The place we missed: Mileștii Mici
One place I particularly wanted to see was the Mileștii Mici wine cellar. Because we were uncertain about entering the country, we had not booked in advance. The only available slot was on our departure day, and we decided against risking our flight.
The journey to Comrat and Republic Day
To visit Comrat, home to the Gagauz community, we travelled to Chișinău’s southern terminal, Gara de Sud. From there, a minibus took about two hours.
When we reached the Atatürk Library in Comrat, a ceremony marking Turkey’s Republic Day on 29 October was underway. We were invited in. Students who had placed in a competition received gifts, and we met two students who had come from Turkey to study.
Later, we joined people talking in the cathedral garden. We spoke about Turkey, Bulgaria, where we were born and where we lived. Some words were different, but understanding one another became easier. After the tense arrival at the airport, the friendly conversation was welcome. We then ate at a döner restaurant run by a Turkish shopkeeper.
Comrat Cathedral. Photograph: Serhiiplucci / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Image unchanged.
Food and the market in Chișinău
We ate at Andy’s Pizza several times. During our visit, I found the prices moderate and the food good. We also had dinner at La Plăcinte one evening.
The large market had everything from vegetables to jewellery, watches and biscuits. Some sections even sold live fish. Markets like these offer a chance to observe everyday life in the city.
Valea Morilor before departure
On our last day, we walked around the lake at Valea Morilor Park and spent time on the stairs and terraces. Our final meal was at an Italian restaurant. The four-cheese pizza was delicious, though getting to the airport afterwards became a little rushed.
Valea Morilor Park. Photograph: Rodion Gavriloi / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Image unchanged.
What stayed with me
For me, Moldova began with uncertainty and continued with curiosity and encounters. Passport control was the tense opening; Chișinău’s parks, the ceremony in Comrat and the people we met made the warm memories.
This is a personal travel account. Transport routes, prices, reservation conditions and entry procedures can change.