A Weekend Travel Logue to Iași

 

Last weekend was unusual for me as I took a trip outside of Moldova.  At first I got well dressed for the winter travel.  My first destination was Ungheni which is a raion center on the Romanian boarder.  Of course my main purpose for being there was to help celebrate a birthday with my Peace Corps friend, Robyn (see previous post for highlights).  On Saturday Robyn, Michael, and I took a quick trip into Romania, to the city of Iași.  Iași (eyash) is only 25 km over the Romanian boarder which is the River Prut.  We caught a hired car and crossed through the customs gate and were left off right in front of Stefan cel Mare's Palace in Iași.  Unfortunately it was under renovation, so we couldn't tour the inside.  We saw some very large and very old churches in this part of Iași.  And they had a Hotel Moldova here in Romania.  Robyn was glad she wore her serious boots because the weather was a bit misty and damp.

And as you can see they have a trolley car system here, read books about Bob Dylan, and have many wonderful buildings and monuments to see.  I even noticed that they were soon to have a performance of Animal Farm by George Orwell...in Romanian of course.  Among the interesting streets and shops we found a very classy pastry shop and stopped to enjoy some.  I also noticed they had a McDonalds Restaurant here.  A bill board was promoting "dublu" sandwiches.  The dublu cheeseburger of course; but also the dublu McPuisor (that's a chicken sandwich).  That's pronounced  mick-poohey-shore.  Well we had to cut our trip short as there was only one train back to Ungheni and that was at 1:30.   We double checked our tickets and headed for home.  The trip is only 12 miles, but it takes two hours because you have to be "inspected" by two sets of boarder guards.  And they didn't give us funny looking foreigners an easy time of it either.  Very stern looking "soldats" asked lots of detailed questions.   But we Peace Corps bros made it back safe and sound, back to sweet home Moldova.

Happy Birthday Season

La Mulți Ani,  that's what they say for Happy Birthday here in Moldova.  And I recently experienced my first birthday....in Moldova, that is.   Actually it was my 66th birthday, so I like to say I'm traveling down route 66, which is a joke no one gets here in Moldova.  But as you can see, it still puts a smile on my face.  At breakfast on my birthday, I was presented with this souvenir folk couple in Moldovan dress.  For supper, I  had the unusual pleasure of eating out at a restaurant in Orhei with my house mate Sergiu and a Peace Corps friend Walter.  We had some good food and drink and even an ice cream sundae for desert.  Sergiu had actually made me a delicious yellow cake with prune filling and chocolate icing.   We polished that one off at home in a few days.  And then more birthday fun with my Peace Corps friend, Robyn, who lives in Florițoaia Vechi.  She made pizza and home made hot wings for her family and guests.  And her fellow folk ensemble members also gave her some "masa dishes" as well as surprises from the kids at school.  Robyn is proud to announce that she has turned 30 years old.  So cheers to you, or "noroc" as they say here from two birthday kids, Warren and Robyn. And many thanks to all who sent me birthday wishes.

Happy Old New Year

Happy Old New Year!!   Sounds a little queer to the ear, you say?   Well 7 days after Old Christmas follows Old New Year--January14.   Sunday was "Ajun" Old New Year,  or almost Old New Year, or Old New Year's Eve if you would.  I was in Orhei and saw a wonderful show of Colindi (Christmas Carols) groups from around the raion (county).  It seems that most groups have a story about a goat in their repertoire.  You see a picture of a goat get up above.  And some groups have someone cracking a whip as they sing.  I think that's to give the goat motivation.  ALL the groups have a small hand bell that they ring continuously as they sing or recite poems.  The last few pictures give you a little taste of Moldovan winter styles.  Hey what's this, a picture of my friend Basil and Marilyn in Chicago!  Oh, that's because January 14th--Old New Year's Day is also Svinte Vasile Day.   You guessed it, Vasile is Basil in our Romanian tounge.  There's a famous cathedral in Moscow right off of Red Square in honor of St Basil.   But for today we'll just have to end with a picture of the church in Jeloboc.  La Mulți Ani, Sanatate, bani in buzunar, Noroc, porcul pe masa, fericire și frumos viața!  And may you get a seat on the rutiera.

The Christmas Show

The children who come to our Community Center worked hard to put on a Christmas Show.  The first picture is the main activity room at our center and it was the stage for our show.  "La Mulți Ani"  or Happy New Year is a frequent wish during these Sărbătoare Iarna or Winter Holidays.  Time to gather for rehearsal, meet with buds, and to recite Plugusorul which are never ending verses about Craciun or Christmas.  Sometimes you just have to wait your turn to say your poem.  What we're on Now!  Meanwhile friends had time to chat.  The staff received homemade Christmas cards from the children.  And angels had time to give direction...."you go over there!"  There were gypsy dancers, comedy bits, and balloons of course.  The grown ups even had a chance to sing some Christmas Colindi.  And every child received a gift.  After the show, the refreshments.  It was Christmas show enjoyed by all.