Chisinau Cameos

 

Chisinau Cameos.  That's what I'm calling this entry.  It's a lot of separate shots of Chisinau that don't exactly show you the main tourist attractions but give you a sampling of what Moldova's capital city is like.  A lot of what's important in Chisinau is on Stefan Cel Mare Blvd (picture one).  Here's the National Theater Mihai Eminescu. Local eateries, Café Nistru, McDonalds, and Dos Amigos Kebabs.  The Central Post Office with the modern Sky Tower office building and shopping plaza in the background.  Right across the street is the clock tower of the Chisinau Mayor's Office.  (No match for the Stoughton clock tower in my view)  Next we go to the Piata Centrala (Central Market) where all the fresh food you'd want to eat is for sale.   A modern building with giant wings,  that is the Atrium Shopping Center-- outside of which I found this delightful sculpture of Don Quixote and his companion.  Nearby is the Cosmos Hotel.  Next, the five star hotel Leogrand.  One of Moldova's finest.  What looks to you like a flea market is known as the Russian piata.  It's one giant white elephant sale.  Chisinau has a fair amount of live theater and music.  Here you see the rather modern building of the Teatru Eugene Ioneso.  I was impressed that you can even buy tickets on-line.  (Keeping right up with the Stoughton Village Players!)   Jazz, live music, and Miss Belly Dancer Moldova. Entertainment for all tastes.  Looking up Ismail Blvd you can see a line of apartment buildings.  We visit one building on the street and you get a view from the 15th floor.  Yes there is an elevator.  (Sorry 4 people max). Take a look around the apartment.  Back down on Ismail is the Romanian Embassy (pink column front).  During the week there are always lines of people outside waiting to file for a Romanian passport.  If they are granted one, it is a key to open boarder travel within the European Union.  That mean's a lot of work opportunities which they don't have here.  Just down the block from the Romanian Embassy is our Peace Corps Headquarters.  (White building on the corner).   Chisinau, it's the Paris of Eastern Europe.  If you get lost, just stop and ask your Moldovan guide for directions.