Ziua Vinicului or Wine Day is a National Holiday here in Moldova. That's because they have been making wine here for 5,000 years. This year it was on the first weekend in October. The first picture gives you a little taste of October in Jeloboc with the leaves turning. The big wine barrel is at my house as it is at every other house in Moldova. Everyone makes some vin de casa or house wine. The big wine day celebration is in Chisinau. Here you see one of the tasting booths. It touts "respect for tradition and courage in innovation." Milestii Mici has a tasteful presence with people in ethnic dress. And of course there are many tasters there including some Peace Corps Volunteers. To help celebrate, there are many musical performances. I spent the night in Chisinau and woke up in a fog. Early this morning we felt the tremors of an earthquake in neighboring Romania. At least some people felt them. I slept right through it at 4:30 in the morning. I traveled back to Orhei to wait for my visitors coming this day from the USA via Poland and the Ukraine. While in Orhei (Sunday) I enjoyed our local Wine Day. Of course more music and dancing. Our village Piatra had a booth that had the theme "La Sezatoare" or handicrafts for evening sitting. You see our mayor offering the traditional "codita" (circle of bread) in welcome. And you see some of our handicrafters sitting with their beautiful crochet work. The wine fest also had food such as roast pig and bread. Even fresh goat milk. Our main stage provided a space for performers. And more dancers. And of course, cotton candy. It was a wonderful wine weekend. And my visitors, Zachary, my son, and Phyllis his mom, eventually did arrive from the Ukraine on a bus. Coming next, our Moldovan week together.
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