KishinevMapApril, 2002 It was warmer in Kishinev than in Moscow. All of the passengers on my flight got through passport control in five minutes. * * * The city looks more like a hamlet.  Although it has some village-like features.  The sign commemorating the 50th anniversary of the great October revolution is made out of espalier apple trees. The apple trees are in the shape of a hammer and sickle, seven-branched candelabra, stars, and text. They’re located on the territory of Kishinev’s Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, or VDNH.  Street sign.  Moldovan coppers:  Street art:  Before visiting the wineries I went on air at the local “Hit-FM” radio station to answer some questions. The person who came up with the best question would win an autographed CD of some sort. This is the question I picked out of all the ones listeners sent in: “Tema, do tell, why are you such a moron?”. I read it out loud for local listeners’ enjoyment, inaccessible to listeners in Moscow. I hope the CD ends up in the right hands.  Winery. The visit culminated in us tasting 10 different varieties.  Going down into the Milestii wine cellar. The Cricova wine cellar was closed for renovations, but this one was open. 50 kilometres of underground paths 60 metres below ground level.  We’ve arrived. We drank from ten of the one and half million bottles stored at this depth. One of those ten we finished.  Readers, take a guess: what is this luxury item, found at the four-star “Cordu” hotel? Correct answer below the photo.  Nope, it’s not a candle. It’s a bath plug with a specially designed ergonomic piece of plastic string, which makes it easier to pull out the plug. * * * The trip ended on a joyous note. Andrei Popov, a customs official at Kishinev airport, enquired about the purpose of my trip, my occupation, the topic of the presentation I gave, where I’d stayed, and how much foreign exchange I was taking of the country. When I said “400” his face took on a serious expression. — Where is your entry declaration? You can only take 200 out of the country, no more. — But when I landed there was no declaration, no one asked me to fill anything out... — I don’t know anything about that. Please follow me for a body search to check how much money you’re carrying. Andrei Popov’s colleague informed him, that they don’t conduct body searches. — In that case just follow me please. We went to a separate room, about 20 square metres, which contained nothing except the walls and the floor. The bribe I had to pay was $50. — I’ve also got my own company, — Popov, defender of Moldovan borders against illegal US dollar flows, told me — it’s registered in my mum’s name. We’re in the design business too. Interior design. ...going through passport control took five minutes, max. It was warmer in Moscow than it was in Kishinev. That CD is definitely going to the right person. |
