The Moldova Capital Chişinău is in many ways similar to other eastern cities I’ve visited so far. It has a very nice mail road with all the western stores like Adidas, Nike, Boss etc. You will also see a big square in front of a big Sovietian styled building.

If you just walk one or two blocks away you’ll find old buildings in great need for repairs, streets with pot holes and side walks filled with rubble and/or parked cars. It is almost impossible to find a postcard. Public busses are electrified and very old.

But comparing to Minsk, Odesa and Kiev I can see some differences:

• People are more western-like dressed. Women has no 15 cm high heels and the skirts are more “normal”.
• More people speak english, even many of my generation.
• In bars and restaurants, you don’t find women trying to make contact with you in a quite suspicious way.
• I had no problem finding a restaurant/bar where they played live music. And with a local audience.
• There are strollers.

On may way around I stumbled on to a flea market. I will go back tomorrow to see if I can find something.

Today I spent the evening in the Maestro Art Club Restaurant. With live music, some very skilled local jazz musicians playing some fine tunes and jamming together. I was invited to sit at a tabel with three Moldavian couples. Very nice, we spook about the country and Sweden. One turned out to be an english teacher. Kathy – please don’t look for mistakes if you surf in on to my blog.

Tomorrow I’ll reenter EU. Rumania is next. I’ve spotted a mountain hotel that I’ll try to find. Internet capabilities I don’t know anything about.