From Chişinău, we drove east

We were on my Dad’s summer holiday. It was his first time on the other side of the Prut River; he was eager to discover. Each year, I ask him where he wishes to spend his summer holiday and he chooses.

 

Our first stop was Selemet, where we spent an enchanting evening with our friends and an equally happy morning.

 

I wanted my Dad to see a bit of Chişinău on top of our usual visits to buy candy and cosmetics.

EcoLocal reuniting local producers on Saturday mornings (and a bit after lunch) was the perfect opportunity. I knew some of them and their products from iProsop. As I filled our bags with handmade pasta, various flours, oils, nuts, and fruits, I understood that summer hadn’t ended yet. The exquisite strawberry-flavoured gelato convinced me of that.

 

Our next stop was Etcetera Winery. It is bizarre and funny at the same time that we started back in the day with the large wineries to the east of the Prut River – and got to the family-owned ones only recently. To the west of the Prut River, we started from the family-owned and got to the large wineries only recently.

 

I loved Etcetera from the start – the vast parking, the chicness of the restaurant, the professionalism and kindness of our tasting’s host. We decided on a four-wine tasting. It’s been a while since I loved all the wines in my glass! P.S. The pie was delicious. P.S. 2) The tour of the winery, led by its founder, was an interesting and fun way to learn about the stages in the creation of Etcetera. P.S. 3) Carmenere lingered on my mind; we purchased wines from the winery’s shop.

 

Getting to Palanca Village had been a dream for its slow pace and river life heritage. Once there, however, my mood changed a bit and, with a few exceptions, so did the remainder of the trip.

 

We went to see the Dniester River that morning in Tudora (two ladies helped us with directions). I had planned to swim there (and it looked inviting). However, I wasn’t feeling too well, so I left my swim for another time. So did my Dad and Marcel.

 

In June, I learned from a guide turned friend that every district centre reunites all the important stores in Moldova. When Marcel suddenly changed the last part of our itinerary, we made good use of our stop in Căuşeni to buy fruits, more cosmetics, and some new PJs (for me).

The main reason for our stop was the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady, with its old walls and paintings – all of an unknown date. The Tatars had allegedly only allowed the construction of the church as high as a soldier riding a horse (not to rival the existing minarets). We had a wonderful tour; the place is full of peace and extraordinary energy.

 

This is how I left Moldova!