Placinta paradise…

Wednesday June 20, 2012 – Chisinau, Moldova

I’ve been in Moldova since yesterday.  I added a four-day side trip to here as part of my Euro 2012 adventure in Ukraine.  I couldn’t pass up the opportunity (since Moldova and Ukraine are neighbors) to visit Brittany Hill (Smith Hall 2007-2010) who is currently serving in the Peace Corps here.  We left Kyiv (I’m traveling with a friend) at 8 am and arrived her an hour later.  Brittany met us at the airport and we took a Rutiera (local bus) into the center of town and proceeded to go to the Peace Corps office.  There we relaxed a bit, let folks know we arrived safely, etc and then proceeded on a short walking tour of the city.  It is ridiculously hot here so there was only so much walking around we could handle.  We had lunch at a great little Greek restaurant and back to the Peace Corps office to enjoy the air conditioning and wi-fi.  Some time in the afternoon we proceeded to the central bus terminal to catch another rutiera to Brittany’s site in the town of Nisporeni (about 2 hours in a soviet-era bus with no air conditioning).  The adventure was unfolding.  Upon arriving the place was what I had expected, like other towns I had been to in Eastern Europe.  I had prepared myself for a little bit of roughing it.  Turns out I didn’t have to, Brittany happened to luck out into a host house/family with a very nice home with all the modern amenities.  We were warmly greeted by Julia (Brittany’s host mom), and we presented her with a few bottles of Cricova (Moldova’s famous vineyard) sparkling wine.  Then dinner preparation started ( a four hour affair that resulted in a fabulous meal).  “Host Mom” as Brittany refers to Julia made Placinta (basically farmers cheese seasoned with dill and green onions rolled in dough and fried in oil), Brittany fried up some delicious battered zucchini, salad was made and chicken was roasted on the grill – but instead of charcoal or wood we used dried corn cobs (a brilliant re-use, and I think it added a little something to the taste).  We devoured the food and chased it down with some great homemade wine.  After dinner we cleaned up and then it was time to watch the Ukraine v. England match on TV (Ukraine was robbed by the way!).  After sleeping till almost 9, we got up and quickly ate and then walked into town to visit one of the projects Brittany is working on (a construction of a modern dance studio) as part of her partnership.  We then visited her office, and then made our way back to the house and ultimately Chisinau. 

We hung out a little more at the Peace Corps office and then settled into the apartment that Brittany had arranged for us.  We had a fabulous dinner at Pegas and are now relaxing, reading, updating blogs etc.  Tomorrow we are of to Orheiul Vechi (an ancient monastery built into the side of cliffs). 

It’s been great to see Brittany and think back to the day when she first moved into Smith – I would have never guessed I’d be visiting her in Moldova five years later.  

                                                      In the center of Chisinau.

                                            Brittany frying zuchini.

                                              Placinta being fried - delicious!

                                                    Burning up the corn

                                                        "Host Mom"

                                              "Host Mom's" grape vines

                                                 "Host Mom's" plum tree

                                            The view from the backyard

                                                       The house.

                                                       Me and Brittany

                                                         The studio being built

                                                         Brittany in her office