Chisinau, Moldova 5 - 7 May

Now we are in the poorest country in Europe, Moldova. The average salary here is $70 a month. They have no real products, except some wine. Which, because of their problems with Russia, they can't really export right now. So they are hurting. Actually, about 1/4 the population lives abroad and sends money home, and that accounts for much of their GDP.

The other major problem is the break away Republic of Transdistria. This is a "country" along the eastern border with the Ukraine. Its a total communist state, lonely planet said it was a living museum of the Soviet Union. They have their own currency, army, border guards, president, the whole works. However, they are not recognized by anyone internationally, so its basically a place that doesn't exist. We passed through it on our bus ride from Odessa. I wanted to take a day trip there, but from what we read it is very difficult. The border guards won't let you in without a visa, but then you have to explain to them that its impossible to get a visa because they don't have any Embassies, because they don't exist. Crazy.

This is about the only thing worth seeing here. The top of the building says Chisinau, YEAH!

We arrived in the late afternoon and decided we could afford to stay in a nice place, we really wanted a hot shower. So we found an upscale apartment/hotel. For 80 euros a night we had a penthouse suite, 2 floors, and 300 channels on TV(we spent most of the time watching this hilarious Italian show. MC in a tux, rock band playing, male body builders in underwear, and topless girls. And somehow, the show was about online gambling.) The staff was extremely nice and accommodating. They even washed our clothes.

Chisinau doesn't have much to see culturally, but is known for having a vibrant nightlife scene.
So Friday night we went to a place called Military Pub(decked out with a bunch of army stuff all over.) It was a bar/club, but lots of people, dressed to impress. Apparantly, they only thing these people spend there money on is for going out to clubs. They have nothing else to do. So the club scene ends up being really good. The funniest thing about Military Pub is about halfway through the night they stop the music. A guy stands on the bar waving the Soviet Flag, and they raise another Soviet Flag over the dance floor, and play the Soviet National Anthem!!! That night we met an 18 year old Russian guy from St. Petersburg, we called him Steve. And he offered to take us to a concert the next day. He's a newscaster, dad lives in Atlanta, and he knew everyone in Chisinau, EVERYONE.

This is Steve.

So Saturday we walked around a bit, but not much to see here. Got a hold of Steve and met up with him around 6pm. He take us to the concert for the most famous Rap group in Russia, Kasta. Russian Rap???? I know, but they were popular, the concert was packed and everyone was into it, singing along. About halfway through the concert, Steve and I went out to the lobby bar to get a beer. Ran into some of Steve's friends, and we decide to get some pictures. Cameras are given to the bartender. Photos taken. I see camera get set on the bar. I turn to say something to Steve, turn back, camera is not on the bar.... So, my camera is now gone. We spend the rest of the concert trying to figure out whole stole it. Steve promises me 100% we will find the camera. Yeah riiiight. But he's friends with the owner of the place, so security is all over it. He's friends with the guy who runs this website that critics the concerts and nightlife each weekend(and everyone visits this website), and he's friends with the black market people who buy and sell stolen things. So, pretty much all bases are covered. But, I'm taking it as a loss, I'm more upset about the lost pictures than the camera. And, I missed the rest of the concert.

News Flash: When I got home, I emailed Steve, and he said he found my camera. Crazy, but he said the owner bought it off a girl who took it, and Steve bought it off of him for about $100. And, being that Steve was very nice to us, I sort of trust him, I sent him the $100 and am hoping he sends my camera, if he actually has it.

After the concert we went to Military Pub for a bit, saw the National Anthem again. Then went upstairs to a club called Star Trak. It was ok, they had a dance off that was pretty hilarious. But we had heard about this place called People, so we made our way there, and were WOWed!! This was one of the nicest clubs I've been too. Right up there with Ibiza, I'll put up pictures. It seemed like we were in Hollywood, everyone was dressed like it. But it only cost about $2 to get in the door.

We walked around a bit more the next day and caught an over night train to Bucharest, Romania.

These were the toilets in the Chisinau train station.

Some weird train at the station.