Common Chisinau Sites

There are a number of common sites around the city that still catch my eye as we pass by them (at warp speed) everyday. Probably the most fascinating are the white tree trunks. Nearly every tree in the city, and in towns and villages, has had its trunk painted – to a height of 2-4 feet. All the trees on one street will be painted at a surprisingly consistent height. Ivan says that it began as a tradition to make the place look clean.

There are small stores and kiosks throughout the city. The stores are called Alimentaras, and they exist on just about every major block. The one close to us is very small, but it has a number of staples within its 3 square meters. Nearly everything is behind the counter, requiring customers to ask for the items they want. The kiosks are even more numerous, since nearly anyone (I guess) can set up a table with some items on it and “work”. Near the government buildings downtown, there are 10 or 12 in row, each selling candy, snacks, and cold drinks. It surprises me how each kiosk owner has a refrigerator to keep the cold things cold. There are also kiosks that are sheet metal buildings, and the only opening is about 12 inches by 12 inches. I don’t think people ever see the workers faces – just their hands. These are both pretty advanced kiosks, though. Near our home, on the corner of two residential streets, there is a lady, in her 60s, who sits at a small table everyday. She has an inventory of 20 or so soap products. I have no idea if she ever sells anything. When it rains, she uses a plastic covering to make an umbrella. I don’t know what time she begins in the morning, but she is there many nights past 8 o’clock.

The minibuses. On busy streets, you will see one lane of traffic entirely dedicated to minibuses. They are actually a very efficient means of transports. I wait no longer than 3 minutes to catch one wherever I am, and their routes are extensive enough to cover any part of the city. Nevertheless, they are everywhere in Chisinau. Many are white, others are red, blue, or orange, some have advertisements painted on the sides, many have curtains inside, and they all have large signs on the front indicating their number and their route.

The trolley buses are the best sight throughout the city. These are old, old buses, mostly painted orange and white. Although they have wheels and do not need to operated in a track like most trolleys I’ve seen, they get their power from electrical lines overhead. It is common to see drivers hooking up to the lines using a long pole. I have yet to figure out how the drivers can stay connected to the overhead lines when there are no tracks to follow.

Gates in front of homes are a definite must in Chisinau. If you don’t have one, you’ll look mighty out of place. Most gates are green with blue or white. Some get rather ornate, and many are decorated to match the fences surrounding the homes. It’s fun to look at the different designs.

Andy’s Pizza. They seem to be everywhere. Lonely Planet lists them as one of the “cheap eats” in Chisinau. And they are. 33 lei (less than $3) for a 4 topping 12-inch pizza or a healthy serving of lasagna. 8 lei for a half-liter of Pepsi. (Beats the Euro 2.50 we pay in Holland!) It’s a good thing they have good food. We’ve eaten there 6 times in 21 days. (But it’s still not Philly Connection.) I’ve counted six around the city so far. Who knows when I’ll spot another one.