Once in library the woman told me that Gagauzia is where "real Moldovans" live and their hospitality is enormous. Most of inhabitans other parts of Moldova probably wouldn't agree with this statement, but for me it was enough to get excited.
Our group was 6 people and we decided to spend a night in Comrat, the capital of Gagauzia. We knew only one guy there, a volunteer like we, but unfortunately this weekend he wasn't at home. Despite that he said that the old woman he lives with will be happy to host us, of course totally for free, she didn't want to take money from us. Sounds like first sign of the great hospitality to me ;)
In good mood we get in the afternoon to Gara de Sud and caught minibus to Comrat. It already seemed like a different world, everyone was talking only in Russian and the driver didn't know the word in Romanian, what was pretty surprising as almost everyone in Moldova is billingual, at least to some extend.
The journey takes about 2,5 hour and the ticket is 50 lei.
 | |
| Center of Comrat |
When we arrived, we saw a small town like every in Moldova, rather ugly buildings, market, few cafes or bars (including one with very creepy look). We drunk a coffee and started looking for our host's place what wasn't difficult at all, as the town is incrediblly small.
 |
| The creepy bar |
Our host - Anna welcomed us with a warm smile and showed our place to sleep, amazing one, as we had separate house in our disposal! Everything in Moldovan style, with carpets on the wall and so on and later, when we went to the city she brought us fresh bed sheets and made a fire in the stove so we wouldn't be cold. Amazing person! Including also interesting conversations till 1 am and constant attempts to feed us make her the best host ever! And of course we got invitation to come once again and bring our friends, because she really like meeting people. Somebody interested? :D
 | |
| Cute houses and gardens |
The Saturday evening we just wandered around to eventually stay at one terrace we found nice and drink some gaguzian wine. The woman in bar had only Moldovan one, but it wasn't a problem - "There is a shop on the edge, go and buy yourself whatever you want" - she said. "But can we drink it here?" - "Of course, what's the problem?!". Ooo, famous gagauzian hospitality :D
 |
| Comrat city - little proof that we're not in the province ;) |
The second day we just walked around again, visited the Lenin's monument, on Lenin's street and come across a demonstration against Moldova's government. Gagauzia is the autonomy, they are mostly very pro-Russian and last February the was a referendum where more than 90% of voters were in favour of closer ties with Russia instead of EU. During the protest they mentioned the referendum many times, but the all thing was very peaceful and for me it was a good example of local democracy. It was quite a crowd there, more people than on any demonstration in Chisinau. That's good, even if I couldn't agree with what they say.
 |
| Demonstration where they warned people of western provocators ;) Maybe that's us? |
Later we went to museum which is really interesting, I recommend that, only that someone has to speak Russian :/ For only 5 lei from the group you can have a guide and thanks to this woman you will get to know everything you nees about Gagauzian people. I'm very glad we went there, it was very informative and I felt being much wiser when going out :D
 |
| Lenin - must-see, only that fresh flowers are a bit disturbing... |
As a souvenir we took of course some good wine, there is a shop calles "Vina Komrata" which sells wine in plastic bottles, 12 lei/litr. Amazing price and pretty good staff they have. Must-visit in the city :D
Thanks to our host and good, cheap wine this trip was very good and I start to understand that travelling in Moldova is not chasing touristic sights (which aren't that many) but simply relaxing, meeting people and enjoying your time. Like in the life itself... Moldova already taught me a lesson. Thanks for that!
 |
| The end of Comrat... just like the end of our trip. |
No comments:
Post a Comment