A little about Moldova

Moldova is a small Eastern European country about the size of the state of Maryland. It is known as the poorest, most densely populated country in Eastern Europe. Until the breakup of the Soviet Union, it was one of the Soviet satellite republics. While it is still under some influence of the communists, the communists of today are not the communists of the cold war. They are in many ways the new Capitalists.

Moldova is a study in contrasts, the capital city, Chisinau has all the amenities anyone could want, and with the exception of the roads is as modern as most Western European cities. Internet access is super, with high speed wireless internet access through the mobile phone carriers available at about $13 per month. In the villages out in the country its almost a return to the 17th century. Probably 90% of stand alone homes in rural Moldova do not have inside running water or toilets and the economy is heavily agricultural.

Moldova was the wine and champagne supplier for the entire Soviet Union. Some of the best wine you ever taste will be found in Moldova and the very best is found in the "podval" (wine cellar) of almost every home in Moldova.