It has been a long awaited trip to
Moldova
Once we thought that there was an arrival visa policy and last moment we found it was not and cancelled the trip.
The second time the visa was stamped but we got the passports only after the visa dates got expired! And the trip was cancelled.
Finally we planned everything in advance and the trip actually stared on 7 th Dec. 15.
Though this is a business trip, this article will not say anything about the business aspects.
George and I started from Karaganda to Chisinau en route Moscow Moldova is
In the airport after checking our passports and visa, they asked to go back to stay on the redline and wait! We felt something was wrong and started thinking what should be our next action. Finally after 10 minutes of waiting, one officer came and let us to go! We collected the baggage and were searching for the driver. We located a person holding a placard of Lafarge. His name was Oleg and he took us to his car. I always prefer to sit in the front with the driver and sat in the front. We developed a conversation and I came to know he was married and had a daughter studying at school. He was so cordial to us. We asked to take us to a money exchange center and help us to buy local sim cards. He took us to one small super market where the money can be exchanged. We exchanged the money and I wanted to buy some water in the super market. While checking inside the super market I saw a beautiful chocolate cake. I bought that cake. He then took us to the Orange mobile phone shop where we bought sim cards. It took some time and he was very patient and waiting.
We arrived at the plant in Rezina and after the formalities and Oleg took us to the guest house. While departing I presented the cake to him as a gift to his daughter. I told him I also have a daughter and son. He was surprised to receive a cake from a foreigner!
Rezina is a small city and no star hotels are available there. One family is running a guest house. The land lady Svetlana was sixty years old and was very, very hospitable. The room was not bad. A small TV with local channels was there and WIFI was available! Svetlana cooked a delicious food for us. I went to bed early.
The next morning the breakfast was also good. She offered some Moldavian sweets made of grapes and other fruits. We visited the plant. Volodaya, the kiln coach was assigned to help us. He was a nice guy and showed us the plant and provided the necessary information. The shift supervisor Gregory and the CCR operators were very cordial. End of the day, I have offered them some small souvenirs fromKazakhstan
In the evening Svetlana prepared a fish dish for us. It was delicious. I presented her a small souvenir and she was very happy. The next day in the plant we visited the quarry, met the process engineers, quality engineer and found all are very courteous and offering all the data we asked. Vova, the kiln coach took us to the packing plant also and the day came to an end. I just put the flash light I was using in to his pocket and I could see from his eyes the mutual grateful feelings.
Evening we invited Sergei, the production manager for dinner. We went to a bar and the food was good and the prices were very cheap.
The next day morning at 7 we have to leave for the airport. Svetlana prepared an early special breakfast at 6.30 am itself.
Oleg was the driver again, I was very happy to see him again. He said his daughter liked the cake very much and thanked me again and from the closet of the car he took two bottles of CRICOVA wine, the famous one, and presented each one to George and me !! Reciprocation !!
He took us in time to the airport! I thanked him and I checked my purse and took the unspent remaining Moldavian currency and inserted in his pocket.
He looked at me and we exchanged mutual feelings!
The people are good! Everybody wants to offer what they could !! I would love to visit Moldova again.
