En route to Odessa, we passed through a place that has different names, depending on your viewpoint.
The breakaway republic of Pridnestrovia / the state of Transnistria in Moldova is a former war zone and up-in-the-air situation. Because they don’t think they’re Moldova, they don’t stamp your passport going ‘out’ as you leave for Ukraine. They don’t stamp your passport coming ‘in’ from Ukraine. Going this way, Ukraine knows, and they’re not too worried, since you have the ‘in’ stamp from Ukraine (which I successfully avoided paying a bribe for). Coming into Moldova, it’s a problem, so I was glad to be going this direction. I did that on purpose.
We got stuck on the outskirts of Tiraspol for some sort of train delay, and I got out to walk around for a bit. Being the only foreigner and only person in my car, they wouldn’t lose track of me.
I saw lots of animals and trash near the train tracks and this very appropriate shirt for a breakaway republic.
After nearly an hour, we were rolling again. Short & sweet, but the train was leaving with or without me.
I’ll be back someday!
This entry was posted in Europe, Pridnestrovia, Tiraspol, Transnistria
