4th to 12th of November, 2021.
My host in Moldova, Constantin, is a funny character. He is very different of most all of my hosts, having this really countryside thing on him. But at the same time, he is far way ahead of the people in the small village of Rosu. Here in Moldova, such thing as Permaculture is still totally unappreciated but only because almost nobody is doing. Constantin is really engaged not only on doing for himself and his mother but also he wants to help the people of his village and country to get involved in this new and very sustainable type of agriculture.
His place is small and cozy. Even though is pretty cold outside, there are still some things in the garden which we can eat. He has many different vegetables, green leaves, fruits, walnuts, seeds, eatable flowers and herbs. He tells me how people are surprise about his progress in this area and how little do people know here about Permaculture or agriculture in general. A lot of them don’t know about some herbs and green leaves, like Arugula, for example, which are so well know by us. Here is the link for his website and because he also has a an Airbnb guest house, you could stay with him when you go to visit Moldova: https://www.ecocostel.com/p/ecotourism.html.
The house is nice, clean and well organized. Simple but lovely! He lives with his mother and she is so cute. I don’t know if it is because she can speak Italian or what, but for me, she looks more like an Italian lady than a Moldovan one.
The food is nice and varied. But mostly vegan. And I even try a homemade Moldovan wine. I liked!
I help Constantin mostly with translating articles from his blog to Portuguese. I also take some photographs for his website and mostly that is it.
One day, we go to Cahul so he can show me the town. It is a simple and small town but it is interesting to see it.
My favorite day is when some people come to visit him, and we have a barbecue of vegetables, mushrooms, potatoes baked on the coal, on the floor, some cheese, salad and wine. Everything is delicious!
I stay only for a week because my host in Romania is already waiting for me since a few days ago. But she was lovely and told me I could come whenever I wanted.
In the morning when I leave Constantin’s house, he has gone to Chisinau already a few day ago, to make a speech about Permaculture. As I said before, he is trying to advertise this idea to as much Moldovans as possible.
I am walking out of the village, in direction of Cahul towards the border. I should walk for about 5 Km to get in Cahul and the border is about the same distance from the town. But on my way, a car stops and a lovely couple asks me where I am going. When I tell them, they offer to drive me to the intersection. In the car, talking about my travels, they now offer to drive me to the border. How lovely!
At the border, a surprise: I cannot cross by foot. What? This is the most absurd thing I have ever heard. Together with the fact that Chris Evans is to be named the sexiest man of 2021. But anyway, a nice and young (way too young) police officer, tells me I cannot cross the border as a walker. So basically I have to hitchhike before the border in order to cross it. It might seem like not a big deal, but in my experience with hitchhiking, people get much more afraid or suspicious of getting someone before a border than after. Who knows!
So it takes about two hours to someone finally pick me up. Even with the help of the young police officer, asking to almost every driver if they would take me. Owm!!
Even though I am trying to go to Bucharest, I know it would more likely to get a lift just to the next town, Galati. And if I am not mistaken, it is there where the driver drops me.
I walk quite a while until a place where I can hitchhike? No! Until where I can hold my sign to the cars and keep walking. But it works out because a van stops for me while I am still walking! Yay!
They are a family of three: Florina, Octavian and their son, Andrei. They are so nice! Even though they don’t speak English, they explain to me they are going to Bucharest but only need to make a quick stop on the way in Florina’s parents house. And Florina’s mother is very cute too. They have farm animals in their house. Florina gives me a chicken sandwich and I eat because I am hungry. Also in the car I try a local beer made from fruits, which they tell me it is only made in Galati. I do not like very much. It reminds me of all the local beers I have tried in African countries.
Even though they are going to a birthday in Bucharest, the lovely family drive me to my host’s apartment. And after I live the car, they even call my host to check if I have arrived. How cute! I did arrive.
