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Moldova: Cricova Wine City, Soroca Gipsy Houses, Soroca Fortress

2008.08.27






























Cricova is the second biggest winery in Moldova after Milestii Mici, which is the biggest in the world. Compared to Milestii Mici's 200 km of underground tunnels, Cricova only boasts of 120, but it was Cricova that Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space, came to visit. Legend says he got lost for a day in the tunnels, but he was very cheerful when he was eventually found :)

Soroca is a Moldovan city about 170 km away from Chisinau, the capital, and it's on the Moldovan side of the Nistru river, at the border with Ukraine. A lot of rich gipsies live here; they build amazingly big and decorated houses. I've never seen anything like it; it's like each family is trying to build a bigger and more elaborate house. Crazy stuff!

The Soroca Fortress is worth a visit for its guide, an old archaeologist with the liveliest, craziest, funniest personality and an original view on local history.
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