March 2025. Chisinau. Moldova. Our Moldovan tour guide guide Vasili (“call me Les”), a chap in his 30s with a colourful history that took in Ashford (Middlesex not Kent) was a good lad, though with a cavalier attitude to the Highway Code. His partner in the tour company was less than impressed with the muddied… Continue reading WHEN YOU REALLY NEED A PINT OF TOMATO GOSE…
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IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GAGARIN. WINE TASTING AT CRICOVA.
March 2025. Cricova, Moldova. I really didn’t want to do the wine tasting, but Mrs RM said she couldn’t really count Moldova as ticked without a winery; it would be like ticking a pub with a half rather than a pint. Cricova isn’t the biggest winery in Moldova, but we drove through a mile of… Continue reading IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GAGARIN. WINE TASTING AT CRICOVA.
OLD ORHEI
March 2025. Old Orhei. Moldova. It’s generally accepted that the main activities in Moldova are craft beer bars, wine tasting, and monasteries. Let’s get the 2nd and 3rd of those ticked. Our guide Vasili had a nice looking car to take us to Old Orhei’s little collection of museums and monasteries. Well, it was a… Continue reading OLD ORHEI
PINK BOOTS AND YELLOW SNOW. LITRA & FRIENDS, CHISINAU
March 2025. Chișinău. Moldova. Chisinau had looked quite promising based on Untappd check-ins; though once you leave the capital there’s very slim pickings. I left Mrs RM to talk to ChatGPT while I nipped out to, a) get some Moldovan lei. A machine gives me a single 1,000 lei note (£42.88) & when I b)… Continue reading PINK BOOTS AND YELLOW SNOW. LITRA & FRIENDS, CHISINAU
MOLDOVA HAS FALLEN
March 2025. Moldova. I’m not sure she’s actually found the little pin badge to stick in the wall chart yet, but Mrs RM has completed Europe. Well, all apart from Belarus, and she’s not going there; it’s more dangerous than Maidenhead. I guess it’s a bit like claiming to have finished the GBG without having… Continue reading MOLDOVA HAS FALLEN
IASI – THOSE LOVELY TRAMS
March 2025. Iaşi. Romania. A last one from Iaşi, I promise. But, like Duncan in 2019, whose photo I steal with pride, I can’t ignore. “the trams, those lovely trams“, even if that seems to close to a Father Ted reference for comfort. We succumbed to the 68p for 2 hours of tram travel ticket… Continue reading IASI – THOSE LOVELY TRAMS
“Early to bed, early to rise…”
March 2025. Iaşi. Romania. Yes, we’re not in Kaunas now, Tonto. Iaşi has its share of brutalist housing estates (this one facing the Opera House), but it’s also packed with gorgeous buildings housing smart shops, and speakeasies. There’s some money around in Europe’s fastest growing economy. I always aim to explore the streets of a… Continue reading “Early to bed, early to rise…”
“Atelierul de bere” – As close as Iași gets to a Spoons ?
March 2025. Iași, We conclude our lone night in Romania’s cultural capital, not in the Palace of Culture itself (never made it), but at Iasi’s extraordinarily upmarket Palas shopping mall, and a wander round the boutique stores. The mall (a MUST if you visit) has flashy brewery-run dining pubs, but we’d crossed the road for… Continue reading “Atelierul de bere” – As close as Iași gets to a Spoons ?
“Întunecat” – Romanian craft at Iaşi’s Kaze Taproom
March 2025. Iaşi. Romania. The really notable thing about the craft bars in Eastern Europe is that they’re in the most expensive places in town. I guess with their strong pints (0.4 litres) at £4.50 a pop they’re as aspirational as Beermoth or the Old Shoe in England. Kaze is bang central, opposite the Metropolitan… Continue reading “Întunecat” – Romanian craft at Iaşi’s Kaze Taproom
IASI – ROMANIA’S CULTURAL CAPITAL
March 2025. Iaşi. Romania. Let’s get the culture out of the way quickly, so you philistines can read about pubs* next up. I have to get my culture in where I find it; when you join CAMRA-approved “Pub Research Trip” (ugh) you have to sign a contract agreeing not to nip off to visit Art… Continue reading IASI – ROMANIA’S CULTURAL CAPITAL
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