World Country Guide

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Food & Drink
There are plenty of small restaurants and coffee shops. The service tends to be slow, but the cuisine is delicious. Local specialities include mititeyi (small grilled sausages with onion and pepper) and mamaliga (thick, sticky maize pie) which is served with brinza (feta cheese). Tocana (pork stew) should be tried with sweet-and-sour watermelons and apples. There are more than 100 varieties of excellent wines produced in Moldova. White wines include Aligote, Riesling and Sauvignon. Moldovan Cabernet and Merlot are noteworthy reds. Doina or Nistru brandy is an ideal accompaniment with desserts.

Nightlife
In Chisinau, there is a good selection of theatres and concerts halls, which includes an opera house. The Eminescu Music and Drama Theatre specialises in Romanian productions, as does the Youth Theatre Luceafarul (Poetic Star). All performances in the Chekhov Drama Theatre are exclusively in Russian (the building used to be the Chisinau Choral Synagogue). The Philharmonia Concert Hall houses Moldova’s Symphony Orchestra. It is also the base for the folklore Doina Choir, the internationally renowned Zhok National Dance Ensemble and the Fluerash Orchestra of National Music. Russian and Romanian productions can be seen in the puppet theatre Licurici (Glow-worm).

Shopping
Good buys are the vividly coloured costumes, handmade carpets and locally produced wines and brandies. The main open-air market or tolchok is on Calea Mosilor, about 10 minutes’ drive away from central Chisinau. Although crowded, it sells everything and is a good place for bargains. Shopping hours: Larger shops open 0800-2000; all others open 0900-1700.

Special Events
There are few special events celebrated in Moldova. The following is a selection of special events occurring in Moldova in 2005; for a complete listing, contact the National Tourism Agency (see Contact Addresses section):
Feb-Mar International Specialised Exhibition of Sports, Leisure and Tourism. Aug 27 Independence Day. Oct 13-14 Wine Festival.

Social Conventions
Dress should be casual but conservative. For official engagements, men should wear a jacket and tie. The country is famous for its tradition of folk arts and there are many lively musical groups (Tarafs), which play a variety of rare folk instruments including the tsambal (not unlike a dulcimer), cimpoi (bagpipe), fluier and nai. Tipping: 5 to 10 per cent will be gladly accepted.