Foto: Driving through the wine cellars (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Moldova - Just before two o’clock we arrive at the wine cellars of Milestii Mici. The Lonely Planet recommends making a reservation in advance. We tried to make a reservation from the Netherlands, but never received any reply. At the reception desk, it turns out that there are no available slots for today. We can make a reservation for tomorrow. When we mention that we had tried to reserve via email, they ask for our name. To our surprise—and great relief—we are on the list. At three o’clock we are able to join the tour of the wine cellars. There has to be room in the car for a guide. Since we only have two seats, we’ve created an extra one on the center console. Shifting gears is a bit awkward, but it should be fine just for the ride through the caves. While we wait, two Polish Land Rovers also arrive. They’re also joining the tour and have the same seating issue. At exactly three o’clock, Dorina arrives. She says she’ll get into the front vehicle, and the others must follow. Along the way, she stops to give explanations. In total, six cars are driving along. The extra seat turns out not to be necessary. We follow her and drive into the wine cellars. There’s a whole underground street network. The streets are named after well-known wine varieties. Along the roads are large wooden and metal wine barrels. It’s quite amusing to drive through the wine cellars like this. Dorina stops during the ride to explain more about the cellars. She tells us that two million bottles of wine are stored here, and that this is a Guinness World Record. She also says that the cave complex spans 200 kilometers, of which only 50 kilometers are in use. At the second stop, Dorina shows us the stored bottles of wine. Thousands of bottles are stored here for many years. Many are already buried under a thick layer of dust. The labels show that some bottles have been here for more than thirty years. The tour ends with a wine tasting. It turns out we’re the only ones who booked just the tour, without the tasting. We drive ourselves to the exit. What a unique experience to be part of.
The capital Chisinau
Moldova - Around 3:30 p.m., we drive into the capital. The hotel is located near the center. At first, we can’t find the address. However, it turns out the hotel is situated right next to a large roundabout. We pull into the parking lot. We have a room on the ...
The Medieval Castle of Soroca
Moldova - From there, we continue driving north toward Soroca. Soroca is a city in the northeast of the Republic of Moldova, located on the right bank of the Dniester River, 160 km from the Moldovan capital, Chisinau. Soroca lies in the northeast of Moldova, close ...
The Orthodox Orhei Vechi Cave Monastery
Moldova - From Curchi, we drive to nearby Old Orhei. Near the village of Butuceni lies the Orthodox Orhei Vechi Monastery. This cave monastery is considered one of the most beautiful in Moldova. As we enter Butuceni, it’s not immediately clear where we should ...