21 hours in chișinău: an unspectacular city that left a lasting impression (chișinău, moldova)
A 21-hour layover in the quietest capital I’ve ever known.
August in Chișinău feels like a secret. No crowds, no rush, just the warmth of the Moldovan sun and the sharp lines of Soviet architecture. While my first idea was to visit Transnistria, in the end I ended up in Chișinău arriving exhausted and leaving inspired.
From the woman selling bus tickets at the tiny airport to the pigeons dancing in the cathedral square, it was a blur of black, white, and local wine. Sometimes, the shortest trips leave the most lasting impressions. One day I definitely want to come back to experience a little bit more of this beautiful, calming city.
