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| Pocahontis aka Suzanna... Tiraspol |
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| But you dont understand... i"m Batman^^ |
Breaking through the border into Transnistria. Probably not heard of this weird state: the state that practically nobody recognises as a state. It's in the northern part of Muldova and stretches approx 20km across and maybe 70km long. It's allegiance is with Russia and it has it's own currency, borders and government. Also, we have been forewarned about the corruption by border guards.
So it is with trepidation that we approach the border. Fortunately, we fill out a small form and through the border without hassle, the guards shaking their heads in disbelief at our bikes. Maybe they think we are too crazy or too poor to shake down properly. Tally-ho.
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| Military drill at sports day |
Susanna (our Tiraspol host) brings us to our private apartment, while she stays with her parents closer to the city. She brings us on a biking tour of Tiraspol. Russian styled buildings and statues dominate the city. We find out about the founding of Transnistria in the memorial park and that the bank machines only dispense US dollars ($100 minimum) and Russian rupees. Most people don't use the banks here and tumbleweed rolls by, when I visit a bank, where six cashiers await my 10€ money exchange. Skip the party boat that ferries between Bender and Tiraspol.
Early start next morning, as Susanna has invited us to a sports day at her school. Not a typical sports day for me, as it is set in a forest and involves all sorts of weird party games inwhich all the classes compete against each other. For example, having to use a pair of binoculars to follow a track made with string, choreographed singing, army marching manoeuvres. Thankfully, we were allowed compete and help Susanna's class to a much-needed victory. For my part, I helped in an egg-and-spoon race, where you have to eat the egg at the end. Veganism notwithstanding.
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