Emily in Chisinau: What’s in a building?

If these (cement) walls could talk…

Image by author: the buildings flanking the street are nicknamed the “gates” to the city.

DISCLAIMER: “My views do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Peace Corps or the U.S. government.”

This is the final article in a series about my observations while living and working in Chisinau, Moldova.

Chisinau is a diamond in the rough. There is so much history here, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it stepping off a plane and traveling into the center of town.

At first glance, the actual city layout of Chisinau may seem inconsequential.

There’s no “old town” with quaint back alley cobblestone streets and mom-and-pop shops to duck into. The main road, Steven the Great Street (i.e. Strada Ștefan cel Mare), traverses the length of the center of the city and is flanked by two parks on one end.

The first, known as Cathedral Park, is aptly named after the humble but beautiful cathedral in the center. Just across the street is Ștefan cel Mare Park, also adorned with a statue of Steven the Great which greets you as you enter from the street.

The rest of the city can seem a bit lackluster, perhaps even boring. It takes a curious eye to notice the juxtaposition between the dilapidated buildings that serve as relics of the past, and new restaurants and…