2-3 hours and 2 buses – the tentative itinerary to travel between 2 towns in Moldova. Oh how naïve we were. Has 10 months taught us nothing?!
8 hours and 4 buses later we arrived in Naslavcea, Moldova, a tiny town on the border of Ukraine. It gets better. I experienced some of the most interesting traveling yet.
9:30am – pack a white panel van with our luggage and ourselves
9:45 – drive to the bus station
9:55 – the bus driver tells us we can put our luggage in the luggage space behind the seats
9:56 – we fill the empty luggage space with 1 of our 6 large backpacks (and 6 day packs, a guitar and a drum to go)
10:00 – the bus is scheduled to leave
10:17 – we fill the aisle of the bus (which is a 20 passenger van essentially) with our bags, guitar and drum
10:25 – after watching other passengers throw temper tantrums about our bags, the bus leaves
10:26-12:00 – drive to Balti and pick up as many Moldovans as the bus could possibly hold, and then a few more. Did I mention it’s 90+ degrees and there are only 2 open windows in the front.
12:00 – arrive in Balti
12:05 – Josh and I go in search of a bus to Ocnita
12:15 – after much sign language and translators (who actually made communication worse) we determine which man will take us to Ocnita
1:00pm – we pack the bus once again like the first, only this time we pack bags in the back seat
1:05 – Josh and I are the last to get on. (big mistake) We’re directed to the 2 backseats next to all of our bags.
1:07 – the driver sets Tim’s guitar in my lap. He laughs and says something about welcome to Moldova. I laugh and wait for him to move it.
1:08 – The drive sets cushions in the aisles and 5 more people get on. I’m now pinned between a guitar, window, seat back, and Josh. Any escape routes are blocked by seats in the aisle. God help us.
1:09 – claustrophobia sets in. Josh and I laugh so hard we cry. I don’t know if they’re tears of joy or despair or fear.
1:15 – I’m really thirsty but I can’t move my arms. Josh tries to pour water in my mouth. Epic fail.
1:16 – bags begin to fall on Josh. For the next hour he’ll continually push 50lb backpacks off of his head.
1:30 – my legs begin to go numb. I try to go to my happy place.
2:15 – We arrive at a small bus station called Edinet. The bus driver insists we need to get off even though we’re not in Ocnita.
2:20 – the drive throws our baggage into a pile on the sidewalk and directs us to a large man in a yellow shirt. He points to the large man while saying something about Ocnita,and he leaves.
2:45 – After asking around and using more charades, we learn that a bus will leave for Ocnita at 3:30pm.
3:30 – the bus to Ocnita arrives. We’re sure this time. We load the back seats and opt to stand in the aisle. My legs needed some circulation anyway.
4:30 – we arrive in Ocnita and meet our contact Andrei. He says something about another bus.
4:31 – I go to my happy place once again.
4:40 – we take our OWN bus to Naslavcea. Everyone has their OWN seat with their OWN leg room. Woah, dream big!
4:50 – we pass acres and acres of endless sunflowers. I relax.
4:55 – we see a river valley and begin to drive into it. I relax a little more.
5:15 – we arrive at a tiny cottage in the valley along a stream. We’re in heaven.
He will expand your comfort zone – literally.
He’ll let your walls be invaded – literally.
He’ll take you places you never dream of – literally.
He’ll show you new ways of doing things – literally.
Life will never be boring again.
