I honestly envy you and wish you and Lucy the best of anything you two are able to forge together.
F...k the flower girl job...
May I be the bouncer at wedding?
actually you are allowed to bring $2000,- to Moldova without making the declaration at the airport in Kishinew. But to be safe I would advice to insist on filling out the declaration. You can find that papers between passport control and luggage place.
Generally the exchange rates are becoming more worse, the ore you come to the very centre of Kishinew. In fact there are meanwhile plenty of atmīs here (in opposite years back!). You may take the maximum amount of Lei 2.000.- per day. Officially it isnīt allowed to leave MOldova later with moldovan currency in your pocket.
Meanwhile the EURO has nearly the same importance as the US-Dollar. Following the fact, that many moldovans are working abroad in EURO-countries.
I hadnīt any problems to pay in non-moldovan currency in any discos or restaurants. IN every supermarket they have their own (bad exchange rates) exchange offices (called: schimb valutar).
GT thanks for the good wishes.
The bouncer's job will only be necessary if Tim shows up in a TuTu! On second thought maybe a bouncer would be helpful if the x-inlaws show up to crash the party. I'll let you know the date.
question addresses to jet and worldtraveler, The ,girl I am going to meet in Moldova, her agency have contacted me and offered to pick me up at the airport, rent an appartment for me and offer an interpreter, all at a reasonable cost, they are star galaxy agency, I am inclined to think they are a good agency, I just wondered if either of you knew about them?
Just an observation:
One of the differences I found between traveling to Ukraine and traveling to Moldova - it seemed that at the airport the Ukrainians were more adamant about going through your bags and looking for anything that they could nail you on - an extra camera, the value of gifts, questioning whether or not the hair dryer I brought with me - (but was still in the package) was a gift or for my own use and how much I paid for it. A friend of mine on the trip to Ukraine had to pay an extra $100 on the value of a ring he brought in. It was in a box and he hoped if he met the right lady, he would use it engagement ring.
In Ukraine they completely went through our bags.
In Moldova at the airport - they Xrayed my bags of course, and then briefly pulled me out of line. One bag in particular seemed to draw their attention. This officer, paused briefly and asked me, very accusingly if I had anything I did not declare. When I said that I did not he opened my bag and went right for - my CD collection. I had brought a few CDs a couple in boxes, mostly in a CD wallet. He examined them briefly and then let me go.
On leaving Moldova - I packed the CDs in a different bag (on purpose) and again - only one bag drew the attention of the officers Xraying my luggage - the one with the CDs in it. This time an officer, again, seperated me from the line and demanded that I open that bag. She went right for the CDs, paused and then let me go.
I know NOTHING about the Xray techniques used at the airport - but based on my observation - CDs draw the attention of those operating the equipment.
I should note - I am aware that occassionally border people do complete checks on people at random - they go through everything. This didn't seem to be the case, however, in Ukraine. Everyone in out group received the same type of an examination of the luggage.
if you are in personal contact with that girl, then you can save all the unnecessary costs:
Taxi from airport to your apartment costs 60-100 Lei. Your girl can order one and take you from airport.
For sure she also knows a friend, knowing english language. There are lots of students willing to earn some bucks with translation work.
Renting apartments from the offer of a marriage agency will for sure also cost more than normally. Ask your girl for doing this. If she hasnīt any knowledge about apartments I can give you two angencies, which professional give flats for renting.
I just had a look on the webpage of this marriage agency. I didnīt know them before, but some of the girls can be found on other webpages also, as far as I remember.
worldtraveller, I went on website as well, pissed my self laughing at the music, I asked her what present her daughter would like, she said a gameboy, do you think I will have to pay tax on it?
I guessed they started to do a more careful search in the airport and in the trains, after that bad accident.
When simply by occasion at the customs they found in the train a huge amount of weapons and drugs, hidden by the conductor.
It was a train which was passing through Ukraine's territory.