Salt Chandeliers

You see these in the miner's route restoration areas, too.  They're chandeliers made out of salt.  All the crystals are salt from the mine.  In previous centuries they were all candlelit.  Now they've got light bulbs.  Either way, they're gorgeous and huge.

But We're Moving To Angola...

I bought the yarn and started this scarf while we were in Krakow - I needed something to do while on the bus to Auschwitz.  This was about three weeks before we found out we were moving to Angola next summer.  So, what to do?  Finish?  Or give up?  I decided to finish it and will gift it to someone.  I'd wear it, but we're moving to Angola...

A Seasonal Dinner

After a long day at work plus a necessary stop at the mall for groceries and cell phone payment, we decided to eat at Seasons.  They are probably one of the most consistent restaurants in Moldova, with good service and good food.  They're located in the mall, though, so you have to go through there to get to it.  Live music Friday nights, at least, and it's got a good atmosphere.

Down The Corridors

One thing all these photos show, from both tours, is that salt mines are NOT cramped ugly places.

Got Some Yellow

The right gargoyle got some love this time along with the center support.  I feel like I'm getting some part of it done.

First Oliva Visit

 Andreas and I went to Oliva in the Riscani district of Chisinau for dinner in November.  We went because we'd heard it was good and that it delivered.  We were not disappointed with the food or service.  The place is warm and inviting with a wood burning oven cooking the pizza.

I was somewhat disappointed with my mushroom soup because they upgraded it with chicken chunks.  I would have preferred it chickenless.  My pizza was great, with real Moldovan bacon on it.  Andreas' pizza was nice and hot with hot peppers on it.  We also had "bruschetta," which was flavored butter on bread.  The butter was waaaay too much for the amount of bread.  It tasted good, though.  The greek salad used a lot of fresh veg, which is hard to find in Moldova in November.  Overall, a very good experience.  So good, in fact, we ordered delivery from them the next week.

 

A Second Chapel

 This chapel is in much better shape than the first one we saw.  It's also not the best one.  This one is still used on an occasional basis.