Moldova can get very cold. This picture below is of the ice on the front of our rental car after some time spent in freezing rain – not the easiest driving conditions. And this was in November, so I imagine winter conditions are even more sporty:

However, with the weather taken out of the equation, driving in Moldova is about as free from stress as one could hope for. Outside of Chisinau, there is no traffic to speak of:

The most one will likely have to contend with is passing a tractor from time to time:

Much of Moldova looks like this… Relatively flat and treeless with small, rolling hills and the occasional farm or village scattered in to the mix:

Did you know that Moldova produces wine? Vineyards small and large can be found throughout the country:

And they produce good wine too. Moldovan wines routinely grab highest honors at European tastings and beyond:

A wooded area of Moldova – notable for its rarity:

Entering a small Moldovan village:

This impressive structure with its Soviet-style architecture appears as if it could be a monument to war heroes from the Great Patriotic War or a celebration of living in a worker’s paradise. In fact, it is just a sign for the next town. It’s unfortunate road signs in the West can’t be so dramatic:

Here’s another example… This was just a turnout for trucks or farm equipment, but the Moldovans glammed it up with the addition of a pipe bringing in spring water and extensive decorations. I wish turnouts elsewhere were this appealing:

A typical farm in Moldova:

I thought it was aesthetically pleasing to see them using a well where the water is still drawn by hand:

The view down the well:

A view out over the fields:

I loved exploring the countryside of Moldova. To be free to roam in an area so far off the beaten track is glorious for me: