Muzeul National de Arta al Moldovei

After the History Museum, we stopped at a cafe for a snack. It was such a beautiful morning. The sun was shining. Perfect temperature. We enjoyed our "pancakes" (more like crepes, but I am not complaining) with ice cream and chocolate sauce. Yum! Here is Peggy looking at the pictures in one of the postcard books.

As we were walking back to the apartment, we realized we were passing the Art Museum, so we decided to stop in there as well. We went in what we thought was the main entrance, bought our ticket - and looked around at the paintings on the wall - but thought that couldn't possibly be the whole of the art museum. In Romanian, the attendant explained that we should go around the corner to another entrance - but not buy another ticket. We did leave and then go around the corner - and found the art! Small but impressive collection of icons and European art. Once again, as we entered rooms, attendants (older women) would turn on the lights, and as we passed through, turn them off. And once again, the impressive collections were not displayed in a "child friendly" manner. Peggy wanted to walk around on her own. Yet there were priceless (or, out of our pricerange) vases and sculptures on pedestals that looked all too easy to topple over. (And, at the previous gallery the attendant pointed to the video cameras above the art and said "politie." That's all we needed. To topple over a priceless piece of art and be hauled off by the police.) Fortunately, I was able to convince Peggy to hold my hand and stay arms length *away* from the art.)

Also pictured here -- the church across from the art museum. There were at least 3 weddings while we were there. (And I saw at least 4 while at the Embassy yesterday. The Embassy is across the street from the Registrar's Office, hence, all of the couples going there to get married. Apparently each couple has 2 ceremonies - one at the Registrar's and one at the Church, a relic of Soviet times)

We then stopped at a nice book shop (librarie) and bought 2 nice photo books of Moldova, a booklet of the Moldovan Constitution (in Romanian and Russian), and 2 paper doll books for Peggy

I am also attaching a photo of one of the beer stands that you see all along the streets here. There are taps, and a collection of various size plastic bottles and cups. You would be surprised at how early in the day patrons are buying beer on the street