Post Office, Tiraspol, Transnistria

I wanted to go to the bank to get some Transnistrian Rubles, and I wanted to go to the post office to get some Transnistrian stamps.

My friends had the brilliant idea that I should mail myself a postcard from Tiraspol, which I did. I selected one that said "Congratulations" in Russian, thinking it would be quite a feat if I did receive the postcard in Florida. Since Transnistria is not a recognized country, their stamps are for internal mail only. They sold me a Moldovan stamp for use in sending my postcard to the United States.

I was thrilled when I received my postcard -- exactly 2 weeks from the day when I sent it. This means it takes less time to send mail from Transnistria to Florida than it does to send mail from Florida to Moldova. (Ramsay's care packages always lagged a few weeks behind those sent from New York and Washington, DC)

City Hall, Tiraspol, Transnistria

Here you can see the coat of arms of Tiraspol, next to profiles of famous individuals from Tiraspol

This is City Hall, with an impressive bust of Lenin.

Across from City Hall is the office building for the Republican Party, on which you can see a poster featuring Vladimir Putin

Cognac Factory Tour, part 3

Congac Factory Tour, part 2

Cognac Factory Tour -- KVINT

Ever since enjoying the KVINT cognac on my birthday, I thought that if I could ever get to Tiraspol, I would go on a factory tour. I was absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to go on a VIP tour and tasting.

KVINT stands for Cognac, Wine and Beverages of Tiraspol

I learned that KVINT produces its cognac in accordance with procedures/standards from France and could petition for some sort of authentic "cognac" designation. Pictured here are their oak barrels from France

Also pictured is a "live corner" in the outside courtyard for employees to enjoy while on break (where there were also live birds and a stage for performances). Apparently these corners were a feature at factories and schools (where the children would help care for the live animals in the habitat/garden) during the Soviet Union. I was intrigued by the concept -- not just nice landscaping and/or a fountain -- but a mini habitat with living creatures that were to be cared for.

Tiraspol, Transnistria

We strolled through this park, looking at the various monuments.

Here is a statue of General Kotovsky, key in formation of the Moldavian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic in the early 1920s. (Later I will post photos of the Kotovsky Museum)

Like the many parks in Chisinau's City Center, there was an expansive playground, and I was sad that Peggy was not with me to check it out.

City Theater, Tiraspol, Transnistria

This plaque is on the City Theater in Tiraspol, where independence was proclaimed in 1990.

This billboard pictures the presidents of Transnistria, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia, with the slogan to the effect of "They will be!"

This street sign, named for the date of the Russian revolution, is in Moldavian (Romanian in Cyrillic) and Russian

The van has the logo of one of the Transnistrian television stations