Well, if you are really going to visit Moldova for the first time, you are likely to need some advice, at least about the city of Chisinau. Since I don't have a list of such things at the moment, I'll place the advices hectically at the beginning - when I think of them. When I get a decent amount of information, I'll use a systematic approach for the page. Please don't hesitate to ask particular questions via e-mail. Just put 'web page' or something like that in the subject line. If I get enough feedback of this kind, I may make a FAQ page about Moldova later on.

1. Please remember that Moldova isn't a very clean place. Literally. If you happen to visit Moldova during a rainy season, you are likely to get your shoes very dirty walking the streets (I'm not going to describe what happens outside the city :) ). This is because the tarmac (both in streets and on pavements) is broken almost everywhere (except in the city centre, where they paved it with tiles), water pipes tend to break very often causing tons of water to come to surface and spilling around, the lawns are not looked after and people use them as pavements or parking spaces leaving the grass without a chance to grow (i.e. in rainy weather walking on it means taking a part of that lawn with you on your shoes), plus a lot of litter and 'dog byproducts' (sorry).

2. If you understand Russian or Romanian or know some of Russian/Romanian forbidden words, that's what you will hear almost everywhere. The level of speech culture isn't very high, partly because much of the population are people with low level of cultural education, and the rest is so overwhelmed with problems that they don't want to hold all those negative emotions back and let them out through swearing.

3. You'll come across a lot of beggars in the streets and underground passes. Mostly it will be old women - pensioners who can't survive on one pension.

4. $10 is enough to have a good meal in a restaurant.

5. Don't buy any alcohol in small shops, in markets and especially in the street from anyone. Buy it from supermarkets or brand shops. Otherwise you might not remember a lot of stuff  (that is, if you ever wake up).

6. Don't believe any strangers. Avoid suspicious, dark, deserted places. It's easy to figure out that you're a foreigner, and remember: even $10 is good money here.

7. You could buy any CD or a CD-ROM for $2-3. Even MS Office 2000 Professional Edition. You will not be prosecuted for this in Moldova.

8. There are a lot of homeless dogs running around.

9. Emergency numbers are: 901 for fire dept., 902 for police, 903 for medical emergency, 904 for gas leak emergency service.

10. You'll be overwhelmed with the amount of currency exchange outlets, hairdressers', 24 hour pharmacies, cafes and taxis. There are also many night clubs across the city.

11. Even in the official currency exchange outlets they can give you forged notes (especially the 20 lei ones). Check the notes they give you right there and keep the receipt. Notes should have a vertical metal string INSIDE the note, not on either surface. There should be a watermark on the white margin identical to the image of Stefan cel Mare portrait on the note. Notes' corners shouldn't come apart like book ends. If they gave you a fake note and you returned it back, check the note they give you in return - it hasn't been unknown that they keep giving fake notes.

12. Payphones use only phone cards, not coins, notes, debit or credit cards. There are only a few ATMs in the city and extremely few shops with EPOS which accept credit cards.

13. So called Internet Clubs are nothing but Internet cafes without the cafe part. 1 hour of internet costs between 5-15 lei ($0.4-1.2).

14. The heating season starts late and ends early.

15. Hot water may often be a luxury.

16. Shower cabin is a rarity.

17. Don't try to use public transport during peak times. It's painful, dangerous and suffocating. You can probably afford a cab (in most cases just 15 lei = $1.2).

18. There is an English movie theater. It's a DVD micro cinema (room for no more than 20 people). But it's cheap, it's got a large screen and a Dolby Surround sound system. The movies are fairly fresh (1 year lag). It shows 3-4 movies all day, each week there's something new. And it's cheap - 10 to 20 lei.

19. Xerox here can be a Canon too. In other words, here Xerox means photocopy.

20. Vegetables can be bought the city markets, not supermarkets. Supermarkets have fruits and vegetables too, but the choice is limited (both the choice of supermarkets and that of fruits and vegetables).

21. If you want to buy a pomegranate, make sure you see it's inside. Otherwise you'll have to through it away.

22. In May and June there is a lot of poplar fluff flying around in some parts of the city. It's the worst torture. Wear sunglasses and try not to breath in very often :)

23. Minivans with large numbers on the windshields and sides are a private alternative to the city public transport. They cost four times as much (2 lei as opposed to 0.5 lei) but can be stopped virtually anywhere and are much faster. Plus they cover many more routes than the state public transport so you don't have to change the transport to get on a different route. The city public transport (trolleybuses and buses) discontinue their services after 10 pm). Some routes - even earlier.

24. If you need a guide, let me know (especially if you are willing to pay for this service :) ). Please do so before you come to Moldova so I could meet you at the airport.