Visa application in Moldova and the Dnestr republic

Moldova doesnt have an embassy in Sweden, so travelling there meant looking for an embassy or consulate elsewhere. We travelled by car to Kiev in the Ukraine and tried to get into the Moldavian embassy but it failed. We dont know if the embassy was closed or if the guard just didnt like us; he wouldnt let us in. Some people said that it was possible to get a Visa at the border, so we thought that we could give it a try. We had heard about the Dnestr Republic, a splitting part of Moldavia, but thought that the strain in the region was over. Bad for us it wasnt. Trying to travel from Ukraine to Moldavia we ended at the border guards of the Dnestr republic. They said that, well, you can travell through our territory, but it will cost 100 dollars each. We got it down to 50 dollars each, and I think that the recipe stated 2 or 12 dollars. They said that the Visa also was valid for Moldova. So now we were inside the Dnestr Republic. This was really cool, a worn out place with great french fries, great russian beer, and drunk people in old Soviet uniforms everywhere. Its also in this area that the swedish king Carolus XII were having his panic. In Bendery (Tighina). We were also to have some panic there. The Dnestr republic border towards Moldova is at Bender and we were of course stopped by soldiers. They looked through the car and asked us where we were heading. Bulgaria we said, lying a little, knowing that Romania is a not very popular country in The Dnestr Republic. They found some cameras and asked if we had taken photos in the capital Tiraspol. No, we lied, luckily, it was of course forbidden. Then they found two binoculars. Binoculars is forbidden in the Dnestr Republic! The owners had to go to there cabin and bargain. Hundred dollars each and hundred for the car. No, our driver said, we wont pay you anything. He also said in a clear voice "Maybe we should call the swedish embassy". Sweden of course dont have any embassy in the Dnestr republic, but the words had some effect. They took one binocular and let us out of their worn out country.

Moldova doesnt have any border guards towards the Dnestr republic, cos they dont recognise it. We met one road tax collector and one enviroment tax collector, and they were quite nice. Then we drove to the capital Chisinau. After checking it out for a while we drove towards the Romanian border. There they stopped us, checked our passport for visas, and said that we couldnt get out of Moldova, cos we didnt have any Visa. But what! They said that our Dnestr republic Visas were valid! Well, sorry for you, dont believe those dirty russians. They gave us the adress to the Immigration departement in Chisinau. You have to go back there and get a Visa. We were not putted down that easy. It was a Saturday, and we knowing that the Immigration departement wouldnt be open until Monday, tried another border station more to the south. We slept in the car and arrived there on a Sunday morning. We knew that southern Moldova also is a autonomos region, the Gaugaz Yeri, home of some strange christian Turks. Therefore we thought that they wouldnt ask us to go back to Chisinau. We where wrong. They called the police. We had to sign a confession that we were in Moldova illegaly, and then they said that we should drive back to Ukraine the same way we came in. Drive around Moldova through Poland! We didnt have the time for that. We drove to a hotel in Chisinau and waited for the Monday to come so we could go to the Immigration departement. It was a very expensive filthy motel were they asked us if we wanted to buy girls.

The next day we went to the immigration departement. The official there could speak english and said. "You must understand you are in Moldova Ilegally!", "But dont worry, nobody will shoot you, nobody will arrest you, you just have to pay a fine". 100 dollars each and 60 dollars each for Visas. We asked how much it was in Leu, and he didnt know. Then he called a civilian clothed policeman who collected our money in a dark alley and disappeard. "Come back after lunch and you will get your Visas". We didnt believe that until we had seen them. The official had taken our passports and signed temporary Moldavian passports. After lunch he looked very happy and gave us the Visas. "How long do you want to stay? One week, two weeks?". We want to go now! Later in Turkey we heard that they just earn 50 dollars a month. We didnt get a recipe. Then we drove towards Romania.