Border crossing into Moldova
Until the last minute, I was debating whether to enter Moldova or skip the country and enter Ukraine directly. Moldova is arguably the least visited country in Europe and I couldn’t find much information about the price of a vehicle insurance or the overall border crossing procedure. If the cost of the mandatory insurance turns out to be almost like a penalty for foreign vehicles, as was the case in Serbia with around 340 euros, I might have to consider going back several hundred kilometers through Romania. To make things worse, I heard rumors about having to deal with corrupt police on the roads. But curiosity won this time again – I just wanted to find out what the country is like.
The crossing took about two hours in total, and in conclusion, it was a pleasant experience. There was a language barrier, and some lack of accurate information among everyone, but people were kind and curious. Yet it was a very hot day, and everyone was sweating. Ironically I was wearing a long-sleeve shirt. It was an intentional choice, hoping to give a more ‘trustworthy’ look to save some extra questions. Regarding insurance, people had different opinions so I ended up buying two insurances, just to be safe. Accurately speaking, one is a vehicle insurance and the other is Moldovan Road Tax. Collectively they cost about 30 US dollars, so it was not too bad.
The heat, some uncertainty about how things work, and curious eyes of the people reminded me of my time in Central America. I think these elements make me feel ‘alive’ again as an overlander. And I remind myself I should enjoy embracing anxiety and anticipation as my daily companion as I keep exploring the world.
@ Vama Leușeni, Moldova, June 19, 2019
