In 2007, I did a fascinating road trip through Moldova. At the time, there were almost no tourists. Actually, at passport control, the officer in charged laughed in disbelief when I said my purpose of visit was tourism. In Chișinău, I met wonderful young people, including a few English teachers who invited me to join their class (video below). Rural Moldova is a world apart, with beautiful landscapes. In one area, some people become hermits and live as monks in grottoes hanging off cliffs. The most usual part of the trip was entering Transnistria, a territory with borders, Soviet-era army, currency and government but limited international recognition. There I also met with energetic young people trying to make a living in this forgotten non-country.