Travel, Accommodation, Local Information
Language
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The working language for the
Conference will be English. Efforts are done do
ensure simultaneous interpretation from Russian into English at Romani Language and Culture in Post-Soviet States panel.
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Registration
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Registration for the event will be available at 8:30 am till 10.30.am, on
the 10 September 2015.
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Meals
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Coffee breaks, during the day of the Conference will be provided by the
organizers.
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Contacts
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Dr. Ion DUMINICA
Email: glsam2015moldova@gmail.com, Tel.: +373 79537572
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Visa
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All foreign visitors entering
Chisinau, Moldova must be in possession of a passport (valid for a period of
at least 6 months beyond arrival date).
You are reminded to obtain a visa
prior to entering Moldova, where necessary.
In order to verify if there is a
need to obtain a visa prior to travel you can check on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova: http://www.mfa.gov.md/entry-visas-moldova/. Also
remember to check for any transit visas, if necessary.
For printing the “Visa Application
Form” please access the link:
http://www.mfa.gov.md/img/docs/Visa_application.pdf
Also, it is possible to apply for an electronic visa for entry in the
Republic of Moldova by accessing the following link: http://www.evisa.gov.md/
All those who need an
official invitation letter for visa should request it from the organizer at
e-mail glsam2015moldova@gmail.com
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Chisinau Airport
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Chisinau Airport is the main
international airport and it is situated at half an hour drive from the city
Center & “Codru” Hotel. For more information about Chisinau Airport
services (including on-line schedule), please visit http://www.airport.md/homepage-en
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Hotels, Restaurants &
local Transport
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To find more information about restaurants/cafes
& local transport, access the links below: http://chisinau.hotels.md/ & http://map.point.md/ & http://www.md4ever.com/maps/index.html The conference organizers recommend
Hotel COSMOS It is very near the Academy of Sciences of Moldova.
Restaurants:
- La Taifas (http://www.md4ever.com/La_Taifas_national_cuisine/index.html
- Pani Pit (http://www.md4ever.com/panipit/index.html )
- Robin Pub (http://www.md4ever.com/robinpub/index.html )
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About Republic
of Moldova
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Republic of Moldova is a landlocked
country in Eastern Europe located between Romania to the West and Ukraine to
the North, East, and South, without any access to the Black Sea apart from
less than a kilometer along the banks of the Lower Danube. The capital city
is Chisinau.
The Republic of Moldova proclaimed
its independence from the USSR on 27 August 1991. According to the Moldovan
Constitution of 29 July 1994, the Republic of Moldova is a sovereign,
independent, unitary and indivisible State.
The Republic of Moldova is a
parliamentary democratic republic with a president as head of state and a
prime minister as head of government. The 1994 Constitution of the Republic
of Moldova sets the framework for the government of the country. The
country's central legislative body is the unicameral Moldovan Parliament,
which has 101 seats, and whose members are elected by popular vote on party
lists every four years. The head of state is the President, who is elected by
the Moldovan Parliament for a four-year term of office, requiring the support
of three fifths of the deputies (at least 61 votes).
After achieving independence from
the Soviet Union, Republic of Moldova established relations with other
European countries. A course for European Union integration and neutrality
define the country's foreign policy guidelines. In 1995 the country adhered
to the Council of Europe. In addition to its participation in NATO’s
Partnership for Peace program, Republic of Moldova is also a member state of
the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(OSCE), the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the
World Bank, the Francophone and the European Bank for Reconstruction and
Development.
The EU is developing an
increasingly close relationship with Moldova, going beyond co-operation, to
gradual economic integration and a deepening of political co-operation.
Moldova is a partner country within the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP)
and a member of the Eastern Partnership. In June 2010 a visa dialogue
opened, examining conditions for visa-free travel of Moldovan citizens
to the EU as a long-term goal. Since 2010, the Republic of Moldova is a full
member of the Energy Community Treaty.
http://www.moldova.md/en/home/
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People
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Moldovan people are the greatest
treasure of the country. The majority of the population is Moldovans, but
national minorities as Ukrainians, Bulgarians, Gagauzians, Russians, Germans,
Roma, Greeks, and others live on here, as well. Despite the variety of our
people, they are all distinguished by hospitality, kind attitude and
openness; they have a genuine and sincere nature. In Moldova every guest is
received with special warmth. The
householder will always serve his guest with great Moldovan wine and with the
best dishes of food.
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Traditions
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The
Moldovan folklore has a strong
basis of Dacian-Latin origin and embraces a system of popular customs, which
are specifically defined by means of music and dance, oral poetry and prose,
mythology, rites, popular theatre etc. Festivals and fares involving the handicrafts are true holidays for
Moldovan citizens and guests. Moldovans are respectful to skilled specialists
who can make musical instruments.
The tourists can find here a wide choice of handicrafts, keeping a part of the
soul of Moldovans. Every holiday preserves old traditions which convey the
true spirit of our people. For all
Moldovan celebrations, song is an essential and very appreciated component of
the ceremonial activities.
During
the holidays guests in Moldova can participate in a range of cultural events:
concerts "Martisor", "Ciresar", "Maria Biesu
Welcomes", etc., performances, parades, mass manifestations on
Independence Day, on "Limba Noastra" Day, on towns or villages’
Day, etc. On Harvest Days traditional fairs are organized in towns and
villages. Especially during these holidays, tourists can get closer to the
national folk and handicraft art.
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Culture
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The Republic of Moldova has an
important cultural inheritance of incontestable value: archeological sites,
dwelling houses, country estates, fortresses, cloisters / monasteries and
churches, monumental art works, monuments and technical equipment, building
ensembles – squares, streets, quarters, villages and urban centers or
traditional architecture ethnographic areas. The archeological inheritance of
the Republic of Moldova is rich in ancient works of art. There were
discovered sculptural models of as far back as the late Paleolithic age.
The ceramics of „Cucuteni-Tripolie” culture from the Eneolithic Age is
attested in several areas of the Republic of Moldova and it has incontestable
artistic valences representing a whole mythology in pictures.
Although
it has a small area, the Republic of Moldova as a tourist destination has a
great potential represented first of all by the geomorphologic aspect of its
territory – an unusual diversity of landscape reservations or scenery and
unique geological monuments of European and world value. Tourism
focuses on the country’s natural landscapes and its history. Wine tours are
offered to tourists across the country. Republic of Moldova is rich in places that will convey the old
history, Christianity, and beautiful nature of the land between the Prut and
Nistru rivers. One will be impressed by numerous natural and scientific
reserves and parks, monasteries and religious sites from the medieval times.
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Attractive places
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Here are just some “MUST SEE’S”:
Museum Complex “Old Orhei” presents
the remains of different civilizations from ancient times. Up on the top of
the cliff there was a strong fortification (V - III c. BC) built by the
Geto-Dacian people and on the opposite side of the river one can distinguish
the ruins of the "New town" of the Golden Horde (XIII-XIVc.).
“Emil Racovita” Cave is considered
to be on the 3rd largest gypsum cave in the world and the 8th
in terms of the length of its underground paths. A curiosity present in the
cave, which is hard to understand, is the fact that each hall and gallery has
a delicate clay lining of different colors: green, blue, red, black, white,
etc.
Cricova Winery – the biggest wine
cellars in the world. Here, underground lies a real city of wine – with wide
streets, warehouses, tasting-rooms and so on.
The total length of the underground galleries in Cricova exceeds 60 km.
Trajan Walls - evidence of the
Romans’ presence in Moldova, which is found in the remains of a strong
defensive system of linear fortifications comprised of a wave shaped
earthworks strengthened with sharpened logs. This is an extension of a huge
fortified system on the borders of the Roman Empire.
http://www.moldova.md/en/turism/
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Telecommunications
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All modern communication
technologies are widely available in Moldova, including mobile, broadband
internet, and express deliveries. The coverage of the country is outstanding,
so you will be able to reach virtually any number. The country code is 373,
and the code of Chisinau is 22.
Mobile communications in Moldova
are also very well developed. The largest operators are Orange and Moldcell –
they hold approximately 90% of the market.
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Customs control
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Information about Personal
Belongings and Currency that may be brought into the country without paying
customs taxes can be found here: http://www.airport.md/green-red-channel-en
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Traffic Jams
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In case you’ll use public
transport, please note that in Chisinau city center, traffic jams occur on
main streets: Stefan cel Mare, Al. Puskin, Mitropolit Banulescu-Bodoni, etc.
in the intervals 7 to 9 AM, 12 till 2 PM and 5 to 7 PM.
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Currency
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The local currency is Moldovan
Leu, which was introduced on
November 29, 1993. The information about exchange rate is
available at: http://bnm.md/en/home
or at http://curs.md/en/index
You can exchange money in banks or
at exchange offices (most of them don’t charge a commission fee).
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Banking Services
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Banking facilities (cash
traveller’s cheques and exchange) are available in Leogrand, “Codru” &
Jolly Alon Hotels. Exchange offices are located in downtown area and are open
from 10 AM till 6 PM, including during weekends. There are many ATM’s in the
city and most restaurants and stored accept Visa or MasterCard.
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Insurance
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It is recommended to participants
to secure their own international medical, accident and travel insurances.
The conference’s organizers are not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever
that may be incurred by delegates, during their travel time to and from the
meetings as well as during the period of participation to the meetings.
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Social events
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For a comprehensive information
about Moldova tourism and the opportunities to spend your free time , please
visit the web pages:
http://fest.md/en/
http://evenimente.md/#page1
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Maps of Chisinau
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http://www.md4ever.com/maps/index.html
http://point.md/Map#x=28.895016&y=47.029107&z=12
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On
behalf of the organizers, we are happy to welcome you at the 2015 Gypsy Lore Society Annual
Meeting and Conference on Romani Studies.
We
wish you an efficient work during the event and a pleasant stay in Chisinau!
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