Category: Destinations

Coin and Currency Club – Transnistria (Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic)

Coin and Currency Club, Europe, Moldova, Transnistria

An interesting selection from this month’s Coin and Currency Club subscription. Transnistria is a unrecognized territory within Moldova but is occupied by Russia. Along with the disputed territories of Abkhazia, Artsakh and South Ossetia they form the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union these areas came under conflict. The Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic (Transnistria) is comprised of 29.1% ethnic Russians, 28.6% Moldovans and 22.9% Ukrainians. I have an interest in micro states and breakaway republics and enjoyed teaching Alex about these areas. As I am writing this it is October 2022 and it is relevant to the ongoing Russia Ukrainian conflict.

Flag of Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic (Transnistria)

Front of the one Ruble bank note is Russian General Count Alexander Suvorov

Transnistria’s Coat of Arms

Coin and Currency Club – Colombia

Coin and Currency Club, Columbia, South America

Coin and Currency Club for the month is from South America – Colombia. Colombia is nicknamed the “gateway to South America” because it sits in the northwestern part of the continent where South America connects with Central and North America. It is the fifth largest country in Latin America and home to the world’s second largest population of Spanish-speaking people. Colombia has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples since at least 12,000 BCE, including the Muisca, Quimbaya and Tairona. The Spanish landed first in La Guajira in 1499 and by the mid-16th century colonized parts of the region, establishing the New Kingdom of Granada, with Santa Fé de Bogotá as its capital. Independence from the Spanish Empire was achieved in 1819, with what is now Colombia emerging as the United Provinces of New Granada. The Republic of Colombia was finally declared in 1886. Panama seceded in 1903, leading to Colombia’s present borders.

Flag of Colombia

Colombian artist Debora Arango Perez is on the front of the 2,000 pesos bank note

Caño Cristales the rainbow river is on the back of the note

The back of the 50 pesos coin is the spectacled bear native to South America

Taste Test – Try the World (November, 2021)

Asia, Europe, Indonesia, Italy, North America, South Korea, Taste Test, Try the World, United States

This is our last subscription box from Try the World. We got tied of the total lack of any descriptive documentation in the box. You have to use a magnifying glass to determine country of origin and it is not present all the time. This month we also got a duplicate item from the previous month’s box. This month we received items from Korea, Indonesia, Italy and the United States. The tea was again not identifiable.

Kimchi from South Korea

Cashew and Coconut from Indonesia

Cacao dusted cashew nuts from Indonesia

Delicious!

Bourbon infused coffee from the US – a duplicate item from last month’s box

Spice blend from the USA – very good, I use it routinely (quite spicy)

Balsamic Vinegar from Italy

Flower Tea from ???

Restaurant Review – Pastelaria Vitoria (Somerville, Massachusetts)

Brazil, Massachusetts, New England, North America, Restaurants, Reviews, United States

Pastéis are a Brazilian street food delicacy. These fried pastries are often sold filled with various savory fillings like cheese, chicken, shrimp, hearts of palm, or ground beef. Pastelaria Vitoria is a pastel shop in Somerville which has a very large Brazilian community. In addition to this pastel shop it has numerous Brazilian markets and restaurants. The pastels here were good but not as good as what I get at home.

Pastry to filling ratio was a little off but still a taste of home – Rita