The truth is quite different. Yes, it's the only "country" that still has the hammer and sickle on its flag. Yes, the only other countries that recognise it are, themselves, unrecognised countries. Yes, physically it's stuck in the past, too poor to afford too many new buildings, the old Soviet cities somewhat dilapidated. Yes, I got KGB'd at one point. Tiraspol the capital was pretty flashy (relatively speaking), with some pretty good bars and restaurants but Bender, the other city, really was that "throwback". But it's far from closed off, the people have no restrictions from the outside world, as long as they can claim their Moldovan or Russian passport, no one is starving or really struggling. Hell, I've gained a lot of Transnistrian Instagram followers since I visited. The people there are just like anywhere else - if you suddenly landed there you wouldn't know you were anywhere especially remarkable. As tourists and English speakers, we got a lot of attention, all very curious and friendly, and we had many people come up to talk to us either in English or Russian (thankfully I spoke just a tiny bit of Russian which meant I made a lot of friends!). Republic Day was one great big street party. The parade was very cool to see if a little amateur, but the atmosphere throughout was extraordinarily good fun, I loved walking around seeing people getting hammered and having a good time.
Honestly, it wasn't what I was expecting, but not for any negative at all - it seems like a pretty amazing place to visit to me. The people are ethnically Russian, they align with Russian, but they know what the situation is, I don't think most are overtly nationalistic about Transnistria, especially the younger generation, who tend to go to Moldova or Ukraine fairly easily. No one seems to be under illusions about how everything really works (there's a fair lot of corruption there too) since they can all see what the world is like through the internet.
As a tourist from the UK, the price of everything there was unreal. To really put it in perspective, on the evening of the Republic Day, we went to a very flashy bar, by the looks of things the flashiest one in Tiraspol. Three glasses of wine, two glasses of whiskey and 12 50cl shots of vodka came to €12. Yes, twelve. And it was pretty good stuff too, the local distillery, Kvint, their main export after illegal munitions, produces some perfectly good drink. I was pretty drunk that night...apparently I ended up wandering off by myself chatting to random folks in a mix of pidgin Russian and English. I guess that shows how safe it is as well.
There's far more photos than just what I post here. Please check them out!
1.
Tiraspol Memorial to the Aviators (MiG-19 Farmer) by Sam Wise, on Flickr2.
Tiraspol Memorial to the Aviators (MiG-19 Farmer) by Sam Wise, on Flickr3.
Pobeda Park, Tiraspol by Sam Wise, on Flickr4.
Pobeda Park, Tiraspol by Sam Wise, on Flickr5.
Pobeda Park, Tiraspol by Sam Wise, on Flickr6.
Pobeda Park, Tiraspol by Sam Wise, on Flickr7.
Lenin Bust, House of the Soviets, Tiraspol by Sam Wise, on Flickr8.
Tiraspol T-34-85 Memorial by Sam Wise, on Flickr9.
Babushka by Sam Wise, on Flickr10.
Tiraspol Parliament House and T-34-85 Memorial by Sam Wise, on Flickr11.
Transnistrian Spirits by Sam Wise, on Flickr12.
Tiraspol Building by Sam Wise, on Flickr13.
Tiraspol Bus by Sam Wise, on Flickr14.
Noul Neamt Monastery Monks by Sam Wise, on Flickr15.
Noul Neamt Monastery by Sam Wise, on Flickr16.
Giant Lenin Bust by Sam Wise, on Flickr17.
Transnistrian Army Soldier by Sam Wise, on Flickr18.
Transnistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr19.
Transistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr20.
Transnistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr21.
Transnistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr22.
Transistrian Locals by Sam Wise, on Flickr23.
Transnistrian Soldier Receives Medical Attention by Sam Wise, on Flickr24.
Transnistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr25.
Transnistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr26.
Parade Crowd by Sam Wise, on Flickr27.
Transnistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr28.
Transnistrian Army Soldiers, Military Parade by Sam Wise, on Flickr29.
Transnistrian Army Soldier by Sam Wise, on Flickr30.
Head of Transnistrian Military Police by Sam Wise, on Flickr31.
Republic Day Street Crowd by Sam Wise, on Flickr32.
Transnistrian Locals by Sam Wise, on Flickr33.
Transnistrian Veteran by Sam Wise, on Flickr34.
Transnistrian Army T-72 Tank by Sam Wise, on Flickr35.
Transnistrian Army T-72 Tank by Sam Wise, on Flickr36.
Buying at a Stand by Sam Wise, on Flickr37.
Traditional Dress by Sam Wise, on Flickr38.
Transnistrian Flags by Sam Wise, on Flickr39.
Pobeda Park by Sam Wise, on Flickr40.
Beer Seller by Sam Wise, on Flickr41.
Umbrellas by Sam Wise, on Flickr42.
Zeleny Market by Sam Wise, on Flickr43.
General Suvorov Monument by Sam Wise, on Flickr44.
Republic Day Street by Sam Wise, on Flickr45.
Orthodox Church by Sam Wise, on Flickr46.
Bender Street by Sam Wise, on Flickr47.
Soviet Train by Sam Wise, on Flickr48.
Soviet Stairs by Sam Wise, on Flickr49.
Soviet Train by Sam Wise, on Flickr50.
Soviet Train by Sam Wise, on Flickr51.
Urban Notices by Sam Wise, on Flickr52.
Thoughtful Child by Sam Wise, on Flickr53.
Transformer by Sam Wise, on Flickr54.
Soviet Style Market by Sam Wise, on Flickr55.
Bender Building by Sam Wise, on Flickr56.
Former Soviet Bus Station by Sam Wise, on Flickr57.
Former Soviet Bus Station Map by Sam Wise, on Flickr
