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🇲🇩 Five years ago I made my most popular video which showed just how run down the capital city of little visited Moldova was. Well it's time to go back and see what has changed in the former Soviet state. Is it better? Is it worse? How are the babushkas? Join me and find out!
Check out my website: http://mrbaldandbankrupt.com for my ebook
instagram: realbaldandbankrupt
🇲🇩 Five years ago I made my most popular video which showed just how run down the capital city of little visited Moldova was. Well it's time to go back and see what has changed in the former Soviet state. Is it better? Is it worse? How are the babushkas? Join me and find out!
Check out my website: http://mrbaldandbankrupt.com for my ebook
instagram: realbaldandbankrupt
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NewsTranscript
00:00Five years ago. I made my most popular video. It was called nobody visits this country find out why
00:07And we found out why the place was a little bit crap
00:10But I'm now going back to see how things have changed
00:14Join me on a trip to Moldova
00:22Well, we're here in front of the board of exotic names
00:25In Garrett and Ord railway station, let's see the places we can go to we could go to Constanze, Pitesti, Galatsi, Krajevo
00:34Budapest but I didn't see the name Chisinau
00:39Or as the Soviets used to call it Kishinev. I think it's now Chisinau. Let's ask someone where the train is
00:48I'm looking for the train to Moldova. Okay, but why would you go to Moldova?
00:55Exactly. What's there to do there? It's not important why I'm going but I need to go. Could you please show me where the train is?
01:03Right, we found some help in getting to Moldova
01:12Okay, so your train is over there
01:16I don't suppose you want to come to Moldova with me
01:19No chance
01:23Never mind trains over it. Let's jump on it
01:26There seems to be two halves of the train. There's the modern side and there's the older Soviet side
01:32I'm hoping that my ticket is for the Soviet side of the train. Let's see
01:40Oh
01:42My god, we're talking Russian again after so long
01:45We're talking Russian again. People understood me and we're on the Soviet side of the train. Thank God
01:50Third car
01:54Chisinau, Bucharest
01:57Which car? The fourth? No, the third.
01:59The third, okay. What's the name?
02:01Maybe now?
02:03No, not now.
02:05Why not?
02:07Because it's not allowed
02:09You don't need to film
02:11I'm telling you
02:13We don't know what to do in Chisinau because you're filming
02:15What's going to happen?
02:17You don't care. You're just showing that the train is broken
02:21Well, before the grumpy Profodnik comes back, check it out
02:25Look, the curtains
02:27Even here it says in Russian, radio
02:29But radio doesn't work
02:31I mean, come on, it's a Moldovan train, what do you expect?
02:33But, um
02:35This feels like flipping, being back
02:37In the former USSR
02:39And it feels good
02:41Do you speak Romanian?
02:43No, no, no
02:45Russian and English
02:47Russian and English
02:49And you speak Russian?
02:51Chisinau?
02:53Chisinau
02:55Wow, look at it, we've got friendly people
02:57We've got friendly people on the night train to Chisinau
02:59Who don't speak Russian, it seems
03:01But anyway, this is it
03:03Oh, and over there we can see some *** and another train
03:05Look at them
03:07Bye-bye, Bucharest
03:09On the empty train to Chisinau
03:15Just on our own, you and me
03:17Travelling through the night in a Soviet coupe
03:19To a Soviet capital city
03:23This is what dreams are made of
03:27Hello, mate
03:29What are you doing here?
03:31Are you inviting me to Moldova, the least visited country in Europe?
03:33See this pillow, Ben?
03:35This pillow has been here since communist times
03:37Since the 1950s, probably, when this train was built
03:39Do you know whose head has been on this pillow?
03:41Probably Leventry Beria
03:43Probably Joseph Stalin
03:45Maybe even Lenin himself
03:47They're legends
03:49And now, my head's going to rest on it
03:51If I can put this bloody pillowcase in
03:53I'll just slide it in
03:55Something like that, there you go, get in there
03:57There you go, flippy neck
03:59Moldovan railways, better than bloody engine railways
04:01Of course
04:03Better than British rail
04:05We're sitting on the Soviet train
04:07Where are we?
04:09Check out the loveliness
04:11Two beers, please
04:13Chisinau?
04:15Two Chisinau beers
04:17Check out the lovely Soviet
04:19Canteen shop
04:21Look at the lovely goodies you can buy here
04:23Oh my God
04:25Nothing's changed
04:27Nothing's changed in 50 years on this train
04:29Thank you very much
04:31We have beautiful wineries
04:33Beautiful places
04:35A beautiful country, right?
04:37Yes
04:39But you don't have many tourists
04:41Because
04:43Because
04:45We don't have the sea and mountains
04:47That's why
04:49It's worth visiting Moldova
04:51If you're a tourist
04:53Yes
04:55100%
04:57The lady said tourists need to come to Moldova
04:59Come to Moldova
05:01She's saying don't film
05:03But come to Moldova
05:05Well you might be wondering
05:07Where is everyone on the train?
05:09Why is there only me, Backpacker Ben
05:11Couple of babushkas
05:13And no one else
05:15That's because, as I said before, nobody visits Moldova
05:17Still to this very day
05:19And so it makes sense
05:21That the train is empty
05:23The only people who go to Moldova
05:25Are weirdos and YouTube vloggers
05:29So
05:31Cheers
05:33To a Soviet adventure
05:35In little visited Moldova
05:434.25am
05:474.25am
05:49We're on the Romanian-Moldovan border
05:51Having our passports checked
05:53I'm hoping they let me in
05:55They asked me a few extra questions
05:57Because last one wasn't very complimentary
05:59About little old Moldova
06:01Europe's least visited country
06:03But I promise
06:05Moldovans, if I come
06:07If you let me in
06:09I'll say nicer things about you
06:13Are you going to say nice things about Moldova?
06:15No
06:19Fair enough
06:21Update
06:23We've got our passports back
06:25We've got our stamp
06:27We've been welcomed into the loving embrace
06:29Of Europe's least visited country
06:31Let's get back to sleep
06:33It's about 4.30am
06:35See you
06:37In little old Kishinev
06:39Goodnight
06:49Well, whilst I'm sleeping on the train
06:51And this chap is playing the flute
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07:01Now as you know
07:03I'm always adventurising in the farthest corners
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07:07Even in little visited Moldova
07:09Hunting for mosaics
07:11Charming the babushkas
07:13Or avoiding the local gopniks
07:15It's flipping stressful at times
07:19Didn't charm her
07:21So what do I want to do
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07:25To unwind? That's right
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09:07Bye-bye
09:09Back to the video
09:15After 5 years away
09:17We've returned
09:19To the capital of little old Moldova
09:21The city of Chisinau
09:23Or Kishinev
09:25As the Soviets used to call it
09:27Let's go and see what's changed
09:29And what's the same
09:31Ooh
09:33Probably not much
09:35But it's not bad
09:37It's not bad
09:39It's not bad
09:41It's not bad
09:43Probably not much
09:45I've just left the railway station already
09:47We're seeing signs of the
09:49Economic problems that they have here
09:51Still in Moldova after 5 years
09:53The babushkas
09:55The babushkas and the djedushkas
09:57Still friendly in Moldova
09:59But still having to come here to the street
10:01And sell their
10:03Well, whatever stuff they can salvage
10:05From their houses, from their sheds, from their attics
10:07Old clothes
10:09Just hung up here on the lines
10:11To look outside the railway station
10:17So maybe we're going to see some improvements
10:19But I think we're also going to see some reminders
10:23Of exactly why this country
10:25Is the poorest in all of Europe
10:31That's what I remember
10:33About the Moldovans, they're super friendly and nice
10:35They even stop on a zebra crossing
10:37You don't get that in every country in the former Soviet Union
10:39Anyway
10:41Here we are in front of where I hope I'm going to be staying tonight
10:43The hotel
10:45Infamous, legendary
10:47Hotel Kosmos
10:49And in front of it
10:51On a horse
10:53Is a Bolshevik hero
10:55I mean, he was a hero to the Bolsheviks
10:57Not sure if he was a hero to many other people
10:59But here he is
11:01Does this hotel not work?
11:03Really?
11:05How?
11:07The people outside said the hotel Kosmos is closed
11:09Oh no
11:13The greatest post-Soviet hotel
11:15Is closed, look
11:17Not enough guests
11:19No one visits
11:21This country
11:23They're using the reception as a place to store
11:25Motorbikes
11:27And quadbikes
11:29This was a legendary hotel
11:31And it's closed
11:33But no tourism here
11:35No doubt Covid
11:37And maybe the war in Ukraine
11:39I don't know
11:41Has affected the country
11:43And so
11:45Even the hotel Kosmos is closed
11:47I've got some devastating news
11:49Fully booked?
11:51No
11:53Shut down
11:55I mean it bloody looks it
11:57The hotel Kosmos has been shut down
11:59But don't worry
12:01I know another Soviet hotel
12:03I can take you to
12:05Let's do it
12:07Why is it shut down?
12:09I think there's just no tourists coming here
12:13Hotel Chisinau
12:15Let's hope
12:17Hotel Chisinau
12:19Right then
12:21355
12:23Come on
12:25Does it work?
12:27Here we go
12:29This is the life
12:35Mate
12:37Do not in my company
12:39Ever say anything negative
12:41About the Soviet infrastructure
12:43I can't even see that window
12:45And a roof
12:47What's going on in this place
12:49Flipping heck
12:51Where are we?
12:53Hello
12:55Hello
12:57What a beautiful hotel
12:59Look, even Soviet
13:01Wow, beautiful
13:03Old, right?
13:05Like the original
13:07And the room too
13:09Wow
13:11Beautiful place
13:13Very good
13:15TV, fridges
13:17Oh, beautiful
13:19Bathroom
13:21Also Soviet
13:23Ideal
13:25I like it very much
13:27Thank you very much
13:29Goodbye
13:31Quick shower, little snooze
13:33Go out, explore Chisinau
13:35What's it look like?
13:41Absolutely shit
13:47I am absolutely shattered
13:49But
13:51We've got a city to explore
13:53As we walk down
13:55The legendary steps of the hotel Chisinau
13:57Look at it
13:59All the great and the good
14:01Who visited Moldova
14:03Back in the days
14:05Stayed here
14:07For sure
14:09This hotel is bugged
14:11Every room
14:13Maybe still today
14:17Well, we are beginning our little tour
14:19Of Chisinau
14:21In front of the iconic
14:23Hotel
14:25National
14:27I did wonder if the hotel
14:29Would have been fixed up or knocked down
14:31And in fact it's been neither
14:33Still here in exactly the same state of disrepair
14:35As it was
14:37Five years ago when I was last here
14:39An eyesore to the people of Chisinau
14:41Still here
14:43And still the fountains, the old Soviet fountains
14:45That never worked
14:47Here they are
14:49Still a place for pigeons
14:51And rubbish
14:53Well, I've got to say
14:55The infrastructure actually does look a little bit better here
14:57In fact the pavements
14:59And the roads are as good as England
15:01And better even than Bucharest
15:03Down to the south of Moldova
15:05And here of course we have the Babushkas
15:07And the Jedushkas still selling their things
15:09Here on the side of the pavement
15:11Trying to top up their wages
15:13Top up their
15:15Pensions, which I imagine are super low here
15:17Maybe $60 a month, $100 a month
15:19So, yeah
15:21We're going to see a lot of that here in Moldova
15:23Unfortunately, but as I said, check it out
15:35Look what we bought
15:37On the streets of Moldova
15:39A real Jaja Lenin
15:41Soviet money
15:43And this Babushka remembers Jaja Lenin
15:47She says
15:53She said in the past
15:55You could buy 5kg of meat with that
15:57And now you can just buy a loaf of bread
15:59Wow
16:01Life in modern day Moldova
16:03Tourist information centre
16:05Ah, perfect, finally
16:07We found it, just what we're looking for
16:11No tourists
16:13Hence
16:15The tourist information centre
16:19Least visited country
16:25We're helping the Babushka make a sale
16:45It's just expensive here
16:47More than before
16:49Europe is cheaper than here
16:51Why is that?
16:53To work
16:55How much for 10, please?
16:57That much?
16:59For 10 that much?
17:01What am I going to do with that?
17:03Eat
17:05We got our semichki
17:07In case we meet any gopniks on our way around town
17:09When I was here in this park
17:115 years ago
17:13The bridges were broken
17:15The cobblestones were trip hazards
17:17Look, everything was overgrown
17:19But look at it now, it's beautiful
17:21As beautiful as any other park I've been to
17:23Look at it
17:25Hello
17:27And still the friendly people of Moldova
17:29I'm super impressed
17:31I've got to be honest
17:33I came here thinking it would be pretty much identical
17:35But in fact
17:37It's much, much better
17:39Look at it
17:41It's bloody nice
17:49Everywhere you go
17:51Here in the capital city Chisinau
17:53You're seeing this rehabilitation
17:55Something or other of the city
17:57This is what the parks used to look like
17:59Overgrown, nasty, fountains didn't work
18:01Look, and now look
18:03Everything has been improved
18:05It's true
18:07I don't know how they managed to do it
18:09But the Moldovan government
18:11Has improved the city
18:13I'm not saying it's paradise
18:15I'm not saying it's the greatest place in Europe
18:17But it's certainly better
18:19100% than it was before
18:21And still better
18:23Than Birmingham
18:25Well done, government of Moldova
18:29However
18:31Before declaring Chisinau
18:33Europe's most improved city
18:35We need to check out
18:37One final place
18:39On our little tour of the capital
18:41Let's go and have a look
18:43When I came to Chisinau 5 years ago
18:45These steps
18:47Were unrepaired since the days of the Soviet Union
18:49They were broken, there were trip hazards
18:51It was graffitied walls
18:53It stank of piss
18:55The lights didn't work
18:57But now look, the government has finally
18:59Fixed up
19:01The infamous
19:03Underpass of Chisinau
19:05No trip hazards
19:07The babushkas can wheel their little trolleys
19:09Freely here
19:11Without fear
19:13Of being mugged
19:15Or falling over and breaking a hip
19:17I tell you what
19:19This city has gone from being
19:21Well, the least visited
19:23But deserving
19:25To be added to everyone's tourist itinerary
19:27Here in Europe
19:31Thank you very much
19:33Goodbye
19:35Good morning from day 2
19:37On our little journey
19:39Into Europe's least visited country
19:41As we saw yesterday
19:43Chisinau
19:45Is maybe the most improved city
19:47In all of Europe
19:49But what's the rest of the country like?
19:51Well we're about to find out
19:53As myself and my trusty Soviet companion
19:55Backpacker Ben
19:57Are about to go exploring
19:59Join me
20:01Let's join him in this crappy little car
20:03Kia we've rented
20:05First ever time driving on the left
20:07Do you drive on the left? No you drive on the right
20:09I mean on the left side
20:11On the left side of the car?
20:13Yeah, right side of the road
20:15Wait, was it right side of the road?
20:17Yeah, it's on the right side of the road
20:19Wish me luck, let's go
20:21Quick, quick, quick, quick, quick
20:23Left side, left side
20:25Yes
20:27Go around the roundabout
20:29Go around the roundabout again
20:31And back up the hill
20:33Go left, left, left, left, left, left, left
20:35He's trying to give way to me
20:37I don't know what's happening, go up here
20:39Get out the way you Moldovans
20:41Moldovans, you're not safe
20:43Watch out for him up there
20:45Flip your neck mate
20:47Right, now we've calmed down
20:49Our first stop
20:51Will be Ratash
20:53Taken into a village, Benjamin
20:55Look at the tree lined boulevard
20:57As we head out of the city
20:59To begin our adventure, look at the trees everywhere
21:01Look how well maintained it is
21:05Why does no one come here, I don't understand
21:07Why would you rather go to Paris
21:09Or Brussels, or Barcelona
21:11Pickpocketing capital of Europe
21:13Than come to lovely, safe, friendly
21:15Little Moldova, I don't know
21:17Anyway, let's go and explore
21:19Look at it, beautiful Moldova
21:21On a winter's morning
21:23We're lost
21:25Hello
21:27Hello
21:29We're going to Ratash
21:31Do you know this village?
21:33Ratash
21:35On the highway
21:37Go out on the highway
21:39Don't go left
21:41Go right
21:43Okay
21:45It's scary there
21:47And it's scary there, you ask
21:49Okay, I will, thank you both
21:51Do you speak Russian?
21:53Do you speak Russian here?
21:55We speak all languages
21:57English?
21:59English, Romanian, Gypsy
22:01What do you think?
22:03I think you're smart
22:05We're not afraid to speak Russian
22:07In Moldovan
22:09We speak Russian
22:11Thank you for your help
22:13Let's go
22:15When you stop and ask a grandmother for directions
22:17They don't just say down there and turn left
22:19They give you their whole life story
22:21Maps.me
22:23Great app
22:25But it sent us down this road
22:27In Moldova
22:29It's expecting us to drive down
22:31The steepest road in Moldova
22:33Ben, what do you reckon?
22:35We push on
22:37We push on?
22:39Okay
22:41I've left a $300 deposit
22:43For this Kia
22:45I don't know if I'm going to be getting the deposit back
22:47After this road
22:49Look at the state of my shoes
22:53Walking through cow shit
22:55In Moldova
22:57There's a grave there of the last person that attempted this road
22:59They didn't make it
23:01Come on mate
23:03Come on
23:05We're almost in the village
23:07Come on mate
23:09Look at this road
23:11Beyond your fears
23:13Beyond your fears
23:15Is the life you dream of
23:17Come on, we're almost there, I can see a house
23:19He showed people the road
23:21Mate
23:23This is what happens if you want to get to Ratis
23:25Right, come on now, you can do it
23:27Yeah, you'll be alright
23:29There you go, what were you worried about?
23:31As I said
23:33Getting to Ratis isn't easy
23:35But it's worth it
23:39We've had to have a little stop
23:41In a town
23:43Because we're too stressed from the road to Ratis
23:45But we've seen a bar
23:47Called the Alimentara Bar
23:49Shall we check it?
23:51Let's get a shandy
23:53Little town
23:55Called Drasliceni
23:57Founded in
23:591634
24:01It's an old Soviet
24:03Let's go
24:11A beautiful little place
24:13An old Soviet shop
24:15Where are you from?
24:17From England
24:23Here you go
24:25They speak Russian here, right?
24:27Yes, we know
24:29We studied in Russian
24:31In school, right?
24:33That's good
24:35We know
24:37And you speak Moldavian, right?
24:39It's our native language
24:41Oh!
24:43My friend
24:45Before it was a Soviet shop
24:47And now the lady has made it into a bar
24:49And a little light place
24:53Merry Christmas!
24:57A very old town
24:591634
25:01Even older than the USA
25:03Wow, this village is
25:05Older than America
25:07Well, that was
25:09The Caged Bar
25:11Of Drasliceni
25:13And over here
25:15I want to quickly show you
25:17The Soviet War Memorial
25:19Benjamin, do you want to see the Soviet War Memorial?
25:21Look at this in the village
25:23The old Soviet War Memorial
25:25Of course, the gas has long gone out on the star
25:27But here are the names of the people who died
25:29Look on this side
25:31All of them died in 1945
25:331945, 45, 45
25:35Look, some of them were born in the 1800s
25:37But most much younger
25:3920 years old, born in 25
25:4125, 25, 26
25:43And died in 45
25:45Look at the names of the people in the village
25:47Still here
25:49The Moldavian people haven't destroyed
25:51Their Soviet War Memorial
25:53That's a good thing to see
25:55No one should be doing that for anyone who died
25:57In that war
25:59And over here
26:01Is what I presume to be
26:03The abandoned
26:05Former
26:07Soviet schoolhouse
26:13In Soviet times
26:15This building, this school building
26:17What I think was a school building
26:19Would have been full of kids running around
26:21From the village
26:23Running between the classrooms and the gymnasium
26:27But of course
26:29When the Soviet Union collapsed
26:31So did the economy of Moldova
26:33And so people left the villages
26:35In search of work abroad
26:37And so there was no need
26:41For villages to have
26:43Schoolhouses like this
26:45Because of course
26:47Not only is Moldova the least visited country
26:49It's also the poorest country
26:51Unfortunately, in Europe
26:53And so
26:55The country is dotted
26:57With empty schoolhouses like this
26:59And you can still see here
27:01Where once the blackboard was
27:03You can just see the outline
27:05Can you see it?
27:07Look at this
27:09Oh my god
27:11Look
27:13No way
27:17The old Soviet
27:19Look it's written in Russian
27:21The old Soviet maps
27:23From the classrooms
27:25No way
27:27Why would you do that?
27:31Oh my god
27:37Look at this
27:41SSSA
27:43See that?
27:45SSSA just written down there
27:47Oh wow
27:49Got you a present
27:53Would you like to see?
27:55What is that?
27:57Is that a map?
27:59A Soviet map
28:01You can hang it on your wall in Plymouth
28:03Of what country?
28:05South America
28:07You're a traveller
28:09I know it's upside down
28:11But you can still recognise it
28:13I don't want it
28:15You don't want it?
28:17Not a chance
28:19I don't want it mate
28:21Mate, welcome
28:23Look at the Ratushans
28:25We finally arrived
28:27In Flipping Ratush
28:29It's been 5 years
28:31Since I was in this town
28:33Let's see how it's changed
28:35Don't be surprised if I'm recognised by everyone
28:37Since I'm the most famous person
28:39To ever come to Ratush
28:41These people here will probably recognise me
28:43And stop me, ask me for an autograph
28:45Or something
28:47Hello
28:49Beautiful little town Ratush
28:51A very quiet town
28:53Yes
29:21It's Kishinev that have improved things
29:23Even here, in wonderful little Ratush
29:25Things are ok
29:27Look, a little guard dog
29:29Hello
29:31Hello
29:33Hello mate, hello
29:35You're a good Ratush dog
29:37A small town, but beautiful
29:39Do you speak Russian?
29:41Or Romanian?
29:43Or Moldavian?
29:45I'm Moldavian
29:47But
29:49I was born in
29:51Hungary
29:53With Russia
29:55With Russia
29:57In the 80s
29:59What do you do here?
30:01Do you have a job?
30:03No, I don't
30:05Let's go to the shop then
30:07I found a mate in Ratush
30:09My first Ratush friend
30:11Let's go
30:15Please, my friend
30:17Hello
30:19Be careful
30:23It's not the first time
30:27Do you see how a Moldavian woman
30:29Knows how to open it
30:31With a knife
30:35Look, a real Moldavian woman
30:37Thank you very much
30:39Goodbye
30:41Let's go, my brother
30:43Misha
30:45Misha, this is Misha
30:47Meet Misha, my friend
30:49I've got a sausage in my hand
30:51Shake his hand
30:53Have you seen that dog anywhere?
30:55No, the dog ran off
30:57Does Misha want this?
30:59No, you'd better bite out of it
31:01Misha, do you remember
31:03The Soviet Union?
31:05Yes
31:07Was it a normal time?
31:09Yes
31:11Did you have a job?
31:13Yes, I had a job
31:15In the village
31:17Everywhere
31:19Now it's harder
31:21Yes
31:23Before the Soviet Union
31:25There were more people
31:27Than there are now
31:29Because everyone moved
31:31Yes
31:33Only in Russia
31:35In Russia
31:37But there
31:39No
31:41How much do you earn per month?
31:432,500
31:49Can you live on that?
31:51No
31:53Misha, let's do it again
31:55Thank you for your time
31:57It was interesting to talk to you
31:59Thank you
32:01Goodbye
32:03Goodbye
32:05Goodbye
32:07Goodbye
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35:31Bye
35:33than 20 quid a night but flipping out 20 quid a night in Balti probably gets you a palace
35:38let's look for it welcome to Balti
35:41mate that was a Baltian he was off his face
36:04but where's the flipping hotel apparently it was a hotel here called hotel Balti
36:08i saw it online looked a bit bloody dodgy let's see if it's here hotel Balti
36:38oh look at this what a little single room look at this where's the light
36:51there you go oh it's more modern more modern than i expected more modern than i wanted but
36:58what a lovely flipping bathroom 15 quid there's still bargains to be had in europe in Moldova
37:08oh look at this in the hotel Balti lobby the old telephones let's go and see Ben's room
37:17oh look at it
37:22this is it you can still come to europe and still experience the real soviet post-soviet experience
37:27in the old lift where's Ben let's see his room
37:43is that you room service
37:47mate this is awesome mate it's great 15 quid 15 quid absolute bargain mate it's bloody
37:53best hotel ever stay in Balti why are we leaving Balti great room little chair
37:59that's got everything we need fridge mate 10 out of 10 10 out of 10
38:04looking out onto Balti tomorrow morning in the light we'll see what it's like
38:10but this is Balti on a sunday evening
38:13so good morning from the soviet built town of Balti in fact Balti is still so soviet
38:26that on top of the government offices you can see the faces of Marx Engels and Lenin
38:34still up there some 30 odd years after the fall of the USSR
38:40the local shopping center is still called
38:43MIR peace and all the writing on the shops in this town is in russian
38:54and the eternal flame still burns in front of the T-34 tank memorial
39:01in fact it's so soviet you can still buy a copy of Babushka's recipes
39:08not quite Babushka's Secrets but Babushka's recipes
39:12maybe I'll cook some lucky lady up a bowl of borscht later
39:20maybe I'll cook some lucky lady up a bowl of borscht later
39:30well these friendly russian-speaking outpost cities still cling on to life across
39:35Europe whether it's Daugavpils whether it's Narva or little old Balti here in
39:40Europe's least visited country but we're now going to head somewhere even more soviet let's go
39:50goodbye hotel Balti 15 quid a night absolute bargain let's get on the road
40:00oh it's cold Benjamin it's not exactly vlogging weather is it
40:07stay I'm never getting my 300 quid back look at that stop leading us down crappy roads and you
40:11will well we're now going to drive east until we hit the border and if you look at a map that
40:17border will show ukraine however there's actually another border before you get to ukraine most of
40:23you know what it is let's go ready what border is it you know right no you know where we're going
40:33something about pera sloffier perestroia don't say that word transnistria three mr or via let's go
40:43bye-bye little Balti I like Balti what do you think of it
40:48content wise not much but yeah cool place cool little soviet town right let's get out of here
40:53and let's get to flipping prednister or via somewhere down the end of this road
41:00what you're doing get on the path all right mate all right why are you trying to hit her
41:06you stopped disrespecting the babushkas of Balti turn straight on straight on
41:11just outside of Balti the soviet city of Balti look what we found still here since 1980 look
41:23Ben's left me on the outskirts of Balti but look it doesn't matter because I'm happy to be here
41:27with Misha the Moscow Olympic bear look still here the original paint wow look at this
41:36this is a real find for a soviet explorer
41:41how was it see the childishness i've got to put up says the man looking at a teddy bear
41:45it's not a teddy bear that's Misha the Olympic mascot let's go
41:571495
42:001495 butter my arse flipping heck this town Rosina we're going to on the way to Pridnestrova
42:06is built or was founded 1495 imagine that 1495 that's how many years ago 600
42:15I'm in a border town between Pridnestrova and Moldova and here is a memorial says 91 to 92
42:22and it represents the war that took place the war of well what was a war of independence for
42:27the Pridnestrovians and I don't know what the Moldovans would call it and when they broke away
42:32Transnistria Pridnestrovia took with them much of the industrial output of this nation of Moldova
42:39leaving Moldova is the poorest country in Europe however recently just a week ago in fact the
42:45Ukrainians switched off the gas supply to Transnistria and hence the economy there has
42:52completely collapsed in the space of a week the factories have closed down so we're going to cross
42:56now over the border and go and see how things are there now an old little old Pridnestrovia let's
43:01go and check it out down there those buildings in the distance is Pridnestrovia and none of
43:07the flipping lights are on it's gonna be freezing we're leaving Moldova and crossing the Transnistria
43:16drum bun crossing the Transnistria into the breakaway republic here it is
43:27well as I said the gas has been turned off in old Pridnestrovia and there's no lights on in any of
43:34the buildings look at it it's like a deserted ghost town none of the lights are on in the
43:39apartments or the office buildings I can see wow as we cross the Dniester river which is why the
43:49breakaway republic is called sometimes Transdniester across the river Dniester let's go in take a look
43:57around we've just been stamped into flipping Pridnestrovia a land without gas
44:09let's go and check what it's like we're officially in flipping Pridnestrovia and
44:15to prove it I'm going to show you someone very famous that's here
44:21someone that you don't see in many other places in Europe but you do still
44:25in little old Pridnestrovia let's go and meet him old Vladimir Ilyich Lenin
44:34what do you reckon tell me one fact about Lenin he created a soviet union oh good one oh he
44:41surprised me that we pulled out the bag that is the man who created the soviet union all the
44:45mosaics we've seen all the bus stops we've seen all the chicken Kiev's we've eaten it's all because
44:53of this man it all started with this man Vladimir Ilyich Lenin there you go well we've been led to
45:01believe on the news that old Pridnestrovia has come to a complete halt that there's no gas but
45:07it doesn't look like that to me I mean look there's people around there's shops there's people shopping
45:14going around going about their business it seems like any other city in flipping
45:18Moldova or Europe in fact I think the old problems here are a little bit over exaggerated
45:24good old Transnistria
45:28where are we going Benjamin go to the main market have a look
45:33mate get your foot down we've got to get out of here we've got a story we're leaving Transnistria
45:41in a hurry because Ben was just arrested in the marketplace for filming interrogated by
45:45six people plainclothes police for two hours I was looking for him everywhere so um watch his
45:51video to find out in the market they're all the big dealers right we're coming to the border
45:56listen let's just get out of Transnistria and get back to the safety of Moldova
46:02there's the border yeah let's go let's go let's go right let's stop here mate stop stop stop stop
46:13all right all right mate stop filming do we just go now we can see you
46:20I think we just go now don't know do we yeah just go right there
46:26put your camera away yeah let's just go
46:30okay I need you to let's go stop filming for fuck's sake
46:32there's literally there that's two of them mate I don't care mate just do it what you getting afraid
46:41stop it again
46:44we're done we're free we're in Moldova we're safe in Moldova never again am I going there
46:49Ben's not going to get rectally searched we're in Moldova good old Moldova oh look at it how
46:54happy we are to be back in little visited Moldova oh it's even a Soviet mosaic welcoming us
47:02welcoming us back to Moldova oh I never thought I'd be so happy to be back in Moldova
47:09look at it the Soviet mosaic that welcomes us to Moldova incredible
47:19wow well our time in little visited Moldova is at an end I came here expecting the country
47:28to be the same as it was last time however I've got to be honest I've been very pleasantly
47:33surprised Chisinau especially is a world away from five years ago it's now extremely clean
47:39as you can see it's very very safe the infrastructure has been improved greatly
47:44and it absolutely deserves to be added to everyone's travel plans
47:49I wonder why that is yes that is right thanks to successive Labour and Tory governments
47:57Moldova I would say is now a better place to live than the UK
48:02right come on then do it then right I'm gonna watch you do it we're gonna watch backpacker
48:07Ben do an introduction in the village in front of the war memorial three two one take it away
48:15what's on go on don't film me I'm filming you doing it
48:19the people need to see behind the scenes
48:21why are you so close to me I just want to make sure that we get it
48:24come on come on show people listen this is backpacker Ben didn't read my ebook
48:31right come on then I did a minute he slated me in it come on
48:36good morning from Mongolia
48:40that's in Moldova
48:44good morning from Moldova now myself and Baldr Welcome to theself a Moldova
48:52we're at the foot of the most beautiful mountain on the world
48:56Unreal.
49:01Good morning from Moldova.
49:03Now myself and Bold have woke up and we said let's get out of the country and back home.
49:08Oh you're putting me off.
49:09What I haven't done anything.
49:10You're right there.
49:11I'm here, I'm here, I'm not doing anything.
49:12You're putting me off with your tongue.
49:13I'm not doing anything.
49:14Even more least, even more least visited, is that a phrase?
49:17Even less visited.
49:18Even less visited.
49:19Going to a country which you've probably never heard of.
49:21Come on then, let's do it.
49:23Good morning from Moldova.
49:25Now me and Bold.
49:26Oh Bold, can you go in the car mate?
49:27Come on mate, what am I doing, I'm not making funny faces, I'm being totally serious, I'm
49:33here to help you.
49:34Come on now, you can do this.
49:35Come on.
49:38Read my e-book mate, you bloody, you know how to do this.
49:42Come on now.
49:43He's laughing at me.
49:44I know.
49:45It's like he's the worst vlogger ever.
49:47Mate, it's so much tragedy.
49:52Mate I've done nothing.
49:53Mate I've done nothing.
49:54I've done nothing.
49:55I'm back here.
49:56I'm here.
49:57Good morning from Moldova.
50:00Now myself and Bold are leaving Moldova and we're going to a new country.
50:03One which...
50:04Take 27.
50:05Do you see how much time we waste?
50:09That's why we don't get any videos made, because we're spending all day making frigging intros.
50:14Come on now.
50:18Good morning from Moldova.
50:21Now myself and Bold are leaving Europe's least visited country and we're going to a
50:24different country, which you've probably never heard of.
50:27It's called Pre-Nostrovia.
50:28Now a lot of people have been there and filmed it, but I'm getting in the car.
50:34Now come on, stick with it, one last chance.
50:36One last chance.
50:37Come on, you can do it.
50:38Otherwise, where else are you going to do it?
50:40There's no one around.
50:41No one's judging you.
50:42You've got...
50:43Apart from the people that watch this shit.
50:45Come on.
50:47Come on now.
50:48Right, you can do it.
50:49What was my intro?
50:50Good morning from the least visited country.
50:53Now I'm going somewhere that is even less visited.
50:56Even less visited.
50:57Pre-Nostrovia.
50:58It's called Pre-Nostrovia.
50:59You might not even have heard of it.
51:01It's not on any maps.
51:04Let's go.
51:05Come on.
51:06You've got this.
51:08You've got this.
51:11Good morning from...
51:12For fuck's sake, come on mate, it's cold.
51:16Good morning from...
51:17I'm laughing.
51:18Oh mate.
51:20It's like Ricky Gervais behind the scenes.
51:22It's unreal.
51:23He's only got to say one little...
51:24It's going to take him 30 seconds.
51:25Come on.
51:26Good morning from Moldova, Europe's least visited...
51:30Is that a phrase?
51:31Least visited?
51:32Yes.
51:33Why am I not with a professional YouTuber?
51:35I've heard of.
51:36It's called Pre-Nostrovia.
51:37Now, it used to be called Transnistria, but they've just changed the name.
51:42It's actually illegal to call it Transnistria now, but it may not be its own country.
51:47I'm leaving.
51:48Because he started ad-blimbing.
51:51You started doing this whole extra thing about being illegal and stuff.
51:54Why don't you stick to the original script?
52:00This is what happens.
52:01He goes off topic.
52:02He starts adding extra stuff.
52:05Just stick to the usual.
52:06Oh, a few vans come in.
52:07Oh Jesus.
52:08Come on, you...
52:09Get out of the way.
52:11We've got things to do.
52:13Right.
52:14Okay.
52:15Come on now.
52:17What's up?
52:18What's up?
52:19Good morning from Moldova, Europe's least visited country.
52:24Now we are out of here.
52:25We're going to a different country, one which you've probably never heard of.
52:29It's called Pre-Nostrovia.
52:31It used to be called Transnistria, but they've changed the name and it's also now illegal
52:35to call it Transnistria, believe it or not.
52:37So we're going to go there and see what it's like.
52:40Now it may not be on the map, but apparently it's its own country.
52:43It's got its own government.
52:44It's got its own currency and it's got its own flag.
52:47Pre-Nostrovia.
52:48Are you ready, mate?
52:49I'm ready, mate.
52:50Shall we go to Pre-Nostrovia?
52:51Let's go.
52:52Let's go.
52:53Let's see what it's all about.
52:54Ah, I did it.
52:55Thanks for that, Gal.
52:56It's freezing.
52:57It's been like an hour standing around here.