During my visit of Moldova I saw there lots of beautiful and picturesque places. It’s very pity that the Moldavians can’t put the tourist’s business on a high level to attract the visitors from the whole world to come to their country. The Republic of Moldova is a very small country that is even invisible on the map. But being there I admired the beautiful nature and wonderful places. Different travel agencies can suggest you various tours to the Moldavian monasteries and churches. Well, if you’ll decide to visit some of those places then you have to go to Tsipova. I’ve heard much about that place and decided to see it with my own eyes. And, believe me, it was worth it. Well, we left Chisinau and started our trip to Tsipova. It took us two hours to get there.

The sights on the way to that magnificent place were wonderful. If I were an artist I’d draw those wonderful hills, small villages, lakes and forests. Each place has its own beauty and attraction. At last we came to Tsipova. Our car stopped near a small church. It didn’t differ from other churches at all. “Oh, is it that famous monastery?” I thought. “What am I doing here? » But then the guide came and led us to the opposite direction from the church. On the way we saw a small meadow and came to the brink of the precipice I saw the Dnister River. It is a wide and meandering river.

Well, our road frightened me a lot. We had to go down the path which wasn’t asphalted and we couldn’t grasp any hand-rail. It was rather dangerous. The path looked dangerous because it was narrow with sudden turnings and it was surrounded by the precipices. On the way we saw the small cave, we went in and I saw a big icon there. I saw also a stone stove-bench with a blanket on it there.

At last we came to the monastery. When we came in I felt that we were in a mysterious and holy place. There were candles, icons and monks everywhere. The rooms where the monks lived looked unattractive. Those cells were used only for sleeping and praying. I wonder how the monks could sleep on a stone floor that was covered only with a blanket. The ceiling was very low so, to come into a cell and to spend the time there you have to pitch down your head. Then we went down the steps to the basement and I thought that we’re lost cause I couldn’t find the way out. Everybody had to bend theirselves down cause the ceilings were lower than in the cells. I was very sorry for those monks who had to move in such way every day. It’s not so easy! At last we came out from that basement and everybody began to stretch their bodies.

But I knew that another trip was waiting for me. We decided to make an excursion to the waterfall. That road was more dangerous then the way to the monastery. I hoped that we shouldn’t climb those dangerous “rocks”. But, I had to say good-bye to all my hopes. On the way to the waterfall we had to jump, to climb, and to crawl. Then we reached the road that was between two rocks and decided to have a rest. We saw a spring there and drank some water. Oh, water! It was so long-expected, sweet and cold water! There was a big cross near that spring. It amazed me a lot. The cross was approximately two meters high and it was decorated with flowers. Some meters further we saw the waterfall. It was wonderful! I didn’t know where the water flows from as I didn’t see the river. It seemed that the water ran just from the mountain.

I wonder how it could be that such small and unknown country is so rich with natural sights. You see, we never know what and where is waiting for us. I didn’t want to leave that place. I felt something greater than pleasure, I felt how the pacification spread in my soul and in my mind. Listening to the sounds of falling water I didn’t think at anything. I even didn’t want to think. But, as you know, the time presses and we had to go back. We returned the same way but it hasn’t seemed so difficult for me yet. Though I’ve had a chance to fall down from the precipice but my friends and the branches of the trees have saved my life.