Moldova

"An early morning stroll through the tiny, lovely spa town of Frantiskovy Lazne is an almost meditative experience, until a sip of musty spring water brings you to earth with a bump..."

"With a winemaking tradition stretching back over 7,000 years, the world’s highest density of vineyards and an array of wine experiences, Moldova is a dream destination for oenophiles..."

"I am folded in half. My knees are tucked up to my chin - my chin tucked into my chest. I can’t even feel my feet. In fact, my only sensation is the sharp jabbing below my shoulder blade..."

"My finger is deep inside my right sock when I spot Him. Furtively glancing over the headrest in front of me, I spy the dark uniformed figure holding out an imperious palm to halt the bus..."

“China now has more KFC outlets than giant pandas. A mere two decades after some vexed Germans shouted at a wall, the country's about as socialist as Joseph McCarthy in a kaftan..."

“As the 1990s rolled in, and the world watched Poland and co. march forwards to a bright new dawn, no-one seemed to notice that one corner of the Eastern Bloc had been left behind…”