I had never heard of Butuceni. Having spent a day in this tiny farming village in rural Moldova, I will never forget it and loved it. There must be something I can do here in this sleep town I thought. So walking towards me comes a young girl. I stop and ask her where I can get a coffee. Obviously in this rural farming village in deep Moldovan countryside, not much English will be spoken, nor would I want it to be. But symbolising the need for a coffee is a universal action and this girl leads me up to what is known as Butuceni Eco Resort.
Here in the heart of this countryside village sits…Butuceni Eco Resort. Here in this tranquil farming village, a local entrepreneur called Anatolie has opened up a fantastic hotel complex which serves as the only decent public cafe, bar and restaurant in the village.
The restaurant in Butuceni Eco Resort
The restaurant in Butuceni Eco Resort
It’s a cold day and I sit down beside a hot fire, am given some biscuits and coffee and I get out my travel books and start making notes.
I visit cows, sheep, pigs, chickens, goats, horses.
Tudor with a donkey in his farm.
Then Zina takes me down the main street in Butuceni and gives me a tour of the hotel complex and I am just amazed.
The Farm in Butuceni.
Walking to the Hotel Complex.
From a quiet lane through this tranquil village, you wouldn’t quite believe that a full on health spa exists here – in pristine condition and just a perfect tonic for what I needed. Your body gets travel weary and apart from my Spa night in Caldea Andorra, I haven’t really chilled out much the last few years.
The complex with the health spa.
Swimming pool and health spa.
The spa complex is sublime – pools, jacuzzis and baths. Plus the relaxation of those hot tiled stones that you lie on. Zina puts the fire in and I relax for about 45 minutes here on my own, just loving it.
The hot stone place to lie down.
Then all freshened up, I head back into the restaurant and order my dinner. I go for Zeama which is a local chicken soup. Being in Moldova, famous for wine, I decide to have my first glass of Moldovan wine here and opt for a Chardonnay. It’s served to perfection in a pot and I’m still just amazed by the day I’m having!
We sipped Moldovan wines and chatted about travel in this cellar. It had been raining all day so it was a great way to unwind at the end of the long and dreary day.
Traditional Butuceni House to stay in at Butuceni Eco Resort.
The top 9 things to see in do in Butuceni would be:
1. Orheiul Vechi Church
2. Orheiul Vechi Cave Monastery
3. Orheiul Vechi Bell Tower
4. Countryside Views from Orheiul Vechi and Butuceni
5. War Memorial in Butuceni
6. Farm tour in Butuceni
7. Spa visit in Butuceni
8. Local meal in Butuceni
9. Wine sampling in Butuceni
Details:
Butuceni Eco Resort, Butuceni, Moldova
Telephone: (+373) 235 56906 or (+373) 796 17870
E-mail: info@pensuineabutuceni.md
Jonny Blair is a self confessed traveling nomad who founded and blogs at Don’t Stop Living. He sees every day as an adventure. Since leaving behind his home town of Bangor in Northern Ireland ten years ago he has traveled to all seven continents, working his way through various jobs and funding it all with hard work and an appetite for travel. Don’t Stop Living, a lifestyle of travel’ contains over 1,000 stories and tips from his journeys round the globe. He wants to show others how easy it is to travel the world, give them some ideas and encourage them to do the same but most of all he aims to constantly live a lifestyle of travel. He is currently based in Hong Kong and on Twitter @jonnyblair.
