Last Saturday was the apple festival in Sorocă the larger village south of us that has the fortress. Our community walked in the parade and I was invited to go to join in the celebration...  I have never been to Bayfield,  Wisc. but I think this one would have put it to shame...

This was our parade entry... Most of the villages in the Rayon (County) had a showing with either dancers or school children in costume marching.There was one band and a few accordion and drums..
                                                                 The Ukraine is across the river and they came in their customs and danced during the exhibitions. Moldovan women do not wear the flowers wreathed in their hair.  The dances were beautiful and very lively with a different lilt to the music. Interesting for the differences in custom, culture and dress that are only separated by a river.

Again the food was amazing.  Different parts of the N have traditional foods that are judged and if you are from the village you come after the judging and share in the feast.. Some of the bakery's here who still grind flour had some wonderful pastries that were less then a quarter.  I ate enough for each of you!

Can you see how they decorated the pig?  The last photo I think took a lot of patience.  Watermelons are grown here and eaten everyday while in the 2 month season. Moldovan people don't like drinking water like we Americans do. So they eat the melon to replace the fluids and electrolytes .  I ate my share so I wouldn't get dehydrated either..... 

Love from this side of the globe, Marcy