Soroca (romanian), russian and ukrainian  Сороки (Soroki, „magpie“). The moldovan city lies in historical Bessarabia. 

In 12th and 13th  century in Soroca was a passage across the river which checked sales men from Genoa. Within the principailty of Moldova (around 1350 to 1538) the fortress was of huge military importance for the protection of eastern border against the Tatars. Close the village of Lipnic in the northern rayon Ocnita the moldovan army of Stefan cel Mare beat the Tatars from the Golden Horde of Akhmat Khan. Both sides had a very high amount of killed soldiers. The name of the city of Soroca was first mentioned in a document in 1499.

The meaning of Bessarabia goes back to the wallachian dynasty of princes called Basarab which reigned the region in 13th and 14th century and has nothing to do with Arabia. Originaly, only the the southern third of the country as Terra Bassarabum (lat.). Beginning with the russian taking over in 1812, Russia strengenthed the area called Bessarabia between the rivers Pruth and Dnestr. 

Today Soroca counts around 30,000 inhabitants, many of them of the ethnic groups of Rome and Sinti which makes it its inofficial capital in Moldova. Many of the pictures show 

The magpie (Pica pica) is a species of birds of prey. They are home to many parts of Europe and Asia and also in Northern Africa. In Europe, the magpie is especially domiciled  in habitated areas. Because of its characerizing black and white feathering with its striking tail feathers, the magpie is recognisable for laymen. 

In germanic mythology, the magpie was both messenger of the gods and bird of goddes of death called Hel, so the bird became a carrier of mischief. As thievish magpie, the animal was unpopular also in medieval times as witches´ escort and bird of gallow. In asia, in contrary its tradionally a talisman and the Indians see the Hudson Magpie (Pica hudsonia) as a ghostly creature which is friend with humans.