Estonia
Goodbye, Europe!
In another couple of hours, I’ll be out the door and heading to London Heathrow to catch a flight to Tanzania! Over the next four months, Mini Bear and I will travel around five east African countries so be sure to use the new subscribe option in the sidebar to stay up to date with … Continue reading
Helsinki
Many of my fellow passengers on the first ferry of the morning from Tallinn to Helsinki had clearly been up all night indulging in Tallinn's nightlife so the ride was pretty quiet. The ferry was a pea green and orange ship that must have held around two thousand passengers on its nine decks. Even though … Continue reading
Beware the statues
Courtesy of Mini Bear Films, I bring you the trailer from my time with statues in Tartu.
Tartu, Estonia
Estonia is small enough that the bus ride from the western island town of Kuressaare to the southeastern university city of Tartu is probably the longest direct bus ride in the country, and it's just six hours. I picked up a map of town, not realizing at the time it was a self guided … Continue reading
Kuressaare, Estonia
It was a quick four hour bus-ferry-bus ride from Tallinn to the island of Saaremaa in western Estonia. Along the way, the land was pancake flat and I passed more rolled hay stacks than Monet could paint in a lifetime. Saaremaa is just under 3,000 square kilometers and has a population of 35,000. The biggest … Continue reading
Tallinn miscellaneous
Odds and ends from Tallinn. Common souvenirs include fake fur, leather, hand knitted goods, and amber. This pharmacy was originally built in 1422 and is the oldest still functioning pharmacy in the world. Just because I'd kick myself if this was ever an answer in Jeopardy, Ferdinand Vieke founded the Estonian State … Continue reading
Tallinn’s Soviet prison
Are you looking for the perfect place to host your event? An intimate wedding? An all night rave? Or maybe a work conference? If so, perhaps you should consider holding it at Tallinn's former Soviet prison. That's right, this building which has been used as a defensive fort, a military barracks, and a Soviet prison … Continue reading
Estonia’s path to independence
Today was focused on learning about the country's busy history so I went to the Occupation Museum which touches on the German occupation and primary addresses Estonia under the Soviets. The one room museum held countless small artifacts from the country and capital city since the early twentieth century. A secret peep hole … Continue reading
Tallinn, Estonia
Before I arrived in Estonia, I knew that I knew almost nothing about this country. I knew this is where Skype was invented, that former pro cyclist Jaan Kirsipuu hails from here, and that it was once part of the USSR. After one full day just wandering around Tallinn's Old Town, I am starting to … Continue reading