Geography lesson... Martin, Giustino, I gave a really abbreviated version of the geography as I knew it, from what I read in the guidebooks. We can have a similar discussion about Taiwan, is it part of China or is it Taiwan and never a part of China. :-/ Estonia was a republic/state/province within Russia, is that correct? That's what I understood anyway. BTW, after I wrote that, I did figure out that that was the town hall, and I also find the pharmacy. I never did get my free marzipan though. I did find interesting things inside the Estonian National Museum, that bit of trivia about if a serf lives in town for a year and a day he's considered a free man; those two spooky exhibits -- one of the funeral pyre and the other of the beheading; the bits of metal tools, baskets, paper money from the different eras... I was paying attention! But what I was trying to say indirectly (by my fairly unkind put down of the museum) was there was such a price difference between the attractions/museums/sights; if the people (Tallinnians?) who set the prices valued their history or the museum (or knew that the tourists would come no matter what the price), then the entry fee would've cost more than 15 EEK. BTW, I also went to the maritime museum. I liked it, but I was the only one there.
Chill, Alex you spent 2 weeks in Poland, I'm about to spend 5 weeks. If I really can't stand it at all, I'd already be on my way to Germany. There are rude people everywhere, include on the internet, and since this is MY blog, I can bitch about them if I feel like. I don't see what your point is for calling me a jerk for not taking the train. I didn't think of it. Like I said, I was hungry and tired and had no one to remind me of that obvious fact. I admitted it was stupid, but you think it's necessary to call me a jerk? Sheesh, rude people everywhere. My local neighborhood is "international", more so than Krakow or Warsaw if you are referring to the sheer number of foreigners and international recognition. And I have been to London, Paris and Rome. I didn't have a blog when I toured those places but I'm sure if I did, I'd complain about those rude people, too!
From Estonian Point of view Oh God, The one that you think is church is the Town Hall. In Front of it is the Town Hall Square, on the other side of the square is the Pharmacy...
comment by an estonian Wendy, Judy
Estonia was never Russia. Estonia or parts of it has been a province of Denamrk, Sweden, Germany, Poland-Lithuania and Russia. Being a province is not the same as being a country. If you think it's the same then Judy, if you were in Finland we could say that you were in Sweden..or Russia 'couse Finland has been a province of both of them. So where were you and where are going?
If you couldn't find anything interesting in Estonian History Museum then poor you. But I guess for you from the States history is everything more than 100 years old and you just can't understand that Tallinn here has a histor of abt 800 years and in the museum you can see things even older than that. But some people of course are not into history.
About Raeapteek (Town Hall Pharmacy, which by the way is the oldest still working Pharmacy in Europe) if you couldn't find it then you most likely didn't find the Town Hall Square. If you are on the square and looking at Town Hall the Pharmacy is just behind you on the other side of the square.
Good luck
Martin
You are a jerk I spent two weeks in Poland last autumn. Had a great time, great food, easy to get around, wonderful people and most speak English. You are a jerk for not as you said not taking a train to Krakow from Warsaw. Warsaw is wonderful, the old town is spectacular and the history is very interesting, Krakow is old, beautiful, well preserved and they are both very friendly places to visit. Since you are a jerk, remember, this isn't your local neighborhood, but two international cities, not your local-yocal town. If you want rude go to london, Paris, and Rome.
wrong on both accounts Estonia was part of the Kingdom of Sweden until 1720. It then became part of the Russian Empire until 1918, when it declared, fought for, and won its independence. It lost its independence when it was occupied by the USSR in 1940 during World War II. It regained its independence when it redclared independence in 1991 as the USSR fell apart.
That's the story on this tiny country. Tallinn, for what it's worth, appears in both Eastern Europe and Scandinavian Europe guidebooks.
you're right on both accounts... Estonia used to be western Russia, before it got split up. Now it's considered Eastern Europe. Or the Baltic states. I decided to come here b/c it's right there across the water from Finland, 3 hour boat ride, why the hell not!
Okay, call me stupid but is Estonia Eastern Europe or Western Russia? Why did you decide to go there if you knew no one there? It's not like Conde Nest touts Estonia as the tourist capital during these winter months!
no... they don't let us to the front of the boat. :-/ we are only allowed in the back part. i have photos of me standing on deck with snow and white as my backdrop. Oh if only I can find an internet connection with usb!
did ya climb to the front of the boat and yell "I'm the queen of the wooooorld!" at least it would have roused those people inside who were playing them slots.
oh my gosh, that pile of kindereggs almost brought tears of joy to my eyes. dang, what a vision! i bet the toys are all duplicates though :( ...probably those annoying plastic flower ones with the faces on them.
no igloos here... they do have an ice bar (for drinks) but it's probably a tourist trap. besides, i don't drink. I think i'd have to go up farther into Lappland for the igloos. and the reindeers. and the auroras (but that's more summer than now).
Ok Ok just switch "little chicken" and what do you have? Chicken Little
So, no thanks, i Chicken Little. Where is the railroad shopping center?
Keep up the memoirs. Wish you luck finding a place. Have you ever tried to stay in an igloo? Once I stayed in an igloo on Mt. Rainer (WA). Sounds like it's cold there. Tolerable.
i was thinking the same as long as the photos turn out well, maybe i'll remember back (when i'm 102) and think yeah, i did have a good time! :p but it's a lot of pain and suffering right now to get those photos out, i tell ya.
fantastic! Man, I love you blog. I don't have to make the trip myself and I get to enjoy yours and your misery :) haha
But I do admire you to sticking to your guns and haggling. But why didn't you have the same idea when you were in Taiwan and willing to pay five times as much for a fruit smoothie or something?
photos tells a better story why is it that other countries and exotic local photo so well? My friend was just in Tokyo and she said it was pretty borning. But her photos also came out really cool and pretty, like she had a good time.
Yours too! I guess sitting in my air conditioned office, I'm not having the full experience. haha
You don't even know how to turn! on bikes that is. Last time I remember you on a bike. You had to get off to turn. What possesed you to go on a bike tour??
oh yeah, the gold leaf thingie... it's fun eh? there's also a wooden canister with sticks in it. you shake the canister rapidly and a stick falls out. on the stick is a number, which correlates to something lucky. i forgot the details. my friend root and i would go to the temples and get that upon a little donation.
oh, i think i forgot to tell you about that whole local/foreigner rate thing too. yeah, they heeeella rip off foreigners there. judy, you're doing good with the taxi cab drivers (pat pat on the back). i still say to go for the motorcycle taxis!
did you notice how everyone wears flip flops everywhere, even on construction sites. yah, highly dangerous.
judylay
Judy Lay
Geography lesson...
Martin, Giustino, I gave a really abbreviated version of the geography as I knew it, from what I read in the guidebooks. We can have a similar discussion about Taiwan, is it part of China or is it Taiwan and never a part of China. :-/ Estonia was a republic/state/province within Russia, is that correct? That's what I understood anyway. BTW, after I wrote that, I did figure out that that was the town hall, and I also find the pharmacy. I never did get my free marzipan though. I did find interesting things inside the Estonian National Museum, that bit of trivia about if a serf lives in town for a year and a day he's considered a free man; those two spooky exhibits -- one of the funeral pyre and the other of the beheading; the bits of metal tools, baskets, paper money from the different eras... I was paying attention! But what I was trying to say indirectly (by my fairly unkind put down of the museum) was there was such a price difference between the attractions/museums/sights; if the people (Tallinnians?) who set the prices valued their history or the museum (or knew that the tourists would come no matter what the price), then the entry fee would've cost more than 15 EEK. BTW, I also went to the maritime museum. I liked it, but I was the only one there.