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Estonia Travel Blogs

The most northerly of the chilly Baltics, member of Nato since April 2004 and the European Union since May 2004 Estonia is making great strides with rediscovering their culture and revelling in their newly acquired relative wealth.

Estonian society is however tainted with the aftermath of Soviet occupation with ethnic tension and the ex Soviet style womens liberation making Estonias women reluctant to pursue more rights.

Being sparsly populated, Estonia has wide expanses of forest and lakes.

Visit Estonia and stay warm in one of medieval Tallinns candlelit cellars with the delicious Estonian speciality hot chocolate and truffles or take an Estonian style weekend get away to the Islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa on any day of the week.

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By Delaine
September 19th 2009

09/19/2009 - Tallinn, Estonia Europe » Estonia » Tallinn

Coming into the port.

Roxie went on a tour of “Old Town (cobblestone streets and lots of hills),” while Roger rested and Judy & I took a shuttle to “Old Town” and walked around on our own. As we got off the bus and walked to the street we needed to turn on I fell over a semi-circle rock. My left knee is bruised up pretty good, but other than that I’m fine. We were approached by a young lady offering samples of candied/flavored/smoked nuts and asked if we wanted to try one. It was still early in the morning so we both said, “no [View Full Entry]

By No2ndhome
September 5th 2009

MUHU-SAAREMAA-PADASTE MANOR Europe » Estonia

13TH CENTURY ROMANESQUE CHURCH
Amazing find in Poide, built not long after final pagan battle in 1227.

(Excerpted from my book: OUR SUMMER IN ESTONIA: AMAZON.COM) The following day we traveled to the nearby island of Saaremaa. Connected to Muhu by a causeway across a shallow inlet, Saaremaa is Estonia’s largest island, almost 1700 square miles. Saaremaa, like Muhu, was declared a frontier zone during Soviet occupation; therefore, travel to and from the island was severely restricted. Saaremaa’s population is less today than in 1930 for three reasons: German and Russian deportations of Saaremaa’s citizens for slave labor during WWII, an exodus of able Estonians to nea [View Full Entry]

By Jonaitis
August 27th 2009

Pärnu Europe » Estonia » Parnu

Windswept Erin
Erin on the Baltic Coast.

Our last stop in Estonia was Pärnu, affectionately known to locals as "Estonia's Miami." Truth be told, on a cool day at the end of tourist season, it felt more like Estonia's Hyannis, which is actually a bit more my speed. We checked into our room for the night, which was as spotless as we'd been led to expect, and was perhaps the roomiest accommodation I've had in a hostel. Then we headed out on the town. Lunch was the first order of business. After wandering the downtown's six blocks for a bit, we decided on a place with [View Full Entry]

By mr mink
August 27th 2009

Tartu ma tartine - last day Europe » Estonia » Tartu

Turku - typical street scene

last day so what do I do - spend half of it in the shops! I went down to the Bussijaam to organise my tik to Riga tomorrow at 6.45am - - its now 10.30pm I should not be writing this! - and get somewhat sidetracked by the big shopping malls down there - designer label shops like Gant (no sale) Pepe Jeans (sale - bu- they want how much for wrecked jeans?? etc) - and bought a very nice shirt in the Esprit shop - did they start in Oz? - well we all know they are made in China [View Full Entry]

By Jonaitis
August 26th 2009

Tartu Europe » Estonia » Tartu

Rainy Lovers
This is the fountain out in front of the town hall in Tartu's Raekoja Plats. They be a-smoochin'!

Yes, it's true, our time in Tallinn and that gorgeous apartment needed to come to an end. On the morning of the 26th, we looked at all of our stuff that had migrated out of our backpacks over the last couple of days and hastily shoved it back in, did one last pass of tidying up, checked out, and headed out to the bus station. Due to our experience with Altja, we'd already quadruple-checked our transport schedules and left quite a bit earlier than was probably necessary, but peace of mind was what we wanted that morning. One bus ride later [View Full Entry]

By mr mink
August 26th 2009

the Parnu money crash disaster! Europe » Estonia » Parnu

Parnu - Estonia - 26 August it is 11.45am as I start this, sitting at an outside table at the Cafe Piccadilly - which is supposedly a wine bar, but which also does minor food and coffee. So I just had some ham and mushroom quiche - for breakfast really, as my hotel, Hommiku Hostel, did not supply breakfast - mid you for 600EKr for a single room one cannot have everything. It was easy enough to go and get pastries and coffee for breakfast after all - this morning was a little savoury but I suppose it is almost lunchtime. [View Full Entry]

By mr mink
August 26th 2009

Barclay Hotell - Tartu Europe » Estonia » Tartu

Barclay Hotell 1

now Tartu in the SE of Estonia - the express bus from Parnu took 2 1/2 hrs so here around 3.30pm - its now 5pm and I am blogging - its sad isnt it?! Discovered that (always ask before leaving the Bussijaam - bus terminal - for next step) the bus to Riga in Latvia - abt 4 hrs - only goes twice per day - 06.45 (ouch) or 17.45 - bit late to be getting in there. So staying at some of the more attractive hotels maybe a little bit further from the station here and closer in Old Town [View Full Entry]

By mr mink
August 26th 2009

Parnu - what about the rest of it?? Europe » Estonia » Parnu

Parnu - street scene
just your normal terrace type block

about Parnu - but now in TARTU what with the doom and gloom of the Great Wallet Loss Disaster of Parnu of 2009 - what else to report? did I actually see anything? was there anything worthwhile to see? well, yes, sort of. The main thing it was famous for - they are not still open but the building is still there, down at the Strand/beach - is the Mud Baths - a snap of the pink and white building is hopefully attached. the Russians were big onto spa and mud type things - and as they have relatively occupied the [View Full Entry]

By mr mink
August 26th 2009

Tartu my Tartu - the night shots Europe » Estonia » Tartu

Tartu town hall - back view

Tartu - 26 August gotta keep that production line going. No real text with this - that can wait - just want to upload the general views of Tartu at night this evening after dinner. Which was eaten at the Barclay Hotell - its 5 floors or whatever but the evening desk guy told there are only 17 guests today - no wonder they offered me 25% off! And I was therefore the only dinner guest. A classic borscht to start - not pureed but coarse in texture - warm and with blue cheese in it, which got me in! then [View Full Entry]

By Jonaitis
August 25th 2009

Lahemaa National Park, and a Surprise Europe » Estonia » Tallinn

Altja
Graham and Erin arrive at the Altja bus terminal.

We are determined to see one national park in every country we visit, so today we headed off to Lahemaa National Park. Looking at the guide, it seemed we could use any of three towns as a base, all of which were on the same busline: Käsmu, an old captains’ village; Võsu, a popular beach town; and Altja, a tiny fishing village at the end of the line that has a swing on a hill. (Apparently swings are a thing of high sport in Estonia.) Turned off by beachgoers and intrigued by swings, we checked the schedule for Altja. Five hours [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Estonia