http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , Estonia en-us Fri, 09 May 2008 18:07:25 BST Fri, 09 May 2008 18:07:25 BST Matkamme alkoi aikaisin Wappuaamuna... siis kun muut kokosivat voimiaan mennkseen Ullanlinnalle tai Wappusillikselle tms.Me siis suuntasimme Polomme JEU329 kohti Lnsisatamaa ja Tallink Starille. Koti oli vuokrattu Dimitrille ja Olgalle... Hannin tarkastama juttu ett ovat ihan OK ... siis toivotaan ett KOTI on kunnossa kun palailemme. Niin... emme muuten pse kotiin ennen syyskuun ek http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-274269.html Damn I'm tired. The last couple of days were rather full on and here is how it all came aboutOn Thursday evening I was taking the plane from Liepaja to Riga. The airport was tiny there was only one building you couldn't even call that a terminal. The plane was a Fokker with some 50 seats but luckily there were only about 10 other people on board. The flight consisted of taking off getting http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Parnu/blog-271899.html Tallinn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/blog-270575.html Three Baltic capitals three UNESCOprotected Old Towns. So what does this actually mean acquiring UNESCOrecognition In short any country can suggest a place it wants to have included in UNESCO's list of word heritage sites and if accepted the place is recognized as being of outstanding natural or cultural importance being seen as our legacy from the past what we live with today and what http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-270195.html From Sweden I hoped on a ferry to Tallinn the Capital of Estonia to begin my journey through Eastern Europe. First off I have to say that the ferry had to be one of the weirdest experiences so far. The trip is sold as a cruise for families but the main reason people go on it is for the duty free because things are so expensive in Sweden and Norway. Once the boat set off the line started out the http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-266058.html On telling friends and family that Vicky and I were off to a tour of the Baltics well Estonia and Latvia anyway taking in not just the touriststag party Meccas of Tallinn and Riga but also heading out of the capitals to the largely ignored towns of Tartu and Parnu we were greeted with a raised eyebrow and the uh huh ok.... response of uncertainty. This reaction sums up the position the Balt http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-264081.html Emailing between Estonia and Germany. April 2007. MelI am in the Old Town inside the town walls. It is georgous. Lots of shops and bars but you have to look carefully for them because the signs are subtle and don't ruin the scenery at all. I did not have to carry my own bag into the city because the airline lost it. There were stacks of bags around the baggage collection area which they lost yest http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-259721.html What started as a daydream at work became a crazy reality last week.I started my trip with a visit to Dublin with some of my friends from Prague. A girl we met during our teaching course lives there now so we stayed with her for a couple nights.Then I took my oneway flight to Finland It seemed like a good idea at the time but as I was landing in Tampere I realized that having nothing planne http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-253707.html Ma armastan sind Tallinn http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-251759.html Tallinn is a medieval town situated at the top of Estonia and is similar in building appearence to Riga but with a lot of the shops restruants and local clothing taking on a medieval theme.I stayed in old town at the Tallinn backpackers which was another social spot for heading out with loads of other travellers to hit the pubs at night. Our hostel had a underground pub which was once an old war http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/blog-249277.html The ship is a little bit worn down. Seems ok though should manage not to sink at least for one more time on its route between Tallinn and Stockholm. Equipped with most facilities bar casino nightclub sauna pool stores restaurant sitting lounge as slightly more modern ships it appears to be a safe ride. Concerns arise when listening to the rigorous safety instructions more detailed th http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-241523.html At the End of October i end up in Estonia for Energy 2007 it is for the first time when i am taking part in a conference organized by 3 countries and i can say it was a great feeling trying to figure out where delegates are from only by listening to their Language. Well it was also hard because the Lithuanian Delegation was making a lot of Noise. AIESEC Vilnius cleaned the house taking all the po http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tartu/blog-217659.html Everyone we had talked to about Estonia had told us only good things about it namely things are cheap the chicks are hot and the nightlife great an undiscovered diamond in the rough. So needless to say we were keenly anticipating what may be waiting for us in Tallinn.Our ferry to Tallinn was going to be something a bit different we were going to take a hydrafoil which is basically a tank http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-214089.html Our memories of Tallinn Playboy advertisements old buildings casinos on every corner lots of souvenir and handicraft stores strip clubs cobbled streets very fancy cars Porsche Audi Hummers little old ladies selling knitted products amber jewellery... Total contrasts everywhere. It was a beautiful city and interesting.After a wonderful break in the UK with my sister and brotherinlaw http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/blog-211696.html March 2005The jewel of the Baltic is probably Estoniarsquos capital city Tallinn itrsquos got a combination of the sights history and that general party spirit. Whilst itrsquos possible to start feeling this Old Town fatigue in this part of the Baltic Tallinnrsquos is possibly the pick of the bunch. It might not be as big as the Vilnius version but it has that dramatic visual impact http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-210786.html Tallinn 5th to 8th OctoberOn arrival at Tallinn airport I decided it best to get a taxi from the airport as i did not fancy a magical mystery tour of the surroundings. This proved to be wise as my hostel was tucked away in a series of medieval passages that I would never have found in the dark On this occassion I had opted for a private room in the hostel and this was nice given that I had to be http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-209784.html It has been a long time since I've added my two cents to the internet and in that time many changes some very bad some very good have happened. Two weeks ago was our first major field trip. The object of this educational travel time was to meet with and discuss political issues close to our countries of travel by that I mean we met with a German dude and an Estonian dude. I say dude but I a http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-208792.html Hello helloWhere to begin with Estonia... I cannot possibly ever explain this country. It is filled with the more wonderful people I have ever come across...So John and I decided to hop a ferry and check out the small Baltic country after our long train escapades. We arrived in the main city and were marvelled with the charm and quaint beauty of the old town. After a few days and searching o http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/blog-207962.html Baltische trip Episode 3.De laatste stop van ons avontuur. We vinden dat het ondertussen wel eens welletjes is met al die slaapzalen in herbergen en besluiten om een tweepersoonskamer te nemen in een hostel in de stad. Nog steeds heel goedkoop maar dan een plek voor onszelf. Heerlijk om zo tot rust te komen en daarmee besef ik dat ik een goede keuze maakte met mijn kot in Warschau waar ik ko http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-207338.html Tere. Greetings from Estonia. Two days ago we boarded a train in Russia and seven hours later we arrived in Scandinavia. Estonia whilst a neighbour of Russia's is closer in culture and style to her Scandinavian cousins. Finland is only 48 nautical miles to the north whilst Sweden is a sixhour ferry trip to the west.Estonians are Lutherans no gilded ornate coloured decoration in the chur http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-207025.html The historical city of Tallinn is pretty much untouched bar the odd renovation or paintjob since the middleages. As a result the medieval buildings misshapen cobblestones houses bunched one upon the other impressive townhalls and churches that appear half western half eastern are most evocative and intriguing. To describe it as Disney is to do exactly the wrong thing undermining its http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-205519.html Many of you should have received emails by now if you have not I'm sorry I'm doing the best I can to try and inform everyone by me and not through others. I am coming home this week.I know my blogs have seemed like I'm having the time of my life it is less than half of what has been going on over here. The best way I can put it is that I am not right here. I don't think my time to be here http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tartu/blog-203024.html Nothing major has occured over the past few days. The whole flat with the exception of one neighbor has kept it pretty low key. Cassie and I have successfully made two dishes as well as making Anya her first PBJ. She said she liked it but that it was a little sweet for her taste. All is well though she said she would eat it again.Last night we made our own version of stroganoff sp. W http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tartu/blog-202456.html Dear AllOur travels have taken us via London to Eastern Europe. Apologies to all of our friends in London but we sent those photos home on our computer so none could be uploaded on to our blog. We had an awesome time catching up with mates in London and wish them well.We have made it to the Baltic countries of Estonia Latvia and Lithuania... all quite similar but with their own individual cha http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-202360.html Well after Stockholm which Mel and I decided was our second best city.My first but after Mel's Sex in the City weekend in New York with her girlfriends any city would be second to New YorkWe boarded our ferry to Tallin Estonia. We obviously had to book another broom closest with no window it was the cheapest room and Mel's in charge of the cash. No luck with an upgrade this time.It was a s http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-202317.html Saelt veri folkidVid erum lentum i Tallinn i gaer eftir eina letta og svefnlausa nott i kben kiktum med Beysa uta lifid og forum svo til Kaspers og krssudum thar vknudum svo 20 minotum adur en taxinn atti ad koma nadum samt badir ad sturta okkur og pakka flestu gleymdi einum helv... poka adur en taxinn kom.Eftir thad var brunad uta flugvll og drifum okkur i rd bissnes class sem var ba http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-201940.html Classes officially started for me this week I put an exclamation point because being bored in Estonia is as bored as you can get. Classes at least give you something to do for a couple hours as well as something to talk about and dread. Dreading classes is more entertaining than doing nothing I promise.The first of the week was History of the EU and Intgegration Theories which I think I sho http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tartu/blog-201692.html Day 106 July 20 FINLAND Helsinki ESTONIA TallinnAccommodation Tallinn BackpackersI tried to sleep in as long as I could today after the extra awake time forced upon me and I had no plans after seeing what I wanted to yesterday so I stored my bags and went straight for the net cafe which was in fact a decent cafe with about 8 internet terminals. Surprisingly it's hard to find a net cafe http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tallinn/blog-200667.html Today was not a bad day. Nothing too adventuresome sp happened. Cassie and I went to the main square for pictures today and received a pleasent little surprise. The whole square was turned into a market. They had everything you would need there. There was everything from fruits and vegetables to hats and scarves to even large rabbits. Cassie and I hoped that they were for pets and not for http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/Estonia/Tartu/blog-200213.html