Vibrant culture, historical architecture, gourmet restaurants, interactive museums. All this describes Estonia’s Old Town; but wait…there’s more. I wish I could experience all Estonia has to offer but that is far from possible in four days. Fortunately, I did get a taste of Estonia’s “natural” side during my stay. It is normal to become what people call a “weary traveler” when you are far from home and living out of your suitcase. A good remedy for the traveling blues is a change in scenery. Kara and I soon realized we were in need of an escape from the crowded streets and flashing lights. It was a good thing we were in Estonia!
After a ten-minute bus ride and a hike through the woods, we were at
Estonian Open Air Museum. The museum was primarily outdoors, hence the name. The life-sized reconstruction of an 18th-century rural/fishing village swept us away. We sat in desks at a schoolhouse, observed the traditional method for baking gingerbread cookies, regarded an assortment of candies in a sweet shop, and walked among the soaring trees and moss covered stone fences. While walking around we listened to an audio guide on our phone. The narrator explained each structure in eloquent detail. I love when exercise and history meet.
On another day, we had an excursion to
Laheema National Park, Estonia’s largest. The park is located on the northern coast, not far from Tallinn. Together with individuals from Russia, Greece, Poland, New Zealand, and Switzerland, we headed for the first stop on the schedule:
Jägala Waterfall. Jägala is the widest natural waterfall in Estonia. People say it is an amazing sight in the winter when the water freezes creating an ice wall with large icicles. We did not see the frozen waterfall. Still, the sight and sound was breathtaking.
Next, we embarked on a trail in the woods for a bog. Bog is a type of wetland ecosystem characterized by wet, spongy, poorly drained soil (
Source—Britannica). There are many spooky tales in Estonia where bogs serve as the lead character and setting. The deeper we walked in the forest, the more concerned I became about getting out. My fears subsided when I came to and reveled at a boardwalk hovering above the wet ground. I knew then that this hike was going to be fun. The 3.5-kilometer trail provided stunning views of gloomy ponds, dense woodlands, and accumulated plant material. Yes, it sounds melancholy, but in fact it was quite lovely.
Photo Gallery:
 |
| Abandoned Soviet Union submarine base. |
 |
| Lunch at Captains' Village. |
 |
| Fun on a giant seesaw and at an historic manor. |
I am concluding this post with a list of pointers Kara and I learned from our trip to Estonia. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but I do hope you find it useful.
Traveling Tips:
- Make sure your accommodations (i.e. Airbnb) has Wi-Fi. This is important for obtaining directions to places.
- When exchanging money, inquire about commission. The airport usually has a high commission, but you can find some places in the city that do not charge any.
- Consider opening a credit card that does not charge international fees.
- When planning your itinerary, research the country’s public holidays so you know things will be open.
