Clueless tourists: the Estonian version

by Neil Woodburn on

Recently our Alaska correspondent, Catherine Bodry, wrote a humorous post about all the dumb questions tourists ask the locals when they visit Alaska–like, “what time do they turn on the northern lights?”

I’ve always believed that people from other countries also have a similar list of dumb questions they are peppered with from clueless tourists who probably never should have left home.

I was therefore amused to recently come across an Estonian version of dumb tourist questions collected by local tour guides and the Tourist Information Center in Tallinn. I’m sure that we would all probably have some dumb questions for a small country like Estonia, so I’m not going to point any fingers. But do spend a moment to read through them and ask yourself if that could have been you sticking your foot in your mouth.

Oh, and just in case you’re wondering, the article has a short quiz to determine if you’re a clueless tourist yourself. (Hint, Tallinn is not the capital of funk dancing).

Short and Sweet Travel Advice for the World’s Top Tech Cities

by Neil Woodburn on

If you’re in the tech industry these days, your travel has become increasingly more widespread in the last five years as international competition has started challenging Silicon Valley as the sole place to do business.

With this in mind, Business 2.0 has published a handy little guide in this month’s issue: The Road Warrior’s Guide to Travel.

The guide, which is available online here, or as a pull-out in the print edition, breaks out the travel basics for the planet’s hottest tech cities: Bangalore, Barcelona, Helsinki, Hong Kong, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.

Each city section addresses the same six questions; How to get around, where to find free Wi-Fi, where to get a trim, best place to get down to business, best place to celebrate closing the deal, and what you might not know.

Better get a print copy soon, however. I just learned that Business 2.0 (one of my favorite magazines) is going belly-up–perhaps yet another sign that the tech world is migrating out of America?

Europe’s Red Asphalt: The Most Dangerous Roads in the EU

by Neil Woodburn on

Thinking of renting a car and driving through Europe this summer? Want to come back alive? Well then, there are a couple of countries you should probably avoid–mainly those located in the Baltics.

According to a recent EU report, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had the highest number of per capita vehicular fatalities in 2006. Lithuania led the charge with 223 deaths per million inhabitants. Latvia took second with 177 while Estonia grabbed the bronze with 152.

A deeper analysis of the report in the Baltic Times wasn’t able to provide a clear answer as to why driving in the Baltics is such a dangerous ordeal. The paper did point out, however, that alcohol wasn’t entirely to blame. Only 14.8 percent of Lithuania’s fatalities were drunk driving related. Spain, on the other hand, holds the dubious honor of having the highest percentage of drunk driving fatalities: 29.5 percent. France and Portugal follow closely with 28.8 and 27.8 percent respectively.

Hmm… I might be wrong here, but I’ll bet those three countries consume more wine per capita than anywhere else in Europe. Heavy beer drinking countries like the Czech Republic and Austria, on the other hand, experienced only 4.8 and 5.9 percent of fatalities due to drunk driving.

So, where are the safest roads in Europe? Malta with 25 fatalities per million inhabitants followed by the Netherlands (43) and Sweden (49).

Tallinn Tunnels

by Neil Woodburn on

We’ve posted a number of times here on Gadling about various tunnels and catacombs which wind their way under old cities throughout the Europe.

Thanks to an article in the Baltic Times, we have one more tunnel system to add to the list.

Buried deep below the town of Tallinn, Estonia, is a series of old tunnels which worm their way between the Swedish Bastion and the Ingeri Bastion–two ancient fortifications which used to protect the city.

The tunnels, constructed in the 16th and 17th centuries, have been neglected for many years, collecting debris and homeless people. Recently, however, the Tallinn City Council’s Heritage Protection Department, run by Boris Dubovik (above) has been refurbishing the tunnels and cleaning them up for a possible tourist attraction.

Joel Alas, writing for the Baltic Times, was granted a private tour by Dubovik and writes about his subterranean experience here.

The tunnels are not as impressive as those under Paris, for example, but may still be worth a peak. For the time being, however, they remain off limits and surprisingly well-alarmed to prevent urban explorers from sneaking in. Of course, that’s never stopped a good tunneler before…

Word for the Travel Wise (12/04/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Brr… Since the weather system seems to be in a funk almost everywhere these days perhaps it is time we start learning the local lingo to help us better discuss global warming when chatting with our concerned foreign friends, say in Estonia.

Today’s word is an Estonian word used in Estonia:

jää – ice

To learn more about the background of this Finno-Ugric lingo check out Wiki online which has a few words to get you started at the bottom of their page. To jump right into the meat of the language go to speakestonian.com.uk which has a long list of everyday phrases to use and several links to keep you learning using a variety of methods. For free mp3 downloads for your cell phone go to the BBC and to make a pen pal or two before your journey sign-up at My Language Exchange.

Past Estonian words: pearoad, tere, pood