Red Corner: Tallinn holding it’s Own

by Neil Woodburn on

Apparently there is a scourge attacking Europe that is far worse than us loud-mouthed American tourists: British bachelor parties. I’ve seen their ilk last time I flew into Prague. Dressed up in costumes and drunk before clearing customs, these rowdy partiers seek out cheap cities where beer flows freely and the bachelor is guaranteed a good time-unlike locals and other tourists who have to put up with their obnoxiousness. Recently, we posted about the latest hot spot to hit the British bachelor party circuit: Tallinn, Estonia.

A recent article in The Independent written by Sankha Guha (who claims, tongue-in-cheek, to have put the capital of Estonia on the bachelor party radar), takes a look at how Tallinn has weathered the storm of inebriated Brits. His conclusion is that it has done so very well. Guha joins in a bit of the fun himself, while also taking time to introduce the readers to the other treasures Tallinn has to offer besides cheap beer.

Red Corner: Vilnius, Tallinn, and Riga

by Neil Woodburn on

The Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia were the last to be incorporated into the Soviet Union, and boy do they show it. The extra 20 years of European influence can still be seen today as these three countries, now independent, are rapidly becoming hot tourist destinations-thanks in large part to this quaint European vibe still very much alive.

The flavor of these three capitals is succinctly captured in an LA Times piece by Beverly Beyette who heaps accolades upon the Art Nouveau façades of Riga, the walled old town of Tallinn, and the hidden courtyards of Vilnius. Vilnius, however, was Beyette’s least favorite of the three capitals, but one which I particularly like; it just takes a little bit more exploring to fully enjoy it.

This fairy tale ambience of the Baltics, however, is offset by dark memories of Soviet and Nazis abuses. Although she doesn’t write too much about it, Beyette does delve outside the idyllic comfort zone of her travels to visit the horrific Museum of Genocide Victims in Vilnius and The Museum of Occupations in Tallinn. A few hours in either one of these museums can ruin your whole day with the horrors contained within; it is a necessity, however, when visiting the Baltics.

Word for the Travel Wise (03/16/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Estonian food in its traditional form is packed with pork, potatoes, and garden variety veggies. Since I’ve never tried the food myself, I can’t be a real critic to the taste, but for those who don’t fancy pork over dinner or bore easy of the local fare check out the City Paper’s list of great Estonian and foreign restaurants to dive into when touring Tallinn. The biggest culinary influence comes from Germany, but you’ll also be able to find Tex-Mex, Thai, Indian, Greek, and even delicious dishes from Azerbaijan. The Restoran Bakuu is only one fine example (least it looks like it from the pictures) of quality and mouth-watering Azerbaijan grub to chow-down on in Estonia. However, if you’re going to be in Estonia for a week or so you really should try to take advantage of all the oink-oink and tatters.

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

pearoad – main courses

Now the word ‘pearoad’ is some thing kind of funny to me. A pea as we all know is quite a tiny veggie and roads can vary in length and I know I am breaking this down in terms of English, but it just strikes me odd to call main courses a ‘pearoad.’ I would think it’d make a better fit to describe appetizers or starters, but if you’re only looking for something small you’ll notice starters under ‘eelroad’. Also, ‘pea’ in Estonian is also the word for head. Very interesting – stuff this Estonian lang, eh?

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.

Red Corner: Baltic Summer

by Neil Woodburn on

Summer is still a little ways off but not so far that you can’t start thinking about where to go. And if Europe is on your mind, but the crowds that plague the Mediterranean make you cringe, then consider vacationing a bit further north in the Baltics.

The weather is a tad cooler, and the water is not as clear, but otherwise the miles of coastline meandering through Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia offer wonderful summer possibilities. I spent a couple of June weeks in the coastal resort town of Jurmala, Latvia a few summers ago and found it to be relaxing, quaint and quite beautiful. Not only is it much cheaper than Greece or the coast of Spain, but Boris Yeltsin has a summer house there and if you’re really lucky, he might invite you over to play some tennis if he’s not dead yet.

And if you think the Baltic coast is full of old USSR sanatoriums and Intourist hotels, spare a moment to check out this wonderful old Art Nouveau hotel in the seaside town of Pärnu.

Red Corner: Baltic Spas

by Neil Woodburn on

I’m not sure how I got on the theme of bathhouses and saunas this week, but the fact is that such methods of relaxation have a long history in the former communist lands and today remain extraordinarily popular throughout this part of the world.

The sanatorium (more commonly referred to as a spa today) was a favorite during communist times. Unions and factories often sent their workers here on paid holidays to relax and reenergize. The sick and infirm also came to rid their bodies of everything from digestive problems to insomnia-thanks to the area’s abundant supply of mineral-rich, natural hot springs famed for their miraculous curative powers.

One of the more popular regions in which to spa are the Baltics. With a long and rich tradition of aristocratic sanatorium dating back to the 1800s, (Tchaikovsky regularly visited spas in Haapsalu, Estonia) the Baltics are an attractive draw for those seeking the miracle waters.

Check out the following article for a nice history of the Baltic spa tradition, as well as an extensive list of the more popular ones still operating today. Those of you who are doctors can chuckle over the long list of ailments which can supposedly be treated at the facilities.