🇪🇪 Estonia

Hej! I share an extract of my experience of visiting cozy Estonia. I was there in the winter of 2024. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to.
Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and also does not cover all the wonderful local attributes and places ☺️.

🗺 Places: Tallinn, Tartu, Värska.

🏛 Top sights visited:

1. Tallinn
   • Town Hall Square (Raekoja Plats)
   • Town Hall Pharmacy (Raeapteek)
   • Fat Margaret (Paks Margareeta)
   • St. Catherine’s Passage (Katariina Käik)
   • Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu)
   • Cafe Maiasmokk (Maiasmokk)
2. Tartu
   • Town Hall Square (Raekoja Plats)
   • Tartu Observatory (Tartu Observatoorium)
   • Ruins of Tartu Cathedral (Tartu Toomkirik)
   • Main Building of Tartu University (Tartu Ülikooli Peahoone)
   • The Leaning House (Tartu Kunstimuuseum)
3. Värska
   • Värska Orthodox Church (Värska Georgiose Kirik)
   • General Reek’s House (Reegi Maja)
   • Värska Spring (Värska Allikas)
   • Café Seto Tsäimaja (Seto Tsäimaja)

🎧 Local musicians:

• 🇪🇪 Laura Põldvere (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇪🇪 Mari-Leen (singer). Genre: eurodance
• 🇪🇪 Merlyn Uusküla (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇪🇪 Getter Jaani (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇪🇪 Puuluup (duo). Genre: folk
• 🇺🇳 Luvwn (DJ). Genre: chillhop

🥘 Local food & drinks:

• Kama (Kama)
• Rosolje (Rosolje)
• Mulgipuder (Mulgi Puder)
• Mulgikaspad (Mulgi Kaspad)
• Estonian Blood Sausage (Verivorst)
• Hiumaa Aspic (Hiiumaa Sült)
• Estonian Pies (Pirukas)
• Spotted Dog Cake (Kirju Koer)
• Estonian Pickled Eel (Marineeritud Angerjas)
• Harju (Regional Special): Tallinn Marzipan (Tallinna Martsipan)
• Võru (Regional Special): Seto Cold Soup (Seto Külmsupp / Suulliim)

🎬 Local movies:

• Truth and Justice (Tõde ja Õigus). Year: 2019. Genre: drama
• The Class (Klass). Year: 2007. Genre: drama
• Autumn Ball (Sügisball). Year: 2007. Genre: drama
• Life without Gabriella Ferri (Elu ilma Gabriella Ferrita). Year: 2008. Genre: animation

🪔 Authentic artifacts:

• The Epic of Kalevipoeg (Kalevipoeg: Eesti Rahva Eepos)
• Estonian Song Festival (Üldlaulupidu)
• Kiiking (Kiiking)
• Kannel Music Instrument (Kannel)
• Võru (Regional Special): The Culture of Setos (Setukesed / Setokõsõq)
• Võru (Regional Special): Seto Polyphonic Singing (Seto Leelo / Seto Leelo)
• Võru (Regional Special): Seto Epic of Peko (Peko: Setu Eepos / Peko: Seto Eepos)

🦉 Local wisdom: “Who wags a dog’s tail except the dog itself?” / “Kes koera saba kergitab, kui koer ise” — Estonian proverb

👨‍🎓The oldest university: The University of Tartu (Tartu Ülikool), Tartu, est. 1632.