5. Estonia

Singing, seaside and forests. Plus lots of swinging - but not what you might be thinking!  In this episode,  you'll hear about the real Estonia - with facts only a local would know: from travelling,  to eating, to shopping,

For a free factsheet on Estonia and other goodies, email May at her website:  https://www.travelcounsellors.co.uk/may.swan-easton

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[00:00:00] Singing seaside and forests, plus lots of swinging, but not what you might be thinking. Welcome to episode five of travels with me.

hello, I'm May Swan-Easton. And in this episode, our destination is Estonia. Now keep listening, because I'll be telling you how you can download a free fact sheet on the country, but let's get straight into the conversation I had with Agnia Nast, who is manager for travel trade-marketing at Visit Estonia.

And over the next 30 minutes, you'll hear about the real Estonia with facts only your local would know from traveling to eating, to shopping, welcoming. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Why do you think Histonia should be in everyone's wishlist to visit? Yes. Well, uh, Estonia is a really fascinating place.

Uh, I think that it has so many different, um, different [00:01:00] things in different places where you can go within this tiny little country actually. And. I don't think that many people know about Estonia so much. I think they've probably heard about it. And they have some kind of a feeling of what it might be, especially taking into account the history of Estonia.

So every time they finally get here, I always hear how surprised and fascinated they are, how pleasantly relieved that it's so much better than they anticipated. And I think it is despite of your interest, what they are, you will definitely find something to discover here and, and really enjoy your time.

So you mentioned about the history of Estonia. Can you give us a brief description about the history? Yes. Well, actually, uh, the first time Estonia is, was mentioned, was. I like many, many, many years ago. And, uh, I think that it was even the Roman historian who [00:02:00] mentioned it first. And it was a very patriarchal system based on the clans led by.

And the first invaders through to the country, the wakings. So they were on the wait list. LoveHoney gland to do their new conquering lands and all, and they pass through Estonia. And then later, of course, uh, Swedes and Danes, they tried to Christianize those stones without the success. Uh, the Russians tried to do it as well.

Still Estonia is the least religious country in the whole world, but it's not like we're pagans. We just believe in the powers of nature and that we find the healing and the, you know, salvation from the nature. And we are blessed to have a lot of nature around us. So after the German and Russian and date nation and Polish times, um, we, uh, gained our, uh, autonomy or independence.

Which was not the, not very long because, uh, the second world war ended and we became, again, the, uh, part of, uh, [00:03:00] Soviet union. But then in, in nineties, we, we ever gained our independence actually by singing, by singing ourselves free, not by fighting. And, uh, and now we are, as we are an independent country, a country of independent minds and really a great place to live and visit, uh, Is that why you're, you're known as the seeing nation because of your.

Yes. Uh, to be honest, uh, I think his singing was in our DNA and we have over 130,000 folk song collection still available. It's safe to say that every second or third is thrown and sings and acquire somewhere in Estonia, a little, uh, an old ones and everyone, but yes, singing and being as one nation gathering to one place and singing ourselves free.

Yes, that's that's an hour. DNA sounds very admirable. So again, you mentioned about, um, that you are a small country, but you're slightly larger than Denmark, aren't you? [00:04:00] So, so exactly where we Stonier geographically, geographically, it is a, well, it's a question, mark. You know, some people say that it's in Eastern part of Europe.

Uh, some people say that it's in the Northern part of Europe. We are somewhere in between. In the Northern part together with the Scandinavian countries, because we are right across from Finland and also being a little bit towards the east Europe. So it's a, it's a health and mixture. I would say it's east meets west, the north meet, meet south.

So it's. It's a great place. So if you're opposite Finland, that must mean that you've got a coastline. Now I know you have a forest as well, and 50% of Estonia is forest. So is that one of the reasons why people visit for the, for the, for the coastline and for the forests? Well, uh, from all of the countries surrounding the Baltic sea Estonia has indeed the longest coastline on the [00:05:00] Baltic sea.

And I think. Again, when we're thinking history, that's why it was such a great place that everybody wanted to be, to have the access to the seed, to the, I know selling goods and home and forest. Yes. Over 50, 50% of the country are covered forest. I don't think it's, um, the main reason why people would come here because there are countries who have much more intense nature product.

So to say, but it's the way how nature. Who are like around the whole country. I mean, if you, if you are on a city break here, it's still only 15 minutes away for you to get out in the nature and be fairly the only one person there, you know, to take a walk and enjoy it, all that thing. So I think it's nature of being a part of the country is one of the reasons why vacation here makes it such a great way, such a good reason to come.

When I think of Baltic states, I think of short mold summers and long cold winters. Is that a fair [00:06:00] synopsis or not? Yeah, fair enough. I would say of course lately the summer season is now being a bit longer because it already starts and of April and last actually, till mid-October October for the past, I dare to say five years has been wonderful.

You know, all those beautiful autumn colors and still very warm. Sunlight and winters have gone mild a yes, which is again a good, good, good thing for the tourists, because you don't have to maybe where, uh, bring along the blood of winter gear, but you still want to enjoy this, uh, you very daily Wonderland kind of thing, and you can do it in Estonia.

So is this Stonier a year round destination that you'd come in the winter, see, see, and do different things as you could in the summer, or is it more of a summer destination? I am very positive that it is only around us, the nation, uh, when we actually talking visitors from a UK, then. Uh, they are the, the [00:07:00] least concentrated on the summer.

So we too good thing. They, they come for city breaks in, in, you know, autumn and spring and winter as well. Of course, summer is, uh, is more distinguished because, uh, in Estonia you have white nights, you know, it barely gets dark like right now. So you, you have 24 horror sunlight basically to do things and go places and, uh, and winter would be another meal.

More defined season because we have the Christmas market and the first Christmas reaction, it was put up on the square in talent and the whole Europe. So, which makes it really authentic place to be around during the day. Yeah. And, and Christmas, um, your Christmas markets. So world famous Forbes magazine voted dystonia as one of the 10, most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe.

So when does that happen? I know you mentioned Christmas. Um, but does that, when do they open, we'll see how it's going to be now, you know, after, after the Koran. I know, but, uh, but before that, uh, [00:08:00] Christmas market already opened mid November. So, and it stayed open till 10th of January. So it gave, gives you a quite big range of, of time when you come in and enjoy it.

And even if you don't have snow, you know, I guess the, one of the reasons why a Christmas market is voted one of the best, the one in Thailand. It is in the most authentic location. I mean, you couldn't have wanted more because it is on the town hall square of the most well preserved medieval town in the whole Northern Europe.

So that makes it already very, very special snow and all snow plus the Christmas street and, uh, you know, uh, Christmas dream is stolen. It has a story. Every year when Christmas tree is brought to the main square and there is actually like a small competition where people can apply to donate their own Christmas tree from the land.

And before the Christmas tree has got down, they asking for the permission of the tree to be cut down. So it's, it's the whole, uh, retail around it. [00:09:00] Because as I mentioned before, you know, Believe in nature so much that they communicate to the nature and that level. And then this Christmas tree is brought over to the main square and it's decorated and everybody can read this there.

Oh, what's a nano, if it's your Christmas tree. So tanning, as you said, is the capital it's only 15 minutes transfer from the airport, which I think is probably one of the reasons it makes it so popular with the UK. Um, too. But, um, what else makes Tallinn a popular weekend break? Oh, what am I, where do we go Italian with other capitalists in anywhere in the world.

It's, it's very, not busy comparing to the others. So when you come here for a city break, you have so much more time to do things, you know, than you would normally in any other city. You don't waste any time for a commuting. You can do easy walking and. I think having both medieval town and very cool new, um, part of the town and the hipster neighborhood, [00:10:00] and then a new neighborhood up and coming by the seaside it's, it's, it's really so many different things for different tastes.

There's in one small place. It's great. One day you can explore the tiny streets and the other day you can go and see where all of the digital, uh, successes being. Or then just hang out with the locals and have a beer and, and, and talk to them. So do you find that people, um, visit Tallinn, um, for a couple of days and then John talked to somewhere else, like, I know you have the national parks, the forest, the lakes, and, um, you know, the beaches, is that what people most mostly.

I think it's the easier, easiest way indeed do to have a little bit of feel of the whole country, rather than just the capital, because one day two trips are widely available to all of the areas in a store now, as everything is so nearby. I mean, if you are in talent for free. And you want to spend one day to just spend it outside.

You can actually go to the Southern part of the [00:11:00] country to visit second biggest city and the cultural offering that Southern Estonia offers. It's, it's very easy to do everything, or if you don't want to do anything. It's amazing. There are a lot to do in the Capitol as well. How do people get around? So if somebody wants to come to Italian for a couple of days, that's easy enough, but then if they wanted to go to, um, the other areas or the islands, how do they get to those places?

Uh, well self-drive is very easy here. Of course, it's, we're driving on the right side of the road, but, but other than that, uh, Rosa in a very good condition, we do not have any traffic at all. Signage is there and English is absolutely widely spoken in the whole country. So yeah. You know, even if you managed to take a wrong turn, you would be right away help to the, to the right, you know, direction again.

So driving, um, biggest cities are connected by a train, uh, very good new modern trains, but wifi on board and I'll easy breezing. And [00:12:00] then you're there. Uh, we have a very good extensive bus connection and we are talking again all comfortable buses, screens, and front, uh, hot water for tea and coffee, you know?

Blocks. I know. So, so that would be that the main means of transportation around Estonia, if somebody's staying in Italian or anywhere else, um, in Astonia do you have a chart choice of like large hotels, such as Hilton and the Hilton and Madison? Um, or are they mainly smaller boutique hotels? Uh, we have, uh, both, we have, um, you know, chain hotels and the petticoats as well.

And also some, uh, Estonian owned brands that, uh, demonstrate this kind of Nordic cozy interior. And, and you can actually see that the furniture is designed in as though when you are. So those as well, but even, you know, those big chain hotels, like you mentioned, Hilton and Radison, there's some homes.

Cozier and, and stowing an [00:13:00] ice. So to say, so you still get the feel that you are here and not somebody else. So they're all quite rustic or authentic almost. Yeah. And the good thing also is that they are all relatively new. You know, they were built to be a hotel it's not refurbished from, from some other purpose.

So room's a spacious again, breakfast pretty much always included and Estonia is also very known for wellness. So. A lot of hotels have the spires, which is usually included. So you get that to relaxing the spawn top of that. Um, and what sort of food can be found on offering the restaurant? Well, it's still Indians are really, um, really big with food.

And actually it's not the unique ingredients because they can also be found, you know, in other countries, but it's the way we cook it. And it's the way we, we get the local projects. Estonia doesn't have any like factories or anything polluting there. So pretty much all of the vegetables and meat on [00:14:00] Herb's, they are organic by the way.

A lot of chefs from the restaurant, they have, uh, either they're small farms or they buy other products from the farms around the place, or even go to the forest. I mean, they are so big on foraging, berries, mushrooms, again, anything that can be used, they do it. So this fresh produce the way they cook it.

And of course, a little bit of a twist when they serve it or have a story about the dish. It makes it very, very delicious. So, is there any traditional dishes that are popular for visitors to try? Well, traditional is thrown in Christmas. Food let's say is very influenced by, by German, but German heritage that was left here.

So it's sauerkraut and sausage and some pork grows and all, but of course, uh, if you want to try it, there are places that. Maybe a lighter version of it with a modern twist, so you can still do it. But, um, we have a lot of fish, a lot of good quality [00:15:00] fish with, with vegetables. Um, uh, very good lamb and a very good dog.

Beef that threes on the islands, where they have a blade tip leases to Rome and, you know, well run free and all. And, uh, yeah, these are the main options. Of course, vegan options are now, uh, very widely available, not only in the capital, but also in the country. And of course I'll work, craft beers and crafted ciders.

I definitely, uh, uh, I think to try when you're here, so you have your own breweries. Yes. Yes. Beer has been also a part of a stone in history, but now we have a lot of microbreweries where they again, has a story to tell for why the taste, why the name, why the labels, and you can actually visit them and, uh, yeah.

Have a small tour and tasting and, um, it's it's good. So how much is the average cost for a BSA or a glass of wine when you're, when you're out? Of course, it depends. [00:16:00] Uh, but I would say it's between four to six euros for a glass of wine, a good wine and beer would be maybe the same. Again, depends if it's a craft beer or just light lager, Randall, but around the same time and, and, and still keeping on the, uh, the track of, of food and drink.

What's the average cost of dinner, um, in a casual restaurant it's approximately 25 years. Per day, if you don't add drinks in talent and around the country, if you don't go to a very, you know, special luxury places would be around 15 year old and then plus the drinks. That's good to know. And, and what about tipping?

Is that customary? It became more customary now, but it's. Well, it's not the same as, for example, in U S if you didn't tip the, nobody would be looking angerly at you. So it's, it's up to your discretion and it's around 10, 10, 15% 15, if you really, really liked it. So I know there's hundreds [00:17:00] of restaurants I'm sure to choose from in, um, in Estonia, but can you share a couple of your favorite ones with us?

Yes. Well, uh, for me, a restaurant has to have a view. I mean, I'm a big fan of enjoying, you know, meal and conversation, but I also have to have some perspective. So in that sense, all of the restaurants that are, you know, that allow you to have a sea view are great in talent. There are many of those, for example, restaurant NOAA or restaurant, um, Dulia or a lot of options on the islands, or see if your, is it your.

Phew. So, uh, that was probably, and, and do the Estonians tend to eat early or late? Hm, that's a good one. I think they tend to eat late. Okay, because the Brits normally probably round about seven o'clock ish. Um, normally, so, um, it's just something that I get asked quite a lot, um, [00:18:00] you know, by my clients. So, and, and do the restaurants and bars, do they offer entertainment in the evenings?

Like live music, some do you, you actually had a good choice of a piano, just kind of music or more traditionally Stony and, you know, pop kind of music or some. I knew wage artists that would, you know, like easily teaching while you were having your drinks or dinner. So, so talking about tourism attractions, what's the must do experiences when people visit Estonia.

Uh, a lot of them actually, and I think it's just worth mentioning that, uh, the thing about dystonia in museums is that. We really think that museums should be fun and they should be entertaining. And it's not only observing what is hanging on the walls. You know, so many of them have the interactive part as well, for example, seaplane Harbor museum.

So it's basically this huge monolithic concrete hand. Which [00:19:00] which used to have the sea planes in there, which was actually a design it in the same architecture bureau that design Sydney opera house building this museum offers you to experience things, to climb into the submarine, which is in the same museum, or do different things, even, you know, fold the paper plants and throw them for some small things.

So it makes it more entertaining and makes us stay longer there and really enjoy it. So seaplane Harbor museum. Uh, if you want to have a view and do a little bit of age walking than for example, TV tower in Estonia, it's located 15 minutes from the, from the city of TALEN, uh, on the tiny little island and Estonia has over 2000 islands here.

There is a place that you can go in and again, discover the history of the island, how the island became what it is. And on Hema, you can also visit a lot of lighthouses and there is one lighthouse [00:20:00] actually, which now just a month ago was proven. That was again, decided by a full campus. And ended up being on here.

Mine, you can go inside and climb all the way up and see a amazing view. How, how far is the nearest speeches to today? Oh, goodness. One of the best beaches is actually Intel. And so from the city center, you can do leisure stroll across the coastline for about 40 minutes, or just take a car ride 10 minutes bus, 15 minutes, right.

I'm very, or, and what's the name of that beach? It's it's called . But at the beach. Yeah. And, uh, another great, great thing to do. Uh, maybe not be directly on the beach, but take a boat ride or like a sale because you have to see talent from the bed list ones, because then you see this fairy tale still out of the city that will stay [00:21:00] in your memory for a long time.

Sounds wonderful. And you do bulk tours. Tell us about the bulk. Bog is the name her, we call them in Estonia. But, uh, when I'm talking to people from outside the office, Tony, I, I always mentioned that they also called the wetlands. So basically at least this part of nature in the national parks that you wouldn't be normally able to walk on because you would just, you know, sink in, but Estonians.

Built a lot of wooden paths across those wetlands and the watch towers. So you can actually go and walk along and see, and if you're more adventurous than there are books, shoes that you can actually walk on this wetland with a book shoes and you can do it all year round. And if you do it in September, then you can see some berries, uh, collect them and any them or mushrooms at all.

So why box, you know, people always ask me, so why are you guys talking about the box? And what's so special about them, but because [00:22:00] you wouldn't find this kind of landscape anywhere, it's not a forest, you know, it's, it's, it's very. Peaceful in there you can make hearing wrong thoughts. And, uh, um, the small boat lakes that surround the path that you're walking there reflect the, the, the sky that reflect the sun.

So the whole setting is almost unreal. Like it was like really put there, not that the nature graded it and the, you don't have to take a whole day to go and visit a, you can actually go to one. If you just take a 20 minute drive outside of the city center, there is Pascagoula book. So you can actually walk there, but if you want to enjoy more interesting ones than, than have a half a day saved beside and then take a, take a tour.

And, and what about, um, wildlife? Can that be found in lots of different areas in Astonia? [00:23:00] Uh, yes. Uh, Popular species for a light wildlife would be a bird watching. And the reason for that is that on the Western part of the city, birds do the stope over when they're migrating south. So after Spain, Estonia is the second place where you can swap them.

Bird species in the whole world. And actually, uh, there is a niche market for it for great Britain. So we even attend the bird watching fair, because it's really unique, but you can also see brown bears if you're really, really lucky than Wolf's also actually not that easy to spot, but you can. And then of course, different, uh, owls, foxes, uh, mousses.

So. But you're all here and, um, and you can spot them. And, and with the wolves, you do a nighttime tour. Don't you? Where the tour guide. You may not see them, but you can certainly maybe [00:24:00] hear them because he does howling at the moon. So to, to, to talk to other wolves, I guess that's the best way of saying it.

Yeah. Yeah. See, all right. So you would be going with a tour guide and he indeed recreates the S the same sound that wolves are doing, and they actually interacting with him. They are responding to his holing. So. That's sounds married. Maybe not so exciting, but once you're on that tour, you get suddenly very excited because you can hear how close they are actually.

And the same with bears because it bears which when we have those bear huts and you go inside the bear hug, then there's a tiny yeah. Kind of window thing and you have to be really quiet and wait for them to come. And when they come, then everybody's really excited because I mean, hook you with others when you see them.

That's so true. But, but again, it's something quite unique. I think to, to Estonia. I don't know anybody else who offers bogged tours, um, and, um, you know, Wolf Wolf [00:25:00] tours, which is EG, which is a great, a great offering. So. Like many lakes and the rivers and obviously the sea. So fishing has be a big recreation for you as well.

Yes, that's that's itself. Uh, uh, on top of the coastline and the seer, we have, uh, one of the biggest lakes in Europe called lake papers and it's on the Eastern part of the country. And you can do ice fishing. Or, uh, you know, some are fishing or just go on a well with a boat or on the rivers, or just, you know, standing on the edge of the river.

And of course every Estonian has their own favorite spot done. They don't share this sponge with the others, but there are companies whole for fishing tours. So you can, you can go. And, and in the winter, some of your lakes freeze over and they become Rhodes. Is that right? Um, uh, yes, uh, the same like papers.

You can, you can take even a [00:26:00] car to go on there, but the ice roads are made, um, uh, on the seat. And actually it's not a touristic attraction. Eh, they have built to make a locals life easier. So locals will live on their own. Uh, they can drive the cars to the mainland and get supplies and all, and, uh, in Europe we have the longest ice roads and, um, Yes, it's an experience itself.

I did it a couple of times. The first rule, which differs from regular driving would be, you cannot wear a seatbelt. So you have to be prepared to jump off the, off the car. Of course, it never happens because the department of roads and safety, they check it very, very many times with different pressure on the eyes to make sure that everything is working.

And yeah, imagine you're just driving and. You don't see anything around you. You just go according to the sounds assigned so scary. Very scary. Good, scary. Are there a lot of places to [00:27:00] go hiking or biking for the more energetic visit? Yes, hiking is very popular in Estonia. We even have one, a really long hiking trail, which takes you across the whole country, starts in the Northern part and ends in the border with Latvia and probably continuous even even longer.

So hiking is very easy as well because it's the one is very. And it has different landscapes. So you see quite many changes during the hike. It's not like you're just taking the forest and that said you will have some forests then and some bogs and some open fields and really go for the national parks.

So yes, hypers are welcome and it's, um, it's a great place to do it. So, so if you were hiking, um, are there places to stay on route like camp sites or motels in the national. Um, there are some, uh, means of accommodation. Uh, I [00:28:00] w I wouldn't say that you would have luxurious accommodations on the path, but of course, since, as I mentioned, everything's really nearby, then some stops I suggested for you do, maybe go a little bit.

Yeah. And, and, and, and spend the night somewhere, and then continue your hike. But campsite is a small, um, small houses that you can rent. I send you, and if the weather permits and it's summer, then you can set up a tent and, uh, there are, you know, everything is equipped for, for you to have a barbecue or so, yes.

So this sounds like there's so much to see and do there. How long, if you, if you were recommending somebody to, to visit Estonia for the first time, how long would you recommend they stay and what would you recommend that they do.

I would say that it has to be at least three nights minimum because in that sense, you will be [00:29:00] able to explore talent and not only in the medieval part, but for the medieval, you need to have sometimes because you need to wander those streets, you know, without a purpose, because that's when the magic happens.

That's when you, you make this wow up here, then, then the other day you would do the outskirts of talent and see maybe more local. Uh, you know, and then at least one day you have to go out, we'll have to see, because then you can see the contrast of the city and what the, the rest of the country has to offer.

So minimum free nights, I would say for the first time visitor. Um, and I understand that, um, you're a nation of swingers, or should I say, is it kicking or cocky if I said that? Right. Um, and involved in great big geeking. Thank you. Which. Great, big giant steel wheels that rotate 360 degrees. I have no idea why anyone would want to do that, but it's big in Estonia.

Yes. Um, if you think about, uh, swinging on a swing [00:30:00] as a kid, you remember this feeling like you do, you, you push yourself higher and higher and you remember this really great feeling. So Stony are like that. They think why only kids should, should enjoy that. Adults can also enjoy that. So we need to make it possible.

So that actually did it. Yes. And, uh, and then you have to do the whole. 360, and then, then you did it right. Have you done it? I have done it. Yes. I have done it once. It was on a summer festival, they placed those swings and you had to do it. And it was really scary because. I don't even know why. I mean, once I did it, eventually, it was not that scary, but just the feeling that now I'm going over, that was holding me back.

But yeah, why only kids should enjoy this feeling? I don't want to come to because they have no fear and the adults do. I think that's got something to do with it. So [00:31:00] as a bonafide local expert in Estonia, what would be your one top tip? Um, when visiting a store. Go outside of the city to the book. I mean, for sure you have to do it then, you know what all of the fosters all about.

It will change how you see the nature. Yeah, it sounds very unique as well. So, um, I can't thank you enough, Agni for joining us today and sharing your expert knowledge on Estonia as the site certainly sounds like it should be on everyone's wishlist. Um, and it has been added to mine. So thank you. Thank you so much.

Thank you for having me. And I will hope to see you soon here for a free fact sheet on visiting Estonia with some great hints and tips. Visit my website. At travel counsellors.co.uk forward slash may dot Swan, hyphen Easton and request by email. And don't worry if that's a complicated web address, I've included it in the show notes on this podcast.

So you [00:32:00] can click from there next time on travels with me, we head to one of my all time. Favorite destinations Thailand with Chris. To make sure you don't miss it. Click follow on this podcast to ensure each episode arrives into your podcast app, every fortnight. And whilst you're there, please do leave a review.

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