Back on the mainland we stopped by Parnu and happened to come across a small cultural festival in the main square. We got to enjoy performances from around the whole region.
Category: Estonia
Once the rain had stopped a little bit so that we could pack up in slightly drier conditions we headed west to Saaremaa Island. We wild camped here – not a problem in Estonia- as long as you practice leave no trace and also don’t camp on private land or in view of other dwellings. We did a few dirt roads for which the car was perhaps not ideal 😊 – nervous laugh.
Now I cant remember where it was that we spent our second night- but I experienced one of the most beautiful sunsets ever! The pale pinks, blues and purples were so calming and stunning! Someone missed it cause he was busy at the car !
The next day had a mix of activities- with some lighthouses and a stop by Kuressaare linnus – a small castle with a moat around it.
Heading east from Tallinn we went day tripping around Lahemaa National Park and the coast and inland areas here. There are multiple walking trails around but with the weather looking somewhat uncertain we just took a couple of short ones.
There is nothing quiet that fills me with a smile as finding a gem of a manor house. This one was stunning- again, well maintained but the gardens were so unexpectedly charming! They were planted by colour with some rare flower colours that I had not seen before. Spent more time here than we originally expected – just strolling around the gardens. This manor is known as Sagadi.
The rain that we had tried to run from for a few days now had finally caught up with us- it was time for some lunch but no undercover spaces around that we could find for the last hour- until we came across another old manor house- Kolga. This one has not been restored and my heart lit up to its restoration potential- my spirit not at all matching my budget!!! We hid under a veranda on an old bench here and had some warm team and lunch while it poured down!
Kadriorg Park and the presidential palace is outside the Tallinn city centre and really takes your breath away. The park covers 70 hectares and construction began by Tsar Peter I in 1718!
After overnighting in Riga we headed to what ended up being all the way in Estonia capital city- Tallinn. The long summer nights help to explore city centres when you arrive a bit later. We both enjoyed this capital city too- his favourite…though I think mine was Riga 😊. I will just bombard the blog with photos again- but they speak louder than words for sure! My love of all old buildings also comes to ahead in these (and other) photos!
After having a super 60Euro (!!) steak in an Argentinian steakhouse in Tallinn we needed to walk it off a bit and went out the the Patkuli lookout again to see Tallinn by night.
