Comments on: Back to Baltics: Images of a Former Soviet Dream

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Mon, 27 Apr 2015 13:08:38 +0000

In reply to Stephen Garone. Stephen, really glad you decided to spend more time in Tallinn than just a day trip. Agree that there is tons of authenticity still in the city. And there is much more to than just the old town, as cute as it may be.

By: Stephen Garone

Stephen Garone — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 14:21:54 +0000

Nice piece! My original plan to visit Tallinn in 2013 was a day trip across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki, but the more I read about it, the more time I wanted to spend there, resulting in a four-day stay. Tallinn is fantastic (although the heart of the Old Town is edging closer to Disney-esque kitsch). But there’s plenty of authenticity here, and once you pass through the town walls, Tallinn becomes an entirely different place.

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 13:24:18 +0000

@Mike: I realize that I’m a bit biased given my experience living in Estonia but I’d recommend Tallinn for a quick visit. The ferry rides from Stockholm there are comfortable and the city is small enough to get a good feel for it in just 1-2 days. Let us know how it goes!

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 13:59:31 +0000

I’ll be visiting my mother-in-law in Sweden in August and I’d like to take the ferry across the Baltic Sea. Due to our schedule, I’ll have maybe two days/one night? If you had to choose, which capital city would you recommend if you could only see one (this time – I’ll be back!)?

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:10:24 +0000

@News Estonia: I remember seeing signs for an exhibition or lecture when we were there over the summer about life under communism vs. today. It seemed like a healthy way to come to terms with the past and present.

Some of my best memories of Estonia were far, far away from any tourist stuff. It’s the people and countryside that make the country special.

By: News Estonia

News Estonia — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:21:58 +0000

You should be in Tallinn now, we actually have a really cool ehibition about soviet times.
Looks like the country is learning how to deal with its past.

And, I agree, you can visit the country getting lost in its beauty even before starting with the tourist crap

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:32:36 +0000

@Reigo: What a small world – that one of the photos was taken next to your house! Estonia will always be special for me because I lived there for two years and really explored the whole country – from Paldiski in the northwest to Volga in the southeast – because there were Peace Corps volunteers (rahukorpuslased) everywhere. Our visits now are divided between friends in Tartu, Tallinn, Marjamaa, and more – we barely have time to do any touristy stuff 🙂

Yes, the Song and Dance Festivals are wonderful – so colorful and full of pride. I attended the 2000 and 2004 festivals, but missed the most recent one. Next time.

By: Reigo

Reigo — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 07:22:53 +0000

It is unbelievable how much info did you get from Estonia, usually RTW travellers are visiting max 2 days Tallinn Old Town and continue the same to Riga & Vilnius.

Really nice pictures (one is taken next to our house), I really hope you have time still to come back, ecpecially for our local Singing & Dancing Party called “Laulu & Tantsupidu” that we have after every 4 yeas – 1/10 of the total population is singing then.

2 years in MÃ¤rjamaa;) – I was not expecting reading this from here…

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 16:56:52 +0000

@Chip: You were in the Baltics during the early days. You’d be surprised if you saw those cities now – a lot more has changed than just layers of paint! Kudos to your choir group for winning a singing competition against Estonians (and others) – I never met an off-tune Estonian in the 2+ years I lived there! No wonder the Singing Revolution worked 😉

@Agne: We will definitely take you up on your offer for home made cepelinai made by your mother next time we’re in Vilnius! We’ve only had the greasy, restaurant variety known affectionately as “gut bombs.” Glad you enjoyed how we described your city 🙂

@Melanie: Oh, be careful about a dip in the Baltic Sea! Even in the height of summer, it can be a steamy 60 degrees (F)!

By: Melanie Waldman

Melanie Waldman — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:49:08 +0000

What a fantastic post, you guys! I could print it out, stuff it in my carry-on, and take the trip of a lifetime…and you already have!

Thanks for sharing your impressions and photos of a part of the world none of my friends or family have ever visited. I now yearn for more Art Nouveau… AND a dip in the Baltic.