Capital: Tallinn        …         5,770,000 People          …         45,227 km²   

The Country

Once a Soviet State, Estonia has since established itself as a global leader of technology. Claimed by some to be “the most advanced digital society in the world”, Estonia is the birthplace of Skype, has more startups than Silicon Valley, and were the first country in the world to offer E-Residency. Although the future of Estonia looks promising, the rich culture of Estonia is recognized through medieval architecture, specifically in the old town of Tallinn.

Fun Facts:

• Estonia has the highest number of meteorite craters per land area in the world.

• Estonia has two independence days (from the Russians in 1918, and then the Soviet Union in 1991).

• Estonia is the least religious country in the world.

My Experience

I started my trip in Estonia by getting on a bright green, barely functioning Soviet bus at the Tallinn Passenger Port. Our guide immediately offered us shots of vodka and pickles (keeping in mind, this was at 9am). He was dressed in a dark grey uniform, began checking passports, and soon asked for my assistance to help start the bus. Without a doubt one of the most unique ways I have started a trip, and I was looking forward to see where this would end up.

As we began driving around the city, our guide began telling us about how life was under Soviet occupation. We arrived at the Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour, where an abandoned Soviet Prison was standing in derelict. Our guide told us how his father was imprisoned there for a few years. The harbour, which now has a museum, featured a decommissioned submarine with an outdoor portion filled with naval ships. We then went to the Tallinn Olympic Yachting Centre to enjoy the view while our guide played “Country Roads” by John Denver on his guitar. He was someone who enjoyed humour, had countless stories to tell, and absolutely made my time in Estonia unforgettable.

Photos of Estonia