ESTONIA

Many people have never even heard of Estonia or consider it to be a top travel destination and to be honest with you, I also did not know where this country was located until a few weeks ago. 

When I first start attending university, I met a girl, who is now a friend, that told me she was from Estonia. She has olive skin and dark hair, so, naturally I assumed that Estonia was somewhere down around the Mediterranean/Balkans region. However, to my surprise, I later found out that Estonia was actually near Scandinavia. I was completely mind-blown. 

I was looking at different countries throughout Europe that I will eventually venture off to and I discovered that Estonia was not in the southern region of Europe but in fact in the very northern region...maybe they should have taught us more about geography in high-school. If you are still unaware of Estonia's geographical location, it is just below Finland and borders Russia (to the east) and Latvia (to the south). Here, Sarah Palin could see Russia from her house. 

When I saw my friend the day after my little discovery, I told her about my mix-up and she starting laughing claiming that it must have been her dark skin and hair that threw me off. So very true. 

Well, now I know where Estonia really is, therefore I can properly give you guys information and things to do when you visit. I'm laughing at myself now thinking about the reaction I would've had if I did not know where it actually was before googling the pictures and seeing mostly snow-filled images on the screen.

Tallinn is the capital of Estonia, a Russian-looking city with some old architecture and then some modern architecture. Parts of Tallinn, and surrounding cities/towns/villages, look like they are literally straight out of a medieval ages movie. I would not be surprised if some of the movies/shows that portray that time period were actually filmed in this country. 

Estonia's primary language is Estonian but you will also come across plenty of Russian and Ukrainian speakers, seeing as Russia is right next door. There are also recognized languages in this country by the names of Voro and Setu. About 1,300,000 people live in this middle-ages inspired country.

So, you are going up north to visit Estonia and you want to see the capital, Tallinn. Here's what you have to do there: 

1. Get holy at the St. Mary's Cathedral. 

2. Visit Toompea. 

3. Attempt to walk through Lahemaa National Park. 

4. Look at the cute animals in the Tallinn Zoo. 

5. Visit Kiek in de Kok...hm.

6. Get holy, once again, in the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. 

7. Take one too many pictures at the beautiful Kadriorg Palace. 

8. Stroll around Town Hall Square after visiting Tallinn Town Hall. 

9. Spend a rainy day at either the Estonian Maritime Museum, Estonian History Museum, Museum of Occupations or the Estonian Open Air Museum.

10. Get sprayed in the face by the Jägala Waterfalls or the Valaste Waterfalls.

11. Breathe in nature at Karula National Park or Matsula National Park. 

12. Smell the flowers at the Tallinn Botanic Garden.

13. Do some good ole vintage shopping in the many vintage shops around the city.

14. Sit down and relax with a cup of coffee in a cozy coffee shop.

15. Go kayaking, canoeing, sailing or fishing for a relaxing day off land. 

16. Go on a military off road adventure. 

17. Go back in time in Old Town and walk on St. Catherine's Passage.

18. Listen to some good music at the Song Festival Grounds.

19. Watch a movie on the roof at Katusekino.

20. Enjoy the breeze while walking through Kadriorg Park.

For those of you traveling to the more southern area of Estonia, visit Tartu, Estonia's second largest city. If you visit Tartu, be sure to: 

1. Spend a cloudy day in the Estonian National Museum.

2. Pass through Supilinn (a neighborhood).

3. Visit the Ahja River.

4. Visit the ruin Tartu Cathedral that overlooks Tartu.

5. Visit the Student's Lock-up, which has some pretty interesting meaning/history to it's name.

6. Take the kids to the Toy Museum, or just be a kid again for several hours.

7. Satisfy your sweet tooth at Cafe Wilde.

8. Grab a slice of pizza for lunch at La Dolce Vita before visiting the Observatory.

9. Go back to school at Tartu University that was founded in 1632 by a Swedish  king.

10. Relax at the Emajõe Ärikeskus Sauna.

11. Visit a brewery and drink a glass of brew at A Le Coq Beer Museum.

12. Go crazy wild at Tartu's best nightclub, Club Tallinn.

13. Grab a delicious meal at Maalim or authentic Estonian food at Gruusia Saatkond.

14. Take the boy(s) to the Tartu Sports Museum. 

Just south of Tallinn and the south-eastern area of Estonia is Pärnu. This is a beach town with an adorable down-town area. Here's what you have to do in Estonia's Summer Capital: 

1. Get your swimsuit on and run to Rannapark (the beach park) and Vallikäär.

2. Go back to the medieval ages at the Red Tower and Tallinna Gates.

3. Get holy in the Eliisabet and Jekateriina Churches.

4. Kick back to some blues and jazz at Jazz Cafe.

5. Take a gander at new art in the Pärnu New Art Museum.

6. See the 17th century cojoined houses.

7. Grab some authentic Russian food at Trahter Postipoiss. 

8. Go back over the last 11,000 years in the Pärnu Museum.

9. Party the night away at Club Tallinn.

10. Take the family to Ranna Park (amusement park).

11. See a show while eating dinner or a snack at Endla Theatre.

12. Visit a Russian empress-inspired church, Catherine Church.

13. Eat some authentic Estonian food after a long day at the beach at Kadri.

14. Close your eyes and thank the pastry gods for strudel at Ellen Bakery.

15. Watch a folk show at Nooruse Maja Cultural Centre.

There you have Estonia in a few simple sentences. Are you planning on visiting Estonia or have you ever been? What do you recommend?

The next post will be on: Malaysia in Southern Asia!

Travel on wanderlusters!

KAZAKHSTAN

Okay, to be honest when I first heard of this country, in Borat some years ago, I thought it was somewhere in the Middle East/towards India. However, about 5 months ago, at my school's annual International Night, I learned it was in Central Asia...I was mind-blown!! It borders Eastern Europe and the Ural River of Russia.

Borat's native land's capital is Astana and the total population is almost at 17 million. The national language is Kazakh and Russian, however in recent years there have more and more native English speakers living and moving to Kazakhstan. In Astana, there are three districts: Almaty District, Yesil District and the Saryarka District. Several tourist must-sees in the country's capital include visits to: The Palace of Peace and Harmony, Baiterek, Khan Shatyr Entertainment Center, the Museum of Modern Art, the Nur-Astana Mosque, Durman Center and the Museum of the Presidential Center of Culture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In Astana, the city that looks like it's from the year 2050, go out and explore what the future holds!

1. Relax at the Palace of Peace and Harmony...ommmmm.

2. Explore the City Center/Islamic Center.

3. Save a cowboy and ride a horse at the Tulpar Horse Club.

4. Go in the winter to do some cross country skiing or visit the Ice City.

5. Take an evening stroll along the Ishim River.

6. Relax and breathe easy at the Laelia Spa or the Rixos Royal Spa.

7. Bet big money on the horse races at Altyn Taga.

8. Bring out your inner nature-man/woman at the Burabay National Nature Park.

9. Play in the pools at the Suntana Aquapark.

For the foodies visiting Astana, get your bellies hungry and try: 

1. Arablet-- a 24 hour restaurant with great food and Viking decorations...my kind of place, seeing as I am half Danish, therefore, half 'Viking'. 

2. Assorti-- a popular chain restaurant in Kazakhstan...so, Americans, think Wendys, Carl's Jr., etc. etc.

3. Arystan Restaurant-- food for the backpackers and students visiting Astana.

4. Astana Nury-- a beautiful river-side restaurant with many different ethnic foods and Kazakh favorites.

5. Chilli Peppers- for you Westerners visiting Astana, this serves an all around favorite: pizza...and for cheap prices.

6. Europe-Asia-- like it sounds, dishes from Europe and Kazakh specialities.

7. Capital Music and Pub Restaurant-- blends both entertainment and food in one.

8. Fusion-- grab a quick bite before partying below at Fashion night club, a popular nightclub in the city.

9. Epoch-- Soviet flags and decor served with wide varieties of bold dishes.

10. Kishlak-- Uzbek foods and decor that changes into a party spot on weekends.

11. La Riviere-- get your fancy clothes on and wallets out, this is one of the city's most expensive restaurants, all inclusive with live piano music and incredible food.

12. Line Hall-- a medieval inspired beer hall that serves 'Kazakhstan's best steak and barbecue sauce'. 

13. Samovar- traditional Russian food with a quaint feel, vine draped ceilings and beautifully painted walls. 

14. Most Restaurant-- you cook the food but the staff cleans it all up for you...a win-win situation! Almost like The Melting Pot for you Americans reading this.

15. Pivovaroff-- get your drink on with German beer and satisfy those drunchies with traditional German cuisine. Danke!

16. Princess Turandot-- if you are CRAVING Chinese food in this Asian country, satisfy your craving here for authentic Chinese food prepared by Chinese chefs.

17. Vaquero-- tengo hambre! Latin American cuisine makes for the perfect lunch or dinner in the city.

18. TGI Fridays-- yes, there is a Fridays here...are you surprised? 

19. Muller-- for European cuisine and beer...who wouldn't miss that when traveling?

20. Tiflis-- looking for delicious Georgian food in Astana? Look no further, this place also does not have a closing time, it's just whenever the last customer leaves. So, if you are having a late-night craving and you are the second to last or even the last person there, no worries, no pressure, take your time. 

If you are visiting the more southern region of Kazakhstan, the city of Almaty (borders with Kyrgyzstan  is another popular destination for tourists. If you make it here, maybe before going to Kyrgyzstan, be sure to: 

1. Make a trip to the beautiful Bolshoe Almatinskoe Lake.

2. Take a gander at the Alma-Ata Tower.

3. Enjoy some mountain time at the Kok Tube...let's be mature here people...

4. Grab a snack at the Zelyony Bazaar (also known as the Green Market). 

5. Get holy at the Zenkov Cathedral...it's a Russian Orthodox cathedral made only of wood...and no nails, hmm.

6. Walk around Republic Square aimlessly and act like you know exactly where you are going.

7. Take a bath with fellow Kazakhs at the Arasan Baths house. 

8. Get holy, yet again, at The Cathedral of the Holy Ascension. 

9. Take a ride in a cable car to the tippy top of several surrounding mountains. 

10. Snap some background worthy pictures of the snow-capped Tien-Shan Mountains. 

11. Skate and bruise your knees at the Medeu Skating Rink.

12. Go back in time by visiting the Abylay Khan statue. 

13. Spend a rainy day at the Central State Museum. 

14. Take a walk through the park, literally, at Park Panfilov. 

15. Grand Canyon? Nah, its the Charyn Canyon here in Kazakhstan.

16. Visit the ceremonial square of Respublika Alanghy. 

17. See the mythical bird legend of Kazakhstan, the Bayterek Monument. 

18. Grab some lunch or dinner at either Zheti Qazyna, Samovar (Russian cuisine), Kishlak, Printsessa Turandot, Yubileyny, Namaste or Biskvit.

19. Be a hipster at the Kazakhstan Museum of Arts. 

20. Drop your jaw at the Kol-Say Lakes.

21. Enjoy a night full of live music at Cuba.

22. Drink the best coffee in all of Almaty at Coffeedelia.

23. Climb some rocks at Kan Tengri.

24. Spend some tenges (Kazakh currency) at TsUM department store-there are smaller boutiques within it).

I hope you won't go hungry when you visit after this list...if you do, you got to give things a try, that's all part of the 'traveling to new places' experience! 

The next post will be on: Estonia in Europe!

Travel on wanderlusters!