Tartu, seat of learning and fun

Trip Start Jul 04, 2005

Trip End Jul 18, 2005

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Flag of Estonia Tartu, Estonia
Tuesday, July 12, 2005

I first wanted to hitchhike to Tartu, Estonia's most important University City, but it was too hot and my backpack and other luggage was killing me. So I payed 95 EEK (about 8 euro) for a busticket and about 3 hours later I was at my destination where Mikhel picked me up. He just had a new appartment which he shares with Hanna and another friend, and it was like going into another world. This is how a Russian grandmother lives, with carpets on the wall (and I am talking about carpets that DEFINITELY belong on the ground ;) ), clocks that chime every half and hour, Russian cigarettes and matches from the time that it was still considered healthy to smoke and everywhere pictures that remind you of the good old days...

But the bed looked comfortable (at least for people who are as tall as me or Hanna, maybe not for Mikhel) and at least it was reasonably soundproof because of the carpets

Hedi and Kristo

.

Mikhel took me to some great pubs and restaurants, like Maailm and Caf� Wilde.
We met up with a friend of his, Kaisa, who was looking for an appartment, so we went together to a part of town where all the houses are still wooden.
Afterwards we met three other HC members : Hedi, Vera and Tomi.

In the evening Hedi introduced me to a friend of her, Kristo, and together we went to a concert in the Harbour Theatre. The group was famous Estonian singer T�nis M�gi and Music Safe. It is difficult to describe T�nis M�gi since he has been around for more than 40 years, but let's say that his musical style resembles that of Joe Cocker in his early days before he went commercial and gave up singing the blues.

It was a great concert, the songs were catchy and the audience enjoyed themselves a lot (nice location outside on the banks of the river, sunshine, a little breeze) and made the group come back three times.

Afterwards i went back to Mihkel's place and we drank some jenever which i brought from Belgium.