Monday, April 22, 2013

I love Tallinn!

Tallinn, Estonia is one of my favorite places in the world! From the moment we got there everything just felt inviting and cozy. If you ever make it to the Baltic states, Tallinn better be number one on your list! Most European cities have an "Old Town" where you have the cobblestone streets and things. They are super fun to visit, but most of them look the same. Tallinn is unique because it has a lot of medieval history. The atmosphere was something you just can't beat.
Tallinn Bound!


 Climbed 258 super narrow, spiral steps to get this view!
I love European streets.

Old city wall



 You get a good experience of old own in just a day or two, so on the third day we headed to the beach! It was FREEZING! My feet hurt so bad just standing in the water. All the natives were walking around in jackets and hats and were looking a us like were were insane. They were possibly right... but whats life if you don't live a little.



 We met the greatest people in Estonia! I know people don't smile too much in the Baltics, and maybe it's just because this city is super touristy, but people were so nice! Like the man who didn't know english but came up and insisted on taking a group photo for us, the lady who worked at the awesome medieval pub who was super fun and generous when we ordered apple pies, the flattering gentleman at the crepe house ;), the guy who knew lost girls when he saw us and steered us in the right direction... Oh Tallinn. I could kiss you!

This was at the Crepe place called the Kompressor. They were hands down, the BEST crepes I've ever eaten in my entire life. The were huge and amazingly satisfying. 

 My other favorite food was from the medival place in town hall. Everything was just a euro! They had thick elk soup and phenomenal apple pies! On top of that, once you got your food you could spear your own homemade pickle from a barrel for free! Kinda like bobbing for apples. I was a pro. Wish i had better pictures but that was us trying to catch a pickle.



                                       
                                              Oh, and Tallinn has some sweet graffiti too. :)



If you ever want to travel, put this place on the top of your list!



Viso Gero!

P.s.- Funny story real quick: To say goodbye to various people around town, Kerry and I have been pronouncing that (Vee-sah Geh-dah). Apparently when you are as lame as us, you have been telling the cashiers at the local grocery that "Everyone's Drinking!" for the past three months.


P.s.s- Also... i've been getting a bunch of views in Germany. On the one-in-a-billion chance you're the lady who sat next to me on the plane to Frankfurt- Contact me! I'm headed back your way in just over a week and we should meet up! (*Super wishful thinking)


Friday, April 5, 2013

I'm an international criminal.


 Really. I have the paperwork and everything. What did i do? I bought a "student" bus ticket and i got stopped by the bus police. Apparently, my student status doesn't apply unless i'm a student in the European Union, even if i have an international student card. I feel like Lithuania is being a little discriminatory here. It's 'cause I'm american isn't it??
"What? An american woman can't be a student?"
(See reference: http://vimeo.com/34704316)
What's more is that the gentleman who escorted me off the bus proceeded to talk about me with the other officers in Lithuanian and kept mentioning Facebook. If I get Facebook stalked by a random Lithuanian, it's the guy who made me pay a large fine and now wants to friend me. Smooth move. Give me my money back, dirtbag. 


On a lighter note: There is a section of Vilnius that claims to be its own republic called Uzupio. You cross over a bridge from Vilnius into a little artsy section where people just live however makes them happy. They have a constitution about it and everything. It's independence day is on April 1st, when they celebrate in all kinds of weird ways. Kerry (my roommate) and I heard that if you cross the bridge on that day, you get a Uzupio passport stamp. We weren't sure of the validity of the statement, seeing as it was April fools and all. But i still only had one stamp in my passport, so we went and BAM! We got stamped! Go weird, artsy republics!







The Uzupio Angel, representing Artistic freedom for eastern Europe.








The Constitution is  posted in 15 different languages. There are some pretty awesome rights in this thing... 3, 21, 26, 37... It was hard to take a readable picture but here's what it says:


1. Everyone has the right to live by the River VilnelÄ—, and the River VilnelÄ— has the right to flow by everyone.
2. Everyone has the right to hot water, heating in winter and a tiled roof.
3. Everyone has the right to die, but this is not an obligation.
4. Everyone has the right to make mistakes.
5. Everyone has the right to be unique.
6. Everyone has the right to love.
7. Everyone has the right not to be loved, but not necessarily.
8. Everyone has the right to be undistinguished and unknown.
9. Everyone has the right to be idle.
10. Everyone has the right to love and take care of the cat.
11. Everyone has the right to look after the dog until one of them dies.
12. A dog has the right to be a dog.
13. A cat is not obliged to love its owner, but must help in time of need (sick).
14. Sometimes everyone has the right to be unaware of their duties.
15. Everyone has the right to be in doubt, but this is not an obligation.
16. Everyone has the right to be happy.
17. Everyone has the right to be unhappy.
18. Everyone has the right to be silent.
19. Everyone has the right to have faith.
20. No one has the right to violence.
21. Everyone has the right to appreciate their unimportance.
22. No one has the right to have a design on eternity.
23. Everyone has the right to understand.
24. Everyone has the right to understand nothing.
25. Everyone has the right to be of any nationality.
26. Everyone has the right to celebrate or not celebrate their birthday.
27. Everyone shall remember their name.
28. Everyone may share what they possess.
29. No one can share what they do not possess.
30. Everyone has the right to have brothers, sisters and parents.
31. Everyone may be independent.
32. Everyone is responsible for their freedom.
33. Everyone has the right to cry.
34. Everyone has the right to be misunderstood.
35. No one has the right to make another person guilty.
36. Everyone has the right to be individual.
37. Everyone has the right to have no rights.
38. Everyone has the right to not to be afraid.
39. Do not defeat
40. Do not fight back
41. Do not surrender

Hahaha. Well anyway, I had a good April Fools Day. Hope yours was just as grand!
Random picture of wall art. Lithuanians sure love tea. 
Random picture of me and a sweater tree.