Summer sprint

Summer is in full swing, those 4-6 weeks are the busiest in Estonia. As I wrote already before, there are all kind of festivals, concerts and other events going on. People are strolling from north to south and east to west to get as much as possible out of that time. As it is impossible to clone yourself, you need to make difficult decisions every Friday. I have been pretty quiet compared my previous summers, just some events, little tenting and cruising around Tallinn.
Few weeks ago went to the beer festival in Tallinn. Not that I like that festival, it is super crowded and queues everywhere -to get inside the area, to get a beer, to get some food, to get to toilet etc.etc. But they have improved cultural side of the festival and this year was there  Pet Shop Boys. PSB is one my favourite  bands back to teenage years, so I wanted to see, are they still as good as before. I have to admit that they are! The show was great - great music, lights, all really good quality -  10 points.
Another notable activity was my trip to Muhu and Saaremaa. Saaremaa is the biggest island in Estonia and Muhu is one tiny and peaceful island on the way to Saaremaa. My friends have summer cottage in Muhu. The  idea was to go there, stay one day and then go with my friend to Saaremaa, stay on the beach, pick wild strawberries, chanterelles, stay a night in tent and just relax. Not that my life is so stressful that I need desperately relax again but she has been busy last years with babies and preferred to do something in nature, so nobody is screaming or chatting endlessly.. I can be quiet and  I never say no for staying in nature (ok, I may say "no" in winter..).. so we did it.
First I got to Muhu by motorcycle (on the back seat of course), spent nice afternoon with my goddaughter and her twin sister and next morning our mission "escape from reality" started.

Around our motorbike are cute mini vehicles on the way to exhibition:

Our intention was to stay on Harilaid, it is a beautiful peninsula in west side of the island. But as it was impossible to get close to tenting area by car and we were comfort loving and lazy ladies, then we just did nice hike and several nude swimming. Why nude? I know it sounds like weird explanation but if water is chilly then it feels much better to swim without bikinis. If there is no strangers on the beach, it is pretty common to swim naked, officially it is forbidden here as well  to stay naked in public :-)

Next morning was very womanish - yoga, painting, massage with hot stones (no, we unfortunately did`nt find any handsome masseurs, did it to each other) and of course wild strawberries, wild strawberries and wild strawberries...and some blueberries too. And some icecream and rom cakes as soon as we got back to civilization.. On the way back got also one close look with elk..of course by that time my camera and phone batteries were empty, so best pictures staying in my mind.

A big awakening

Despite economic slump, increasing prices and decreasing incomes seems to be one sector doing amazingly well. Actually it is kind of explosion what I can see this summer in that area.. well, already few years there is boom of all kind of spiritual practices everywhere in the world but this summer seems to be boom of the boom in Estonia :)
So all trainers who have been focusing on all kind of business training,  now it is I guess a bit late to catch that train and refocus.. Companies have reduced their budgets and probably only some multinationals bother to train their stuff. But stuff is training themselves to find new meaning of life, heal their stress and find solutions to their problems. Seems like new revolution after singing revolution back in 1988. Don`t get me wrong, I am not ironic about spirituality, I´m reiki healer and  trying all kind of different things but if I look how many camps and festivals are during 4 weeks (yeah, thats our summer) in Estonia, where is 1.2mln people, then it looks a bit funny.
5.-7.July   International tantrafestival (85.-eur)
5.-7. July  Reiki Summer camp (60eur)
9.-11 July Veet Mano summer camp (did`nt know about this dude as I have`nt been watching TV last 2 years but seems to be nice guy and very popular) ( 275eur)
There are also some Veet Manos one day seminars available in Tallinn.
12.-14 July Festival of labyrinths (35eur)
20.-21.July  Yoga festival (  35eur)
25.-28 July Indians camp (this is actually already very old event, has been here  I guess 10 years) (200eur)
There gonna be also one Raw Food Festival 10.-11 August. This is just overview of bigger events, same time is happening small workshops all the time!
 I have to admit, I wanted to volunteer at tantra festival but there was no more need for volunteers and as I´m still unemployed, then no tantra for me this summer. Lets see maybe yoga will fit to my empty event calendar.. But ... there is still time to start with new festival idea for next summer, your suggestions are welcome :)
Namaste!

Biggest party in year!

The biggest celebration in Estonia is Jaanipäev (with ancient pagan name Leedopäev).  We celebrate it on 23rd of June. It is the longest day and shortest night in year and it does not go dark at all (actually is the shortest on 21st,  but from some reason we celebrate it 2 days later). What we do?
Usually we go somewhere to countryside, Tallinn is almost ghost town at that time. We make bonfire and barbecue, usually also sauna. We sing and some even dance but for sure we drink a lot of beer and have nice time with our friends.
There are also many ancient rituals involved. We jump over the bonfire - this gonna bring you good luck and wealth. We go to sauna - this brings you good health. Unmarried woman picks 7 different flowers, places them under her pillow to dream of her future husband. people taking a walk at midnight to find  mythical "fern in bloom" , which shall give power, prosperity, extraordinary abilities etc.
Usually I spend my Midsummer day on Muhu island with group of friends. This year I felt a bit lazy and decided to stay home and join one my friend and her friends close to Tallinn. I was cycling in the morning through the town and I bet 90% of people were gone, only some tourists walked around and few locals. 
Weather was absolutely great  - perfectly sunny all day and no rain which is unusual during that day. We made a bonfire, ate a lot and I also jumped over the fire. No seven flowers this year, no sauna.... Lets see what new year will bring me:)

Daylight at midnight

Jump..looks magical but yes, i`m there!

Our bonfire in the forest:

1.2.3... Estonian time starts

After spending 6 months in Brazil, in Rio de Janeiro, I turned back home to Estonia. Just to re-fill my bank account (not that this something super easy in Estonia, no way!) and get ready for next travel. I have been blogging about my travels  few years already but so far only in Estonian. As some my non-Estonian speaking friends have tried to translate my travel blog with Google translate and this could turn out pretty funny or even ridiculous, I`ve decided to dedicate that blog to English speaking friends :-) and to other random readers who are interested in. So welcome! Will share here  my experiences in Estonia and the rest of the world too because my travels are not finished yet. Of course your comments and questions are welcome too.

About Estonia..
Not many people I´ve met around the world,  have been here or have plan to come here but if you would like to come, the best time is the end of May and June. I simply love that time because finally it is bearable weather (this year fantastically sunny), all the nature is celebrating that winter is finally over - trees and bushes are in blossoms, smell of lilacs spreads on streets and parks and days are way longer then nights. As soon as sun comes out you see how people shine and become much more open and happy. 20 hours of daylight can be really energizing but finally you just need to find eye mask to get a bit sleep. After midsummer day this magic is over and day gonna be step by step shorter and shorter.
If you walk around and notice that some people are investigating lilacs very close then it does not mean that they are some kind of  biologists or just weird. They looking for luck! We believe that if you will find a five petal flower then you shall make a wish, eat that flower and your wish comes true :) 

 Can you find a lucky flower?

About estonians...

Reserved and not so quick to make friends but if you do that then you have friend for the lifetime...or at least for very long time. During the summer people are happier (it is easier to be happier if you don`t freeze). Estonian man is not a dancer, Estonian woman usually is. I guess 90% people have blue or grey eyes, mostly blonds or at least fake blonds.
They claim that Estonians are big singers but honestly..Brazilians are bigger, Estonians are not singing usually by themselves in shops, in buses, on the streets..Only if we have organised songfests or parties with some friends who really can sing (people are very critical about singing, so I have to stay quiet unless I´m home alone).
People drink beer or wine (and sometimes also water) and our cuisine is pretty close to German cuisine.
Undemanding and positive thinkers, e.g. if there is during the summer 1 week nice and sunny and the rest rainy and you will ask from somebody in October about last summer weather, then they reply that it was fantastic and sunny and they truly believe that...