Day 15 – Rain and Rongkäik

​Today we started off a little slower so we could work on some secret projects. After some time, we headed into the old town for a little wonder. I had to call mum and dad to see where they were and they were on Vene Tanav, which is street where my grandpa lived for a few years as a child, but first stop was the pancake house. Here I had a chantarelle pasta but there were more sundried tomatoes than mushrooms. Mum did show me some of the wonderful things she bought, including a book with the most beautiful designs, some inspiration for Estonian Designs AU. I can’t wait to get home and have a look through it and start developing more designs! After we finished we walked to Vene 12 where my grandpa lived. It is always so surreal walking in there, because he lived there, played there, he was just there, as a kid! He used to tell us stories about him sliding down the banisters, and my dad reminds me of this every time we visit. Dad also pointed out the door at the top was the apartment where Alan, my grandpa, lived. I walked half way up the stairs but I didn’t want to go to the top, just in case it was not safe. I did stand there for a moment and imagined what it would have been like for him to be living here back in the day, before the warn in 1944, just playing around, running through the streets of Tallinn. Incredible emotions. After this we headed to a really funky shop, although I think it was better 2 years ago. The building was still the same with the Muhu patterns on it but the vibe was different, less Estonian based products, more modern ones. We saw the town square from a different perspective again so couldn’t resist taking more photos. As we were doing this I noticed a shop between some of the restaurants, something I had never noticed before. The lady was so kind and lovely, and the prices were relatively good considering the location. There were so many lovely little things here to look at and potentially buy but I didn’t this time, strangely. We went back to our favourite Käsitöö shop and bought a few more little things, including a Setomaa tooth pick holder, it was really cute. After this stop we had a look at a few more little shops but the prices were all so different. The same items in one shop were 5 – 7 euro difference to another shop, insane! We did stop at one of my other favourite stores that had all the woollen designed clothes. I saw this beautiful woollen poncho and considered it for a while. We discussed the price and managed to get it down by 20%, so I bought it, as a small gift from me to me, for getting my new job as an Associate Lecturer in Nursing. I have worked hard for this so I decided to treat myself. I was originally a bit worried about it but I am so glad I did it. We then headed back to the antique store who we asked to help us find a freedom cross. She had managed to track one down but it was going to cost 1650 euro, and when you convert that to $, that is A LOT of money, so we decided against it. We started walking to the street where the parade, or Rongkäik to see if we could spot any Aussies! It was raining pretty badly at the time so we didn’t stay long. We went to the supermarket and then because we couldn't just walk through the parade, and mum was not going to walk around it, we had to get a very expensive bolt. It was a bit annoying BUT we did learn some interesting things from our driver, it was almost like a little lecture. Very interesting of course.

​After we got home we relaxed a little, caught up on some things, then Denis (my Estonian brother) came over for dinner. He has been driving mum and I around at various points and really looking after us, like a big brother (to me). He really is something special. We met in 2005 and been in and out of each others lives because he lives between Estonian and Siberia. This is where his family was sent to back in the day, and they started a life there. Currently he is here in Tallinn and his family are in Siberia so it has been nice to catch up with him. Be brought over some incredible deserts. I told him I would cook for him, and I did. I made one of my favourite Estonian foots with very specific spices, pork mince and chantarelle mushrooms, my favourite! We had potatoes too of course! It was so nice to be able to catch up with him properly and talk, reminisce and discuss plans of him hopefully coming to Australia soon. It was a lovely day! Chilled and relaxed, a day that was needed a little I think.
Until tomorrow
Marissa xx