Day 5 - Forest Horns, Latvia and Connection

Well today started off like any ordinary day. We got ourselves ready, had to have a sneaky honey cake for breakfast, because why not? Then we started our day. First we travelled to the horns in the forest, or the “Forest Library”, in southern Estonia. I had visited this place before and really liked the forest they were in and wanted to take my parents here. I thought they might like to see something a little bit different. We arrived and there were so so so many mosquitos! And these ones liked our blood, so I was a little itchy for the rest of the morning. When we were walking up to the horns, dad kept reminding me to look out for bears, even though it was very unlikely. I just adored being in that forest, it really felt so peaceful and it really did ground me. At one point I wanted to really connect with Estonia and the moss looked so soft so I touched it, and it felt like a little pillow on the ground. Such a beautiful place and I am glad we came to visit it. Apparently with these horns if you sit in them and just be, you can hear the sounds of the forest but at an amplified level, it is just beautiful. Once we got in the car, I had a quick look at the map then suggested to mum and dad… let’s go to Latvia. They loved the idea and off we went.

​Now, most Estonian’s go to Latvia for cheap alcohol, and we were no exception. I quickly looked up Super Alko, almost like a bunnings but for alcohol. We started driving and the road we took into Latvia was a dirt road with some sign posts when you did get into Latvia. It was really nice seeing the Latvian flag outside peoples houses and seeing the Latvian language. As we were driving we went past this adventure park of sorts, but it was closed, it was not particularly good weather. It did look pretty fun though. We kept driving and got back onto the main roads and went to Super Alko. You can see from the pictures it is a fair bit cheaper, for example a 1L bottle of Vanatallinn is 19 euro on sale, here it was less than 17 euro. What I found kind of cute was the alcohol store was built into an old soviet checkpoint near the boarder, and still looked that way! After we got what we needed for the family party on Saturday, we went back to Estonia. For an Australian, it really blows my mind that you can just go to another country spontaneously. We just can’t do that and to be able to do this, just because we can, it really is something special. 

​Once we were back in Estonia, we were headed to the Pesa Puu, directly translated into nest tree. On the way we passed a little hut that had the Rõuge design on it, just by chance so of course I had to stop and take photo with my mug! I couldn’t believe how exact it was, again, I must be doing something right! We then passed the big egg mountain, which is the highest point in the Baltics, about 300m. Now this Pesa Puu is a bit of a look out tower and the egg sitting at the top changes colour to red or blue if the country has a new baby born, depending on the gender. I think this is a really sweet tradition. Dad had not been to this area before so we walked around and I showed him the little huts some university students built as part of a project showing how old villages were built many years ago. He was very interested in the structure and how they constructed these things, being a builder and all! We then got around to the family swing! Something I have wanted for years, possibly more than 20 years, at my parents place but dad has not built it yet, but it is on the list! I did forget this area had a family swing but I was excited when I saw it. My sister and I first experienced this when we were 10 and 11 and have some really fond memories of being on the family swings. They are really big and some of them you can go over the top. It is one of Estonia’s national sports, kiiking. This one was not built for that so we did not try. At this area in Rõuge we found a small handicraft or Käsitöö shop. Mum was asleep in the car and dad and I were contemplating if we should wake mum up or not. Once I walked in and saw what was there, we decided to wake mum up. There was a lady who came in and looked like the owner and I quickly thought to myself, why not go for it. I asked her if she was the owner and would like to have a conversation with me about my business and what I do. She really liked the designs and gave me some interesting things to think about and some other ideas and connections on how to bring Estonian Designs AU into Estonia. I was really nervous about the first business type of conversation I had here and this was it. She was so kind and I was so grateful she was excited about my business and what I do, it was lovely.

​We then headed off to the middle of Rõuge where there was a sign and a lake. I had brought my Rõuge mug all this way for this moment, to take the photo you see. This place was a little special to me because my mum’s dad, Alan, grew up coming to this lake to swim and spend some days here in the summer. I really feel a lovely connection to Rõuge and I am glad we came to visit, even for a moment. Looking at the lake, wishing it was warmer so we could swim, it was really a big feeling of connection to him. He was always so kind to me and adored me and my sister. I wish I had asked more about his life in Estonia but we were young kids, not as interested in it all as I am now. 

​After this we were hungry and headed into Võru where both my mothers parents grew up. They went to preschool together and then met again in Australian many years later. We drove past my grandmothers old house where she grew up, and it is still for sale (I almost bought it 2 years ago). I couldn’t believe it was still there for sale. We went into the heart of Võru to a lovely pizza place for lunch, which mum and I had gone to before and we really liked it then headed to a little souvenir shop. While we were in there dad had gone for a little walk and found another Käsitöö shop we did not know about. Might be handy having him around, scouting out handicraft stores before we go there. We went to the next one and it had some beautiful belts! And they were priced well! Of course mum had to get them. After we finished in town we went to the Coop to get a few supplies. I just love the bread packaging! All the Estonian patterns, so special.