August 2 - Tallinn, Estonia

We have arrived in the 2nd Baltic Country; Estonia. Latvia (yesterday) was the first.

Here is a little geography lesson. While countries that bordered the Baltic Sea, were once called Baltic Countries/States. Now after WWI, the term only refers to countries that gained their independence from the former Soviet Union (Russian Empire); Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. And the rest (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) are known as Nordic Countries. While Poland and Germany are considered Central European Countries.

I had a great excursion today. It was called 'Post Soviet Experience'. I don't know what I was thinking when I booked it, however it turned out to be a lot of fun and quite educational.

We started out standing in front of an old 1980's Soviet Bus and being interrogated by a KGB Agent. He checked our passports and wanted to know why we (Capitalists) were visiting Estonia. Pam and I said it was because of their vodka.

 

We passed the interrogation and were allowed to board the bus. We were given a safety briefing on how to use a 'gas mask' and after a call to headquarters, to get clearance we headed out on our way. 

After lots of propaganda we were made to cheer Leonid Brezhnev with a vodka toast. My shot glass is on the left, Pam's is on the right

We were then taken to an old Soviet Navel Base, with a jail adjacent. Our KBG agent then told us he was actually a freedom fighter for Estonia's independence. He told us a true story of how his grandfather was interrogated and jailed here and finally sent to Siberia. His only crime was having too many cows and pigs.

There were lots more stories and education on the difference between Russians (White) and Soviets (Red), as we drove around the city. It was too hard to get pictures in the rickety old bus.

We ended up as the Soviet Monument Park. The Estonians removed all these monuments from around the city, but not to lose history, put all of them in a single park. 

1) 1948 Memorial to those that died for Soviet power, in the Great Patriotic War.

2) Monument to those who died in the short-lived rule of the Bolsheviks.

1) Mihkel Aitsami 

2)Jevgeni Nikonovi 

Viktor Kingissepa Ausammas

1) Helene Kullmani  

2) Aleksander Kuke

Vladimir Lenini

1) Mihhail Kalinini Ausammas

2) Jossif Stalini

3) Lembit Parna

1) Jakob Palvadre

2) Hans Poogelmanni

3) Jaan Anvelti

1) Johannes Raudmetsa Monument

2) Monument to Coup Attempt 1924

No, I don't know who most of these people are. It will give me something to research when I get back. In the meantime, more sightseeing tomorrow.

The last standing Soviet Monument - they are still trying to decide what to do with it.

Demographics of Estonia and their 2016 President

Great Estonia mustard-Sinep, don't read it backwards

With a final song (Take me Home) as we arrived at our ship

do svidaniya (Good-bye)