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| Ice blocks in front of a restaurant/bar in Tallinn |
Again
I had a little job in Estonia, inspection at my former commissioning converter
station, took a flight to Tallinn and my co-worker rented the car to travel to
“magnificent” Rakvere. The only good thing there is the Aqva Spa hotel, in
which we finally managed to check in, and the cheap Vana Tallinn liquor. Onsite
the next day we had an over-long working shift and, therefore, missed dinner
and sauna Estonian style, pouring water literwise over the heated rocks.
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| Small, narrow street in the old town of Tallinn |
Before
my colleague and name twin had to take the flight home, we had a few hours
left in Tallinn and thus, we did some sightseeing in the centre. He had the
flight at 6 pm, I took the ferry instead, crossed the Baltic Sea and watched
those Finns getting all the beers and wines and spirits they would need for the
next weeks. Quite funny to see how everyone drags a trolley packed with
longdrink cans off the ship. I was one of them. “You have to adapt”, I said to
myself.
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| One of the scenic views over Tallinn |
Jouni
picked me up from the ferry terminal and we immediately met a British friend of
him in the city. He had to drive carefully – people are crossing the street, or moved waveringly from side to side totally wasted. Remember, it’s just a bit past 9
pm. Sauna was next, at Julian’s place. He has, like most Finns do, an own one
in his apartment. Perfect finish for the day.
While Jouni
had a basketball the next day early in the morning, I turned around one more
time and slept a little longer. After breakfast, we directly went to his
parents for lunch. Finnish meatballs and smashed potatoes … and … Jouni’s
father had the opinion vodka suits extremely good. The first bottle was emptied
quite quickly and he just got another one without asking. I grinched and tried
to gesture politely not wanting a refill again. Obviously, he didn’t notice.
Time passed by and we ended up playing cards and learning Swedish. Don't know why Swedish ... it just happened that way. I just let it go and stopped to ask questions :)
The party continued at Jouni’s place after,
Shane, Julian and Henry joined us one by one. A few bottles later, Milli Clubbi
in the centre was one more time our destination and we partied through the night.
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| Entering Helsinki's harbour |
The
next morning was hard, still a little tinnitus in my ears, a hammer in my head,
tiredness. That’s how you should leave Finland. I had a lot time to get well –
a metro ride though Helsinki, a little walk, waiting time at the ferry terminal, 2 ½ hours ferry
cruise, taxi to the Tallinn airport, another 3 hours waiting time, flight to
Nuremberg and taxi home … I made it all!
