The Ham Nomads

15 Aug 2015. <EE> Tallinn; Krapi Telkimisala —

Today we left Tallinn. We were intending to go round to the Tallink terminal and book passage to Stockholm. We weren't expecting to get on immediately, but were hoping for something within three days. Three weeks and more we were told, so we made other plans. The worst case scenario would be that we drive back down through Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and round through Germany and up to Denmark, cutting Sweden out entirely. But more of this later.

We decided to spend some time at Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum — the Estonian Open Air Museum. This place is fascinating. Whole farm buildings from the 18th to the 20th century have been picked up lock stock and barrel and put into this vast forested park, fully documented as to where they came from and when they were built — one was even inhabited up to the 1990s by a little okd lady, and all of her goods and chattels have come with it! The place is a delight, a photographer's dream. The staff are all dressed in appropriate peasant costume, and go about their own craft work as you watch. We'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Memorial to the founders

Everyone deserves a break sometime!

There was one craftswoman, a woodcarver, who was just sitting, whittling, but when you went into the rooms behind her, you could see what a talent she is. Her exhibition is described so:

"TREEFAIRIES AND COLOURS OF LIFE
Sculptures and carpets by Dagne Virkola

The ancient Estonians believed that the world around us is full of invisible beings — fairies, gnomes and spirits of nature. Every tree, stone and spring had its protective spirit who could be consulted and asked for help, if needed. The signs of nature were carefully noticed, the messages and warnings they brought were taken very seriously by humans. Life was full of omens, mysteries and magic.

The exhibition 'Treefairies and colours of life' is a present-day person's vision of a world where every single thing, being and appearance has a living soul. The fairies and protective spirits, who live in trees, become visible in these sculptures. The carpets reflect the colours of life that surrounds us."

Part of the museum was 'out of bounds' as there was a wedding going on in there. What a wonderful place to celebrate life!

The Volunteer Fire Station
(Wooden houses in forests — a recipe for fires!)

Inside the Fire Station

Inside the shop

Inside the shop

Inside the shop

After poking round the museum for a few hours, we decided to make our way southwards, to the very same site we stayed at a couple of days ago, Krapi Telkimisala, just north of the Latvian border (with the thought in our mind that if we found a good spot beforehand, we'd stop off there — but that didn't happen!).

We'd passed this bridge work last time!

Distance driven — today, 123 miles ( 198 km ); to date, 25,928 miles ( 41,727 km )