Tallinn, Estonia was fascinating. Took the ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki and right over to Tallinn, only about 1 hour from Helsinki.

I had a really good meal on the old town square and marvelled that this was under the control of the Soviet Union only 10 years ago. I was always fascinated by the Soviet Union, it is one of the reasons I went into Political Science. I wondered what it would be like tolive there. At the square, I also marvelled at how quickly they have figured out how to make those fancy meals where you do not get much food. However, it was one of the best meals I have had while on the trip and actually did fill me up.

Since I am winging it these days, too tired to plan everything, I could not find a hostel in town. I took the local bus20 minutes to a new hostel in the middle of all of the old Soviet era housing. The whole system has changed and I am sure everyone is very happy about that, but the infrastructure is still the same for the most part. I am sure it will take a while for everything to change, which should be expected. I was just surprised, because I could still see what it would have been like to live under Soviet control.

I met a very nice girl in the bar one night. We had actually ridden in on the train together. She answered all of my questions about her life under the Soviet system and today. She said, before, they had money, just nothing to buy. That has changed. There is some tension between the Russians and Estonians however because the Russians do not make the smallest effort to learn even Estonian greetings.

They are kicking me off the internet.

I have to write fast because the library closes in 20 minutes.

Denmark was great. The canals give the city a fun side. Talk about sun worshipping, theDanes definitely worship the sun. I walked through a park on aWednesday and the whole town was out sunning themselves. They also ridetheir bikes everywhere. You notice that right away. I was walking downtown at 11:00 pm my first night there and all these girls were riding home or to somewhere. I rented a bike one day and rode everywhere too. I checked out the Little Mermaid, a church where you walk to the very tip top, on the outside of the spire, and all over. I got the hang of the bike etiquette. If you are going too slowly, which I was, they ring their bell. They give you the bell.

The Danes were very nice, just like the Norwegians. I wondered how they would look. Would they look like the Norwegians. They do, maybe even more blondes if you can believe it. I went out one night, but that was it because they start partying at 12:00 and go until 8 am. You start the night by going to Nyhvn, a quaint canal downtown. On one side you have the expensive cafes and on the same side, but on the edge of the canal, people sit and drink their store bought six packs. These look like the true locals.