Today was the last day of the Explore Baltic Republics journey. Packed up and back on the bus for the ride across the causeway through Muhu Island. We made only one stop before the ferry port, at St. Catherine’s Church. St. Catherine’s, built in 1267, supposedly had a wonderful interior but what can you do. Instead, we took a group photo and wandered around the grounds with ancient and moss-covered crosses marking a few graves.

An even nicer ferry to the Estonian mainland than before with a small area for children to play in and crowded. The 30-minute ferry ride was followed by the last two hours on the road back into Tallinn and the Reval Central Hotel. ex-Marine and I had opera tickets for tonight to see Un Ballo in Maschera (Masked Ball) by Giuseppe Verdi before beginning the long journey home tomorrow. The Tallinn Opera House is small with wonderful acoustics and good sight lines. You can see well from anywhere..View image. You must check coats, hats and jackets in one of the free coatrooms. No exceptions. This version of the Masked Ball was excellent with very unusual staging that had sparse sets along with modern day costumes. Think “flapper” and you’d be close.

Explore U.K. Baltic Republics group on Muhu Island, Estonia 

Muhu Island ferry port, Estonia
If you are interested in opera, this performance starred: Aile Saal (soprano) as Amelia; Riina Airenne (mezzo soprano) as Ulrica; Senol Talinli (tenor) as the King; and Aare Saal (baritone) as the King’s best friend.

Tallinn Opera House, Estonia
I posed a question to different group members. “What jumps out as a highlight of the Baltic Republics? No deep thought, no musing or thinking about it. Just what comes to the top of your head.” The answers were varied and surprising.

ex-Marine, Riga Museum of Occupation, Riga Art Deco and Witches’ Hill. Dorothy, the walk in Noringa and Tallinn. Alan, the botanic walk in Asteras National Park. Margery, Riga. Brenda, St. Gertrude’s church in Riga that had music playing and no one else in it. Very peaceful and serene, a transcendental moment for her. Phillip, Riga. Patty, Lithuania. Andrew, Korguva Ethnological Village on Muhu. Mark, Riga Museum of Occupation. Jo, Palanga. Merelyn, the architecture. Allison, Noringa Spit; and Sheila? Noringa Spit and Riga Art Deco. If I had to pick a city, Riga and Tallinn are tied for first place.

If you are thinking of visiting the Baltic Republics:

- You usually have to pay to use the toilets.

- Watch out for pickpockets and thieves. Mort has his wallet stolen in Tallinn. It should have been safely tucked in an inside pocket or money belt. Patty had a necklace ripped off her neck in Riga (shades of New York). It should have been tucked inside her sweater and/or outside jacket zipped, not easily visible to passerbys.

- I’m generalizing here but the majority of people over the age of 40 were very unfriendly, dour and, as I mentioned earlier in this series, had typical Soviet service mentality. None. Again, with a 51-year history of oppression, this is intellectually understandable but not when you are in a service business. Come on, not let a tourist staying in your hotel borrow a spoon to eat yogurt? Ludicrous.

- Prepare for very high prices in restaurants unless you are content with eating dumplings every day. Call us peasants but ex-Marine and I traditionally end every vacation with dinner at McDonald’s for several reasons. Yup…you read it right. We like McDonald’s and are usually ready for a good old hamburger with french fries after several weeks in whatever country we’ve been in. I have faith in McDonald’s meat standards, cleanliness, and it’s always interesting to see how country eating habits are incorporated on the menu. McDonald’s, without exception or country, is always crowded with locals, small children eating their Happy Meals and teens hanging out…View image.

McDonald’s sign in Tallinn, Estonia
- Take a look at your calendar in case there is a specific site that you must see. All museums, along with many other sites, are closed on Mondays.

- Driving throughout the three countries is absolutely boring and monotonous. The landscape is flatter than a pancake with absolutely nothing but small farms and forests.

- A valuable suggestion for all travel. Carry two different credit cards with you in case there are problems. Get one with no fee and use it only when you travel.

- I detested the folk music playing on bus that sounded like dirges. Again, understandable with 50 years of occupation, and since they were sung in Lithuanian or Latvian, who knew what they were singing about.

- There was very little interaction with the locals throughout the trip except for guides.

If you decide to visit the very historic Baltic Republics which I am ashamed to say I knew nothing about, these articles will, hopefully, give enough in-depth information about what there is to see and do instead of sharing my ignorance. And…the most important thing to do in all three countries is… eat as many pastries as possible. Calories be damned…enjoy!

 
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