Estonia is the northern most of the Baltic states. After the Germans had been kicked out by the Red Army in 1944, Estonia became incorporated into the Soviet Union until the country regained its independence in 1991. The Soviet past and the subsequent association with Russia are nowadays very much resented by Estonians, who much rather see themselves as Europeans. All memories of the Soviet era are generally suppressed, Estonia is much happier in promoting its medieval history, its nature, singing and other elements of its idiosyncratic culture instead.

 

Tartu

Estonia's second city is a very pleasant university town.

 

Tallin

The capital city is a prime crowd drawer. Mainstream tourism is centred on the walled, cobblestoned, picturesque Old Town. A cool attraction is the KGB "spy room" on the top floor of Hotel Viru, which the Soviet secret service used as a spying centre. Despite the Soviets best efforts, everyone was aware of the KGB presence. Estonians even joked that the hotel building was made of micro-concrete, as in concrete and microphones. The KGB fled the country in the early 1990s and the hotel's new owners kept the rooms exactly as the KGB left them.