Estonia - Paradise of the North

Ilus Eesti, beautiful Estonia. My family's homeland. Estonia's countryside and people have an endearing gentleness about them which you fall in love with slowly and imperceptibly. I have nothing but respect and admiration for Estonians' courage and determination to survive despite centuries of repression, tyranny and foreign occupation. This blog aims to promote Estonian news, history and culture and seeks to enlighten readers about everything this unique country has to offer.

Saturday, 18 July 2026

The Continental Rift: Sabotage and Sponsorship

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An interesting podcast with former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.
Sunday, 12 July 2026

Estonian etiquette: What is considered good manners?

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Every country has their social norms of what is considered acceptable behaviour and what actions are frowned upon. In Estonia, there are cer...
Thursday, 9 July 2026

Volume IV of Truth and Justice available in English

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The fourth volume of Anton Hansen Tammsaare's classic Estonian pentalogy  Truth and Justice  (Tõde ja õigus) is now available in English...
Sunday, 5 July 2026

5 Interesting Facts about the Estonian Island of Ruhnu

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Ruhnu is a small remote Estonian island located in the Gulf of Riga. It is famous for its extreme isolation, with a tiny year-round populati...
Saturday, 4 July 2026

Photo flashback 1930

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People from Lepiku village playing volleyball near the Tindi farm house in the 1930s.
Tuesday, 30 June 2026

New silver coin dedicated to Anne Vabarna to be released next year

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In 2025 the Bank of Estonia launched a new coin series dedicated to Outstanding Estonian Women who have had a major influence on the develop...
Friday, 26 June 2026

Escape the heat and head to Estonia this summer!

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The heatwave currently gripping most of Western and Central Europe has once again highlighted the region's lack of infrastructure when i...
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About Me

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Tania Lestal
I am an Estonian-Australian with a deep love for my ancestral homeland. My family originate from Nõo county near Tartu which is located in Southern Estonia. Many members of my family left Estonia due to the Soviet occupation and have since branched out and resettled across the globe. After WWII my grandparents spent time living in a DP camp in Hamburg before emigrating to Australia. Today we are the only Lestal family in Australia. We have relatives in Germany, England, Canada, Austria and of course Estonia. This blog showcases all the things I love about Estonia and I also promote Estonia as a travel destination through my work as a freelance travel writer. My articles have been published in Explore History Magazine, Wanderlust, Estonian World, Azuria, to name but a few. If you would like to get in touch, please direct any comments, enquiries or suggestions to the following email address: estonia.paradise.of.the.north@gmail.com
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