Estonian Song & Dance Celebration

Less than a year to go! Can't wait! Estonians at their best!

Viljandi is the place to be this weekend!

XXV Viljandi Folk Music Festival 26-29 July 2018

It's that time of year again when people travel near and far to attend the Viljandi Folk Festival. The four day event is held in the centre of Viljandi in the castle park and showcases Estonia's cultural identity through music.  Much emphasis is placed on values, traditions, heritage and local identity and seeks to adapt spiritual values collected over centuries and millennia with modern life – all of which keeps traditions alive and in doing so strengthens our national character.

  

Viljandi Folk Music Festival has become one of the largest festivals of its kind in the Baltic and Nordic countries. 

For more information, please refer to the official website: https://www.viljandifolk.ee/en/

Two lost bear cubs gatecrash a family BBQ in Saaremaa

The two bear cubs who appeared in a Saaremaa backyard last Thursday evening have been found and returned to the mainland of Estonia, where they're presumed to have come from.

As reported on ERR, the cubs, whose mother was nowhere to be seen, seemed quite accustomed to humans and ate freely out of jars of food and even people's hands, after being attracted to a backyard at Lii village, where a family was having a barbecue.

Opinion was divided on whether the cubs were old enough to survive in the wild on their own and there were several theories about how they had got to the island and what had happened to their mother.

On Wednesday evening they made another appearance at the village of Küdema, about 15km from Lii village. Estonian Rescue Board personnel were called and after a struggle lasting several hours, were captured.

The cubs were then taken by ferry to the mainland, a journey which went without any hitches according to Saaremaa region Rescue Board manager Margus Lindmäe, and were released in a 'large forest' somewhere on the mainland.

A full report and footage of the bear cubs and their return to the mainland is due to be shown on ETV's current affairs show 'Aktuaalne Kaamera' on Thursday evening.

There are at least 500 brown bears in Estonia, though largely on the mainland. Bears have very occasionally been spotted on Saaremaa, the largest offshore Estonian island, in the past.

Source: ERR News Saaremaa bear cubs caught, released on mainland

Ever dreamed of owning your own Estonian manor house? Konovere Mõis is on the market!

Estonia has many splendid manor houses but it is not every day that one comes on the market at a great price. Konovere Manor has been recently reduced and available at the bargain price of  just 677,000€. 

Konovere Manor is located in central Estonia in Rapla county which is about 70 km from Tallinn and 50 km from Pärnu. The property has been renovated and consists of ten bedrooms with spacious rooms, high ceilings and ornate fireplaces. The main building is 684m², with an ancillary building of 253m² plus barn and stables. The estate is just over 22 hectare.

Konovere Manor offers much appeal for anyone seeking a beautiful home in the Estonian countryside. For more information, please click here: Konovere mõis, Konuvere küla

Kadriorg celebrates its 300th birthday this weekend

Beautiful ESTONIA ~ Cinematic Aerial Drone by Eneko García-Amezaga

Eneko García-Amezaga is a world traveller and has produced a series of videos of some of the most interesting places he has seen. He was recently in Estonia and completed an 11-day road trip, driving 2,200 Km around the country. He visited Tallinn, Paldiski, Haapsalu, Hiiumaa and Saaremaa Islands, Matsalu National Park, Pärnu, Soomaa NP, Viljandi, Põltsamaa, Võrtsjärv lake, Otepää, Sangaste, Valga, Võru, Rõuge, Suur Munamägi, Tartu, Mustvee, Lake Peipus, Kuremäe, Narva, Narva-Jõesuu, Ontika, Rakvere and Lahemaa National Park. The result of his adventure is this wonderful video - enjoy!

World's first 5G phonecall took place in Tallinn on 27 June 2018

Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kadri Simson and Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications Anne Berner made the world's first 5G video call on 27th June 2018 using the Elisa telecommunications network. The 5G video phone call used a 3.5 GHz frequency and was 10 times faster than mobile internet.

To learn more about 5G technology, please click here: https://www.elisa.ee/et/elisast/5g

UEFA 2018: All eyes will be on Tallinn!

12 facts about Estonia's national football team

While the world is currently football crazy over the world Cup, I thought I'd take a moment to pause and take a look at Estonia's national team. It would be great to one day see them play in the Wold Cup tournament.

Here are 12 facts about Estonia's national football team:

1. Estonia's first international football match was held against Finland in 1920 ending in a 6–0 defeat.

2. Estonia has only competed once in the Olympic Games. That was in 1924.

3. After Estonia regained it's independence in 1991, it's first FIFA recognised match was against Slovenia on 3 June 1992. The match was held in Tallinn  resulting in a 1–1 draw.

4. Estonia has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championship. 

5. In 2012 Estonia reached the UEFA Euro qualifying play-offs, later losing to Ireland.

6. Ever two years Estonia participates in the Baltic Cup championship. Estonia has won the tournament 3 times.

7.  The team's biggest win took place in Tallinn on 26 July 1928 with a 6–0 win against Lithuania.

8. Their biggest defeat was on 11 August 1922 with a 10–2 loss to Finland.

9. Andres Oper holds the record for most goals  (38).

10. Martin Reim  holds the record for the most caps (157).

11 Ragnar Klavan is team captain.

12. Estonia's current FIFA ranking is 94. In 2012 it was 47.