Shrove Tuesday / Vastlapäev

Head Vastlapäev!

While people around the world will be enjoying pancakes today, Estonians will be indulging in Shrove buns instead.  In nearby Germany people will be eating a similar treat called 'Krapfen' which is a donut-like bun with a sweet filling.

Estonian food website Nami-Nami has many great recipes. Here's one for dainty Shrove buns:
HÕRGUD VASTLAKUKLID

President Ilves on the Refugee Crisis - 'We have seen far worse and we have prevailed'

President Ilves gave an excellent speech on the refuge crisis at the European Parliament recently. His words have been applauded across the globe.

Please click here to listen to his speech or to read the transcript, click on the link below.

Address of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the European Parliament, 2nd February 2016

The Estonian Island of Saaremaa

With the weekend now upon us, I thought I'd share this interesting video about Saaremaa. I was there last summer and always enjoy catching the ferry over, passing through Muhu on the way. As Estonia's largest island Saaremaa definitely has a lot to offer!

Happy viewing!

Saaremaa: https://vimeo.com/25225302

Postcrossing - my first postcard received!

I was pleased to discover yesterday that my first postcard was received by Benedikt in Germany. I sent him an Estonian postcard that I designed myself and he was thrilled to receive it. He sent me this message in reply.

“Hallo Tania! 

Vielen Dank für deine tolle Karte! Leider war ich noch nie in Estland, ich glaube aber, dass es ein richtig tolles Land ist. Will ich auf jeden Fall mal besuchen. 

Viele Grüße 

Benedikt”

Naturally I'm looking forward to sending many more postcards in the future!

Postcrossing: A Great Website for Exchanging Postcards!

If you enjoy taking part in projects and receiving things in the post, then participating in Postcrossing might be for you!  It is an online project that allows you to send and receive postcards from all over the world! 

I recently became a member and sent my first postcard last week. You can send up to five postcards at a time and once you receive one in reply, you can obtain the address of your next recipient. I must admit I used up my quota and sent all five last week.  Very soon someone in Russia, Belarus, Germany, USA and France will be hearing from me!  It's a fun thing to do and if I manage to brighten someone's day then I'll be very pleased indeed.

Postcrossing has over 600,000 registered members in 210 countries and approximately 391 postcards are in transit per hour.

More information can be found at:: https://www.postcrossing.com/

96 years ago today Estonia and Soviet Russia signed the Tartu Peace Treaty

Photo: Tartu Peace Conference closing meeting. 

Members of the Estonian delegation. 

Today is an important day in Estonia's history. The peace treaty between Estonia and Soviet Russia on 2nd February 1920 ended the War of Independence and Russia officially recognised Estonia as a free and independent country.  Such a wonderful day for all Estonians!

The Tartu Peace Treaty

To learn more, please click here: Tartu Peace Treaty

Documentary - Sinking The Gustloff: A Tragedy Exiled From Memory

Over 9300 people died as a result of the sinking of the Wilhelm Gusloff during WWII, including 5000 children. Estonian-Canadian filmmaker Marcus Kolga has produced this award winning documentary which revisits the event left unspoken for decades.

For my family we lost good family friend Ined Pfaff. Her entire family perished in this disaster.