13th of December it started my journey from Romania to Estonia, to visit my family and friends.
I had kind of trip, 2000 km. I traveled through 6 countries: Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia..
It was my first time to be in Slovakia and Poland, so it was very interesting to keep eyes open and see how those countries look like. I didn't have any vision of Slovakia, only I knew that they have very good places for skiing, snow boarding – lots of mountains and its not so rich country. I mean, its not so expensive.
About Poland I had heart lots of stories, how bad are roads, cows are running on road...
Poland is big country and very religious. Lots of Polish are working in UK, 2 millions?! And population of Poland is around 40 million. Germans have bad jokes about Polish. Every country you can find products what have made in Poland, so its cheap to product things there..
But..I had change to be one hour in Krakow and little bit stay in Warsaw and all the things what I saw through window was very nice and in future I want to stay longer in this country. Landscape is very nice, they have snow, its not very expensive, good network of transport...
Finally, after 38 hours of driving I was at home, Tallinn. I was away from home 5 months and I was wondering how much differences I discover. With this 5 months lots of things were different, new buildings, shopping centers, restaurants and harbor area looked very beautiful, lots of new offices, fancy eating places, clubs. It was hard to read that we are in economical crisis. Shopping centers was full, people looked very happy and full of energy.
Then I was in Romania I mostly missed Estonian cuisine, so first thing I went for a shopping and I bought products what I really like and what are very special for Estonian cuisine: porridge, tatart, Tallinn sprats, blood sausage, black bread, bread with fruits, cottage cheese, soured milk, sauerkraut...
All those things what I could not find in Romania. Before I went to Estonia it was very hard to find something special for Romania what to take with me. I took tuika, Romanian chocolate... In my point of view Romanians are eating very unhealthy. I'm not saying that Estonians are eating healthy but we have more healthy products with normal price. In Romania I can find some black bread, but the price is two tree times higher...why is milk so expensive in Romania? Actually all milk products. Is it only for Estonians expensive? I don't believe.
At Christmas time I was with my parents in small village, Raukla there population is 78 people!! Its 110 km away from our capital, Tallinn. In the morning I went with train there what took 1,5 hour to be in Türi and from there by dad´ car to home. Driving home for a Christmas:)
I had very nice and quiet time in my childhood home. After 2 years it was white Christmas, sunny and I we had very nice time together: cooking, Christmas movies, Christmas songs, sauna..
New Year Eve I spent with friends in Tallinn. We made ginger bread, potatoes salad, wieners in the oven, carrot pie, sauerkraut and we were making Mojito drink, hot toddy with orange and champaign with ice cream .) At Christmas time and New Year Eve Estonians are eating and drinking so much that The New Year therefore usually starts with a serious culinary hangover and deep regrets, sometimes followed by a few weeks of rigorous weight watching :D In midnight we went out to dance and later to visit other friends, to make water pipe and making plans for new year.
My new year start with head cold and sore throat. But I was strong and two days later we had other events with friends, last events before it started my trip back to Romania.
My trip back to Romania, was even more longer, 40hours, through 7 countries. This time I had change to see also Austria, Vienna.
Bus rode through 7 countries and I was in 7 capitals: Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius, Warsaw, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest. I was very curious when we passed Vilnius, as currently Vilnius is the European Capital of Culture. 2009 and it was exciting to see differences and things what they have made for this. I have been in Vilnius 2 times before. Also we passed Kaunas, where I was Erasmus exchange student in 2005. I remembered every corner and I didn't feel differences from this time.
For me it was big surprise that Slovakia adopted the euro currency on 1 January 2009 as the 16th member of the Eurozone. For this they had big poster in Bratislava.
After 40 hours of ride I was in Romania, Arad and I was very surprised how cold it was, -10. The same temperature what we had in Estonia last days but when I arrived to Romania, it was + 4 in Estonia.
Few days later I rode Estonian news about Romania how cold it is there, -32 middle of Romania and 43 people have died, and lots of people are in hospital, as Romanians don't have some many homeless centers...
I remember how Estonian news were writing about Romania and Bulgaria 2 years ago, that how hot is there +48 and people are dieing on the streets. And now they are speaking how cold it is. I guess Romania is land of contrasts .)
It was very nice to be back in Estonia, but at the same time my thoughts were also in Romania.
I have loved my stage in here and I have managed to find very good friends here who have taught me some other values, commons, point of views, lifestyles. But I guess I'm person, who can be happy everywhere, but hart is little bit broken, as dear friends are spread around Europe and I cant be with them all the time.
