Summer stories vol 1: June

Perfect summer soundtrack.

June has been full of celebrations: graduations, birthdays and all other achievements and life moments wort celebrating. It feels like we've been eating cake and candy every other day at work.

I turned 26.

Strawberry season started. Estonian strawberries beat all other strawberries. 

Finally got to visit Põhjaka manor. A beautiful restaurant in an old manor house with Estonian cuisine and the menu changes daily. It's rated as a high-class restaurant. Loved the atmosphere and the food. Also they sell craft beers and ciders, sweets, bread and herb butters to go.

Had a late lunch in Jäneda when got lost on Tartu-Tallinn highway, which is pretty much a straight road of 186 km from one city to another. GPS sent us on a detour and we weren't smart enough to realize before we had already driven around 90 km of it. One of these blonde moments I suppose. 

Because Sophie loves being outside more than anything, doesn't matter that it's raining cats and dogs. 

We had already decided that a BBQ has to happen, weather did not agree, but we weren't too bothered about it. 

It's pretty much a rule that during Midsummer celebrations in the middle of June it always rains and the weatehr gets as cold as on New Years Eve. This year on the 23rd the weather was perfect, warm, sunny and light. Spent it out of civilization and enjoyed ever second of it.  Boat rides, bonfire, delicious food and national drinks, just maybe not the mozzies (forever my favorite word in Aussie slang). 

Midsummer Eve and Midsummer Day (St John’s Day) are amongst the most important holidays in the Estonian calendar. Short summers with brief nights hold special significance for Estonians. The holiday follows the longest day of the year, during these days, night seems to be non-existent.

Thousands of bonfires are lit all over Estonia on St John’s Day. Tradition of lighting bonfires is linked with the ideals of independence and freedom, as in 1919 on the 23rd of June Estonian forces defeated German troops in the War of Independence. 

Yesky, who hosted us via Couchsurfing in Singapore before we went to Australia, came to visit with his lovely fiancee. I adore these long overdue catchups and sharing travel stories with old friends.