A Little Bit About Estonia
Estonia is a small country on the north-east corner of the Baltic Sea. Geographically, it is smacked between the Baltic Sea (west) and Russia (east), Latvia (south) and Finland (north). The capital city, Tallinn, is only about 80 kilometres (55 miles) from Helsinki, Finland.
The country's population is just under 1.4 million, with Tallinn being home to about one-third of the population. The south-eastern city of Tartu is home to Tartu University (founded in 1632 as the second centre of higher learning in the Swedish Empire), one of the premiere educational institutions in the north of Europe. The coastal towns of Pärnu and Haapsalu are popular summer tourist attractions for their spas and therapeutic mud baths, while many of Estonia's heavy industries are located in the north-east in cities like Narva, Sillamäe, and Kohtla-Järve.
What's Going On Now?
It is quite difficult to believe that Estonia wrestled its independence back from Moscow just ten years ago. The "Singing Revolution" of the late 1980s helped Estonians re-establish their long-lost independence, lost when Stalin and Hitler concocted their heinous plan to divide north-central Europe between themselves. Even through the fifty years of occupation, Estonians kept true to their culture and desire to be free again, and in 1991 they won that right in a peaceful revolution.
After several years of breakneck-paced reforms, often termed "shock therapy" for its no-holds-barred sudden turn to liberalism, Estonia soon regained economic health. The government embarked on a ultra-liberal platform of a flat (26%) income tax, no import duties, legally-mandated balanced budgets, and a currency pegged to the German Mark. Within a few years the tough reforms paid off, as Estonia became one of the leaders of the region in reforms. By 1997, Estonia was rewarded as the only Baltic country named as a front-runner to join the European Union (alongside the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovenia, as well as Cyprus).
Estonia's economic activities are clearly linked to the West, or rather, North. Trade was re-directed away from Russia as early as 1994, with a majority of trade activities linked to Sweden and Finland. The two northern neighbours, both having historic and cultural ties to Estonia (Sweden once ruled an empire in which Estonia was a significant part, while Finns are the closest ethnic kins to Estonians with a similar language), played an active role in investing in Estonia's economy. The millions of Finnish tourists in Estonia every year (mostly for day-trips, however) did bring a large infusion of funds into the economy, especially that of Tallinn's service sector.
The government of 41-year-old Prime Minister Mart Laar is among the most stable in all of central and east Europe. Laar was indeed the same 32-year-old PM back in 1992 that pushed Estonia onto its "shock therapy" that paid off so well. Many of the government's other leaders are all leaders and doers from the early reform period, seeing the fruits of their earlier accomplishments.
Tourism
Travelling to Estonia is especially easy by air or sea. Estonian Air flies directly from most major European cities, and its one of the best small airlines in Europe (especially that big leg room!). There are numerous ferries connecting both Stockholm (overnight) and Helsinki (about 3.5 hours) with Tallinn, as well as faster hydrofoils between Tallinn and Helsinki in the summer (journey time is only 90 minutes). There's even a popular helicopter service that will get you between the capitals in less than 20 minutes!
Most Europeans don't need visas to enter Estonia, nor do Americans (sorry, Canadians, you do -- long story). Most Tallinners speak English and generally understand four or five languages. There is also a plethora of hotels at all star levels, from the fanciest Radisson or Palace (soon to be classed as a Hilton) or the small cosy rooms with bargain prices.
Tallinn boasts a surprisingly large number of restaurants, bars and clubs for tourists and locals alike. You'll be shocked to see that Tallinn has become a mecca of sorts for ethnic cuisines. Where else can you walk down the street and choose between restaurants serving Hungarian gulyás, Spanish paella, authentic Argentinean grilled meats, a hearty Wiener Schnitzel, Bavarian Weißworst, Estonian verivorst, Peking duck, and pizza? You can find sushi, haggis (!), curry, souvlaki, tacos, and just about anything else in this small cosmopolitan town. There are tons of happening bars and clubs in Tallinn; check out the links page for more info.
A Brief History
For centuries Estonians have lived on the corner of the Baltic Sea. During the early part of the millennium, German crusaders and other forces -- ranging from Danes, Swedes, Poles, Lithuanians and Russians -- overtook the area where the Estonians live. After centuries of changing ownership, Estonians were united under the Swedish Empire in 1629. After losing the Great Northern War to the Russian Empire, this area was ceded to Russia and remained until the Russian Empire collapsed.
Estonia first became independent in 1918. During the turmoil of World War I, the Estonian military defeated both German and Russian forces and was free from military conflict by 1920. Soviet Russia and Estonia signed what is called the "birth certificate" of Estonia, the Tartu Peace Treaty, in which Russia "forever" renounced claims on Estonian lands. For the next 20 years the country prospered. Many people recount the days of the mid 1930's when Estonia was wealthier than Finland and on par with many other European states, such as Denmark.
However, before the start of World War II, the Nazis and Soviets signed a secret pact to divide the region between themselves -- Estonia was therefore occupied by foreign forces for the next half century. The Soviet military occupied Estonia in 1940 and within a year, executed and deported tens of thousands of innocent civilians. Then for the next few years, the Nazis took over Estonia and placed tens of thousands under forced labour and killed many as well. Finally, the Soviets returned in 1944 and held power until 1991. During that period, tens of thousands more were executed and deported while a larger amount of people from other parts of the USSR were forced to move to Estonia. The population balance shifted dramatically; in 1934, ethnic Estonians made up 88.2 per cent of the population but by 1989, it fell to 61.5 per cent.
In the late 1980's, through several protest movements, the people of Estonia began their journey to reclaim their lost independence. In 1989, during the 50th anniversary of the Nazi-Soviet pact that ended their freedom, some one million Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians joined hands and linked the three capital cities in a human chain: Tallinn (Estonia), Riga (Latvia) and Vilnius (Lithuania). At the time was also the beginning of the "Singing Revolution" where hundreds of thousands would literally sing away in a musical protest over their denied freedom. With the turmoil in Moscow in August 1991, Estonia formally re-established its independence and the world, led by Iceland, re-recognised Estonia's independence. Many would remember, that most countries in the world -- including the United States and Great Britain -- never recognised the occupation of Estonia and the Baltic states. That is why independent Estonia's diplomat from the 1930's -- Ernst Jaakson -- continued his diplomatic work in the US throughout the 50 year occupation.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to e-mail me. Please check out the Estonian links page for some of my personal favourites.
