Weekend in Saaremaa and a short trip to Naissaar

We have started a lovely tradition over the last years - to visit an island in Estonia every summer. In 2013 it was Saaremaa (its southern part), in 2014 it was Hiiumaa (its northern part) and this year Saaremaa again but its northern part.

So Saaremaa it was this time.
Our little trip started from Soo street in Tallinn on the early morning of the 20th of July and to the team belonged me, Andres, Nööp and Nuumi and at 10.15 we were on a ferry that runs between Virtsu and Kuivastu.
First we drove a bit around on Saaremaa island, visited Pöide church and Kuressaare, and then we drove up to the north, to the place were we stayed for one night, Allika Villa. What a lovely place this was! A bit cold and wet though since it had been raining and the weather was not too warm either (around 17-18 degrees). In the evening we walked on the beach and as we proceeded along the coast, we found lots of forest strawberries. And also lots of ticks ("puuk" in Estonia) in the hairs of our dogs. The host later said that Leisi, the area where we stayed, is ranked as red area meaning that there are lots and lots of ticks. We counted at least 6.

Two rabbits in a forest, close to Hanilaid

Panga pank

Andres and Noomi at Panga pank

Ave and our dogs at Panga pank 

On day 2 the weather was a lot better and it was rather bitty to leave the lovely place we stayed at. Drove up to Panga pank, all the way along the coast close to Hanilaid and then headed to the south, to Mustjala and Kõrgessaare, and then to Kuressaare. In Kõrgessaare we found that it was the same place where we reached when we discovered the southern part of Saaremaa in 2013. Thus, a circle in Saaremaa we count as done now.
Back in Kuressaare, we checked in in the beloved GOSPA hotel and had a lovely dinner in Kuressaare Kuursaal. Then, a bit later we drove to Kuressaare Golf Club and I hit some balls in the range. Later we both went for a run, then to the sauna in the hotel and then it was time to relax in our room.

On day 3 Andres did some work in the hotel room in the morning while I enjoyed the sauna and pools again. It was a rainy day and we could not even have a proper walk with the dogs - it rained and rained and rained. Packed things, drove to Kuivastu and soon we were back on the continent again.



Naissaar on July 24

The trip to Naissaar was part of our cultural summer. A stand-up comedy like play was going to be played in Omari barn in Naissaar and that is why we traveled there. It was a half day event: at 5 pm we boarded a ferry at Lennusadam in Tallinn, arrived at Naissaar at 6.30 pm and the play started at 7.30 pm and then at 10.30 pm the ferry took us back to Tallinn.

The fun part of the event was the ferry trip to the island and back. It was rather windy, around 15 meters per second, and our vessel jumped and bumped a lot on the sea. It was fun, though. Once on the island, we were driven to the entertainment building, and the show - stand-up comedy - began.

Arrived home at about midnight and on the next day we felt rather unbalanced all day - had obviously spent too many hours on the ship last night. :)