Day 2: The Mistaken Kroon

The day started groggily. Nothing done the previous evening except going to bed at 24.00. The lingering effect of flights and a full day of events was a bogging experience. Odd to sleep with the lingering etherally glow through the windows the entire night. It shall take some getting used to. Perhaps it was the huge meal the night before, complete with a leg of lamb and a scone with a sweet/sour half of an apple inside and an epic drunken swordfight. It was a great meal at the Peppersack with succulent food and medieval atmosphere.

The first part of the day was taken up by a session on e-Government and the wired nature of Estonian polictics and society at the University of Tallinn. Estonia has taken leaps and bounds after the fall of the Soviet Union to get in pace technology-wise with the rest of the world. At least 80% of Estonians are Internet users and its evident WiFi sign are sprinkled everywhere in the city.

In the break we headed to the streets, stopping at a cafe for a quick lunch, Where I grabbed a shot of coffee, a strudel filled with cream cheese and slight bit of apple, and also a surprisingly tasty roll with hamburger meat sprinkled throughout.

Afterwards, we went forth to the University for the second presentation, an epic four-hour session on Russian Foreign Policy. The presentation had its slow points , but when he got into the element, and started talking about the true nature of Russian policies and who the real Putin was, it really became an intriguing talk. He was obviously bias (with good reason) but Mr. Mihkelson had extensive knowledge on the subject mixed with his strong opinions about Russian issues. Was a long presentation, but well worth the time.

Then the final event of the day, the city tour about Tallinn, led by a charming lady with a skip in her step and a flame of excitment in her voice. It was a pleasure after the day of sitting in the classroom to get a casual session about the untold stories about Tallinn history and locations. From Tomas the weather vane to the cell that killed a prisoner's mother. She had some great stories and gave us a nice jaunt through the Old Town of Tallinn.

Finally the day settled off with a casual meal setup by the Seigels.

And there was the odd event where I confused a cashier by trying to pay for a 19.90 kroon chocolate bar with a 20 kroon. She wouldn't accept it and this confused me immensely until I just gave up and left without any chocolate. I only realized later that there is no 20 kroon and I had been trying to buy the chocolate with a 20 euro. *slaps forehead* I had been trying to buy a less than $2 purchase with a $25 equivalent.

Continuing forth. Since its the Parliament and and Art Museum and other random events tomorrow, I assume it shall be a more reflective entry then.