Day 8: Going Wilde and Toying About

A relatively quiet day. I type this as I'm sitting in a park near the dorms near a statue of a bearded guy sitting with a book in his lap. He looks a little like Santa Claus in a robe. A nice place to reflect and get away from the rigors of adventuring through Tartu.

Today, the lecture topic, from the same lecturer as yesterday, Eiki Berg, traveled down the road of energy and border issues with Russia. As with most issues with Russia, there are many, many complications. The problem is that Estonia gets 100% of its natural gas from Russia. The other Baltic states have similar energy obligations. When you have those sorts of dependences with someone as unpredictable and odd as Russia, alternatives need to be found. The problem: where? Russia is the only accessible source at this time.

Then there's the weirdness with the Baltic Sea Gas Pipeline that is being proposed. The Nordic countries don't like the idea, but they've been outvoted by the rest of the EU countries. It seems a little uneven considering the building of it doesn't affect the countries voting for it. Yet another questionable circumstance of the EU influence.

The next part of the lecture dwelt with the border issues between southeast Estonia and Russia. This was interluded with political comics that give a toonish perspective on various parts of the issue. As it stands, it doesn't seem that the border will ever be ratified in the near future. The ambiguity is undesired, but its complicated for either side to back down, so a stalemate will have to do for now.

For lunch, we got lured to the Edward Wilde Cafe and Restaurant, where I ordered the tasty sounding "Fried Ravioli." And they were tasty. Just nice meat pockets o' fried dough. Complete with bread and, lo and behold, Butter. Though there has been bread served with most meals, Butter has not. It might be the American heart beating in my soul, but I've missed butter to put on my bread at a restaurant. (And its only been a week away. I'm a sad soul.) Even without the butter, the bread was still some of the best of the trip.

After posing on the Oscar Wilde sitting outside on a bench, we proceeded to wander forth to the KGB Cells Museum. It told of all the transgressions that Estonians had to face from the Russians and Germans in the 40s, and then onward from the Soviet control all the way until the 80s. From those sent to Siberia to the ones held in the cells we were shown. This just got more dark as we were told about the conditions and treatments they were subjected too. Obliviously the most depressing location we've visited so far. But I can see why such a museum needs to be there, to enlighten people to the dark past and to avoid similar horrible darkness in the future.

Finally, we wandered off back to old town. Off to the Artisan's House, where we saw wares from cloths and ribbons, to glass and fur. An impressive layout of some great pieces of art and a look at the people in the process of making them. Across the street, we caved and went to the Toy Museum. I think that images of teddy bears and Barbies shall be dancing through my daydreams for days afterwards...against my will. Fun place to wander about and see all those toys from the past that I would have wished I could have played with as a kid.

Only one more day to wander about Tartu.