From Estonia to Edinburgh

There is something magic about Tallinn. My last visit was in winter 2008 and now that the air was fresh with autumn, I found it much easier to explore and enjoy. Estonia was one of the countries that became a battleground for the converging forces of Nazis and Soviets in WW2. However, the Old Town remains charming and atmospheric. In an unexpected twist, I ended up staying in a hostel called The Flying Kiwi Backpackers, run by a lovely New Zealand girl called Jen. It was located right in the Old Town, just down from the location of the following photo. I found a tree that I loved, who despite being quite healthy, has been trampled upon daily by hordes of photo-snapping tourists. I approached with a little more respect than most, but found its branches quite conducive to relaxation and creativity, so I availed myself on a number of occasions.
The following two days involved a night spent in Tartu, Estonia's university city and a night in Riga, the capital of Latvia (below). I had intended to go to Lithuania the next day, but plans were changed on me and I decided that I was tired of surviving and drifting from city to city. After a number of weeks it does wear down one's emotional reserves. So I booked an expensive flight with Norwegian Air to Oslo (despite paying more than I have ever paid for such a short flight, I couldn't even get water on the plane and the seats might as well have been designed to exacerbate back pain). But Peter awaited in Oslo, with the relaxation and security that comes from staying with a friend, and it was just what I craved. Norway is, however, unbelievably expensive and it curtailed my experience slightly. On the morning of my departure it cost me 30 Euros to get to the airport, but the journey was worthwhile regardless of any cost, for it brought me to Edinburgh, my city of choice if I ever lived in the UK again. More to come on this magical place...