|
|
|
Hight's Sabbatical Pictures |
Part 40: June 2008 - Saaremaa Pt I |
Muhu is connected by a bridge to the large island of Saaremaa. One of
our first stops was to see the Kaali meteorite crater. A meteorite fell
there a long time ago, making an impressive impression on the landscape. |
Paula and I at the Kaali crater. The water level changes with the
season. Apparently a fortification was once built around the rim of the
crater, but none of that remains. |
The largest city on the island is the town of Kuresaare, which boasts a
well-preserved medieval castle. It was raining when we visited the
castle, but it the fortifications are mostly intact, including a large
moat, which you can partly see here. |
A picture of the approach to the *inner* keep, complete with functioning
portcullis. Inside the keep is an amazing museum of the history of the
island. |
Two campaigns were fought on the island during the second world war,
both of which are well-chronicled in the museum. Of interest to me is
how blunt the now-free Estonians are about their recent history
vis-a-vis the former Soviet Union. The display pictured above about life
on the island after the war is indicative. |
During our visit there was also a song-festival going on. Estonians love
to sing (they even have a chorus-equivalent of 'American idol' on
prime-time television - and I have to say they are pretty good). The
national connection with singing is deepened by the fact that Estonia
used song festivals as a platform to push for their re-independence from
the Soviet Union. In fact, the revolution that brought about
independence in 1991 is known as the 'Singing Revolution.' Unlike the
other Baltic states, Estonia achieved its independence without bloodshed
and with surprisingly little violence. |
|
|
|
Return to sabbatical main
page.
|
