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Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
By Peter Lee
Quite different from the common sense assumption similar to one's knowledge of dark age, the three Baltics states are some
of the most poetic and imaginative places in the world - places where folk tales come alive, mysteries surround and co-exist
with modern thoughts. Little touch by the "pollution of modern commerce", the three states remain an ideal escapade for
hectic city dwellers as retreat to medieval and surrealistic imagination.
Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is known to be the least untouched city which the city itself is a huge museum of
medieval architecture and culture, especially during festive. Travellers to Tallinn often warn one another to be
extraordinarily careful when walking along the little lanes in Tallinn in winter. The medieval architectures are featured
with sharp ends down the roof. Winter in Tallinn is especially cold and water quickly forms sharp little ice drips which at
times mercilessly drop down like a descending dagger regardless of passers-by.
Tallinn features a number of interesting museums that are not to be missed. There is a Fire Fighting Museum standing in
the centre of the city. It features probably the most morbid displays you could ever seen - a scorched TV, charred and melted
telephone and gruesome photos of charred bodies, anything they could dig out of major fire incidents. The more interesting
part is the exhibit of fire fighting technologies of the medieval age and a series of doll houses that demonstrate 27 ways to
cause fire accident. The museum was carefully designed to ensure you will never play with fire again once you step out of the
museum.
Health Museum (Tervishoiumuuseum) brings you enormous fun while exploring human anatomy made up of giant sculptures. It is
a wonder whether you should call it art or science. There is a soft sculpture giant colon where kids could enjoy in it the
whole day, and, can you imagine standing in front of a human cell sculpture that's supposed to be magnified 100,000 times of
its real relative? The museum is more likely a demonstration of true humour of Estonians. If you have ever wondered how
people in 1283 A.C. lived at night, the Energy Museum (Energeetika Muuseum)
is where you could find the answer. At least, you
get to know that energy production and supply is not something available only since nineteenth century.
Riga, the capital of Latvia, is best known as a city of mystery by travellers of medieval age where werewolves and flying
serpents ruled the night sky and residences practised voluntary curfews. However, today, werewolves are replaced by
businessmen and executives seeking relaxation in Riga's rich nightlife districts and flying serpents are international
airlines which are increasingly busy flying across Riga's night sky.
Yet, if you are the romantic sort, Riga's architectures still offer good millieu for your mysterious city. Latvians are
people whose proud of their rich cultural tradition which is unfortunately little known in the world. Visit Krisjanis Barons
Memorial Museum (Krisjana Barona memorialais muzejs) for a sumptuous cultural feast. This revered man collected and codified
more than 1,000,000 folk songs by walking around the country and recorded down for future generations. This museum is housed
in the Baron's former apartment and is little changed from his time. His photographs and the many manuscripts are featured
and explanations available in English.
As a country rich in natural endeavours, Latvians have their own ways to express nature creatively and this is best found
in their Museum of Nature (Dabas muzejs). Visit the entomology exhibit and learn how a 19cm jump for a flea is the equivalent
of a human jumping over Dome Cathedral. Check out creepy critters from the cretaceous and the best collection of fossilised
fish in the former USSR. Most of the contents are presented with good humour and imagination as is little found in serious
musuem of its kind. Whilst, for the fanatics of automobiles, Riga is also not disappointing. Motor Museum (Rigas motormuzejs)
features an eclectic collection of cars, from vintage Rolls Royces, BMWs and Mercedes' to Soviet mechanical wonders. Don't
miss the wax figures of Stalin in his armoured ZIS 115 and Brezhnev at the wheel of his crashed Rolls Royce.
Summer is the best time in Lithuania, famous for its refreshing Lithuania beer. Take a cool sip and stroll through the
cobblestone streets of Vilnius.
Somehow, a little unfortunate is Lithuania's constant association with war due to its strategic location. The major
features of the city's treasure are two war related museums. KGB Museum (Museum of Genocide Victims - Genocido Auku Muziejus)
displays the wound of a horrifying part of modern history. It is located at former KGB building in Vilnius. Thousands of
Lithuanians were interrogated here and deported to Siberia and never returned. There is a room here where there were innocent
prisoners been executed almost daily until 1963. How haunted is it at night? For you to find out if you dare! Artillery
Bastion (Basteja) was built in 17th century to defend against its aggressive neighbours. It was restored in the 60s and 70s
and opened to public in 1987. There is a long, stone-walled stairway that leads down to the fortifications where medieval
armour and cannons are. It is probably one of the best place to posit yourself in the war zone of medieval age. But, be
careful, don't slip back in time! No SOS available!
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