April 2019
This trip was part of my first "euro tour" for my birthday, during which I visited:
Helsinki - Tallinn - Tartu - Riga - Jurmala - Vilnius - Warsaw
First thing you should know: back then I thought travel stories were best told through video. That's not true, but you can watch the video here:
From the first seconds, Tartu seemed really provincial
I haven't felt so much like I was in Kaluga as I did in Tartu
As it happened, the whole trip was planned for Tartu.
On the internet I found a guy who did family tree analysis and lived here. Payment could be made either by transfer or cash. I chose cash.
I have Estonian ancestors, and with good circumstances I could get Estonian citizenship by blood, so it was decided to search for proof.
Didn't work out. My ancestors, like me, loved to hop on a tractor and go, they didn't care about citizenships, homelands, and patriotism. Well, they have something to be proud of in me.
I was disappointed that I didn't become a European for free, but was happy with what an awesome journey I'd arranged, holding in my hands a report that I'm just like Harry Potter - a half-blood.
And Tartu is remembered for its wooden houses, panel buildings, neighborhood stores and general Kaluga-ness. The most homey city of the entire trip.
