Estonian clown Julia Masli

If you enjoy a bit of comedy then you might be interested in the work of Julia Masli. Born in Tallinn in 1995 Masli is an award winning clown now based in London. Last year Masli won several awards at the Edinburgh Finge Festival and Edinburgh Comedy Awards. Julia Masli is currently in Australia performing her 'Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha' show.

 

 

It is interesting to note that Masli's boyfriend is Norwegian comedian Viggo Venn, winner of last year's  Britain's Got Talent. Masli and Venn have collaborated on several projects together that can be watched on YouTube.

 

April 14 is 'künnipäev' ploughing day in Estonia

According to the old Estonian folk calendar, April 14 is considered künnipäev / ploughing day. Traditionally on this day farmers wake up early as possible and start checking that all the farming equipment is in working order and ready for use. Then they would take a load of manure to the field and tend to the soil in hope of a good harvest.

Every year in Estonia there is an annual ploughing championship. The next one is scheduled to take place in September. There is also a World Ploughing Championship and this year it will be held in Tartu to mark the 150th anniversary of Estonia's first ploughing competition. More information about the event can be found here.

 

Estonian culture is awesome!

Estonia's famous heart-shape lake

Spring is a great time to head outdoors and enjoy some of Estonia's beautiful nature trails.  In Viljandi the trail at Lake Parika Väikejärv is famous for its heart-shaped bog lake. The trail runs through the forest and rises to the brink of the bog, where you can stop for a relaxing picnic or go for a rejuvenating swim in the bog lake. The circular trail goes around the lake, passing bog pools and places that are rich in berries. What a lovely way to spend the day!

The Black River Tavern Haaberst Manor

The oldest building in Mustjõgi was probably the tavern building, which was located along the Paldiski road dating back to the Middle Ages. The tavern site and farm was already called Swartle Bäck in 1585. The same name was found on a 1696 map. This work from 1836 provides a nice artist's impression of the tavern.

 

Paldiski maantee. Mustjõe kõrts. Haabersti mõis. Tallinn 1836.

Photo Flashback: Tallinn Old Town

In the 17th century this small modest stone house in Tallinn was built near the Church of the Holy Spirit for commercial purposes. The building consisted of a storeroom on the first floor and an attic warehouse. Over the years the building belonged to the wealthy mayors of Tallinn, the town pharmacist Johann Burchart and the guild of goldsmiths. Today it houses a quaint giftshop just off from the Town Square.

                                               Then and now. 1920s vs 1925 vs 2022.

Estonia among the top freest nations in the world

Estonia ranks fifth in the world in the Human Freedom Index 2023. Switzerland took the top spot followed by New Zealand, Denmark and Ireland. Estonia once again performed well in the rankings, maintaining its position in the top five.

The Human Freedom Index Report ranks 165 countries/territories, representing 98.8% of the world’s population, across a broad range of indicators (86 distinct indicators in 2023).

    Rule of law
    Security and safety
    Movement
    Religion
    Association, assembly, and civil society
    Expression and information
    Relationships
    Size of government
    Legal system and property rights
    Sound money
    Freedom to trade internationally
    Regulation