Kiitos, aitah, paldies

We got off the boat in Tallinn last night at around 9pm or 10pm and headed east, away from Tallinn. Direction: Narva (the Estonian town on the western Russian border). We'd make a little dent into the driving we'd have to do the following day before getting into Russia.

The roads were quiet and we didn't see a soul for miles. It was dark and kilometre after kilometre of snowy pine forest. Eerie and long. We'd be given the promise of a petrol station, only to find we've continued an hour further down the road with no facilities in sight. Hungry and edging on tired, we stopped as soon as we saw the next petrol station.

There were two pumps on a very icy forecourt. There was one girl in the shop, lone working in a way that would never be possible in the UK. The shop was locked so we had to ask her to get the bits we needed, like we do at home. Except for this petrol station had sod all but energy drinks and junk food. A snickers bar, packet of crisps and some cracker snacks it is!

We drove a little further down the road, spotted a parked up lorry and decided to camp on the side of the road in the van. I got the double bed, Tony had the single. It was cosy as hell and the electric heater kept us as snug as bugs in rugs.

This morning, I'm woken to the sound of a mischievous Tony calling out:

"Stace."

"Stacey."

"Stacey."

"Mmmm...?" a stirring Stace.

"Are you awake?"

"Well I am NOW!"

6:30am and we were up, busying ourselves with tidying the van and rearranging suitcases. 

We'd camped in the middle of a beautiful nature reserve and I took a morning walk (for a piddle - TMI?) down a fir and pine-lined snowy road. It was so peaceful and majestic. I'm convinced I saw bear pawprints but Tony tells me it must've been a fox or something. Let me know what you think!

We hit the road, more than ready for a nice beefy breakfast. We were starving after crisps for tea! We'd seen a bistro the night before but it was closed. We tried to find our way back to the main road at around 8:30am only to get a little lost and find ourselves back by the bistro again, that had - very conveniently - opened at 9am so in we went.

IT WAS MAGICAL! A wooden structure built in 1802 that housed a trove of taxidermed chickens, crows and ducks(?!). It was like a bierkeller and the lady was wearing what I can only imagine to be traditional dress - a white blouse under a burnt orange crisscross dress. I made a note. It was called Viitna Korts (we were in Viitna) and I could really imagine the place with sweat dripping off the walls, awash with merry swaying tankards.<3

Her English was weak and our Estonian was weaker (I'd learned kiitos in Finland for thank you and this lady taught me aitah for thank you in Estonian). She had some food in hot plates and we scoffed down a chicken schnitzel for breakfast with some cheesy sauce and scrumptious garlic potatoes. Right - on to Narva.

We got to the Russian border around midday. It was confusing and we discussed plans. So many things had been against us and we considered the limitations around cancelled flights and my single entry visa. We agreed on another alternative plan.

We got on the road and headed south for Latvia. We'll get to Russia by hook or by crook. But we'll do it in the most considered way when we've mitigated all risks and have a planned out.

Tony did an awesome job of driving all day long and we hit Valga at the Latvian border around 5:30pm early evening.

Yesterday we woke up in one country and slept in another. Maybe we should start a tradition. So new mission: find somewhere to stay in Latvia!

We found a shopping centre in Valga (which is considered much like Somerset, with inbreds, so I'm told!) and jumped on the wifi. Hotel booked and on we headed for a night of luxury.

Tonight has been delicious. We checked in, met the hotel African Grey (Charlie), listened to his calls and mimicks of cutlery screeching on plates(!!), enjoyed exquisite hotel cuisine before the kitchen closed at 9pm and are now going to get a restful night before trying one last time to get into Russia tomorrow.

Gastronomical delight of soft cheese stuffed Gordal olives, mango sauce drizzles on avocado and tiger prawn salad. Mmm mmm mmmmm!