A river runs through it

After two days wandering around town, I can give you a general idea of what the layout of Tartu is like. For starters, there is a river that runs through it -- The Emajogi, to be more precise. The central area of town where the university is sits adjacent to the river with some nice parks for strolling on either side. I live only a five minute walk from the river and a ten minute walk from the university; I am sure I will appreciate this more once the weather turns cold! Yesterday was brilliantly sunny and warm, so I went for a run in the evening and discovered a trail system alongside the river that continues for 82 kilometres (needless to say, I didn't run that far) and has these interesting totem-pole-like wooden carvings alongside he path. I'll have to ask someone about those later. Makes me wish I had a bike! The countryside is pretty and green; perhaps these verdant hues stand out so strongly to me because of the dry, drought-ridden, and smoky summer we had back in Wyoming this year. Today, I awoke to a slow, drizzling rain once again, but I think I kind of like the rain. Now, I just need to purchase an umbrella!


I arrived on Friday, September 1, a big Estonian holiday called the day of wisdom. Really, it's the first day of a new school year and the streets were full of children walking to school in suits and dresses for their opening ceremonies. Afterwards, parents take their children out to lunch and there are special events to celebrate the day. There was a concert on the main square that I stopped to listen to for a bit. As an educator, I like this idea of a celebration of learning and can appreciate the need to make those reticent steps back to the classroom after summer vacation feel like more of a celebration than a funeral march.

The downtown area is full of the university's buildings, but there are also many museums and such. Tartu is known as the "City of Good Thoughts," and it is easy to imagine why. The central areas are clean and pleasant and clearly dominated by the presence of the university. A local guide is advertising something called the "Adolphus Code," a self-guided mystery walking tour through the heart of Tartu. I plan to follow the route later this week and I'll let you in on its secrets.

Across the river is an open air market full of fall harvest fare -- I managed to buy some cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and squash (all very tasty!).

If you'd like to know more about Tartu, you can check out some of the following sites:
Tartu in Your Pocket http://www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/tartu/en/
Tartu City's Home Page http://www.tartu.ee/?lang_id=2