Riga, Latvia

Riga is a city that I can see myself visiting over and over again and never tiring of it. It was just beautiful – the buildings, the parks, the people. We spent so many hours just walking around the city, and there was so much to see and do. We went through the market and had some street food, checked out some cafés and pubs. All in all, it was a very fulfilling trip.

One thing that I absolutely loved about Riga was the architecture. All of the buildings were beautifully made, and I often found myself craning my neck to take it all in. On our free walking tour, we learned a bit about the architectural style Art Nouveau. Riga is famous for it, and our guide told us that 1/3 of the city is made of Art Nouveau buildings. That, as well as the classical the classical style, made for breathtaking sights everywhere we went.

Day at the Museum

The other day my flat-mate and I visited the University of Tartu Museum. Even before entering the museum, I was already enraptured by the architecture of the building. The crumbling arches gave the building an ancient look, almost like ruins.

There were so many fascinating exhibits, from sculptures of Muses to animal skeletons; they even had an exhibit of a giraffe! Unfortunately, right as I was going to take a picture, I was startled by a strange noise and then a voice snapping, “This is my library!” I almost ran out of the museum, but I laughed once I realized it was a loop that was playing. Even with the scare, I think that this exhibition, Morgenstern Hall, was my favorite. It told the story of the University of Tartu. It just was really beautiful, and there was a lot of interactive features as well. I could have spent hours on that floor alone.

Morgenstern Hall

Trying Tasty Tartu

During the month of February, Tartu does an event called Tasty Tartu, where you can get a 3-course meal for only ₤20 – ₤25. It’s available at over a dozen participating restaurants, each one having their own unique menu. I was lucky enough to try it out on the very last day of Tasty Tartu, February 28th. The restaurant we chose was Kolm Tilli, which is known for street food. The special menu, however, is a different story, and featured bao with duck, cannelloni, and an éclair for dessert.

Honestly, I was a bit unsure about ordering from the special menu because these were all foods that I had never tried before. Once I saw the food, though, I already knew it was going to be delicious; everything exceeded my expectations. I didn’t think I would be a fan of duck, but the bao ended up being my favorite. However, all three dishes were so good, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there. The restaurant was really nice, with a comfy cozy interior. I definitely have to go back another day to try their regular menu.

Scavenger Hunting

Last weekend was quite eventful, as I spent my Saturday doing a group scavenger hunt around the city. It wasn’t as simple as I expected, and instead we had to do tasks at each point. These tasks ranged from solving riddles, to naming Estonian dishes, to acting out scenes. Overall, it was a great experience that allowed me to meet new people and learn more about Tartu in a fun way.

After completing the scavenger hunt, we went to a nice café called Krempel. It was very cozy, especially after having spent a couple hours traversing Tartu in freezing weather (and slipping on ice). Scanning the menu, I saw a dish called kama, which was described as a “national Estonian food,” and I knew I had to try it. I didn’t quite know what to expect, but the ingredients sounded tasty so I just went for it. Unfortunately, it wasn’t my cup of tea; it was pretty sour, and I didn’t enjoy the flavor. I felt bad about it, but the waiter didn’t seem surprised at all and found it funny. I was recommended to try it prepared a different way, which is sweeter and easier to digest. Actually, I was told that I ordered the one unpopular dish at Krempel. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the café experience!

Getting to Know Tartu

The architecture of University of Tartu is absolutely amazing!

I’ve only been in Estonia for a little over a week, and it has already made a great impression on me. Based on my first week here, I think that my study abroad experience is going to be incredible. During the few days before the start of classes, I was able to check out the city and meet lots of new people. I didn’t expect to do so much during my first week, but I’ve already been to a pub crawl, an ice skating rink, and several shops. Tartu has so much to offer – I don’t think I’ll be getting bored at any point during the semester. My favorite part, though, has been meeting other students from all over the world.

Not only is there plenty to do in Tartu, but the city itself is just beautiful. I’ve really enjoyed observing the architecture of the city. I also love that there’s been a permanent layer of snow upon the ground, although the ice on the walkways isn’t as appreciated. It’s quite different from Virginia, but a welcome change.

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Flying for the First Time

Tomorrow marks a new chapter in my life: I will be leaving to study abroad at University of Tartu, located in Tartu, Estonia. Studying abroad is a dream I’ve always had, yet I didn’t really expect it to happen. As I mentally prepare myself for my flight, a million feelings rush through me. I’m feeling hopeful, anxious, excited, and everything in between. This is the farthest I’ve been from home; I’ve never been out of the country, nor have I been on an airplane. I’ve watched dozens of travel videos so I can know what to expect and hopefully breathe a little easier. Although I’m a bit nervous about flying such a long distance, I’m more than ready to get to Tartu. I know that once I’m there and settled in, I can stop worrying and start focusing on this new and exciting place for me to explore.

Exploration of Norfolk

During my visit to Norfolk, I decided to focus on its role as an artistic hub. We visited the “Neon District,” which contained many different opportunities to enjoy the arts. There were music festivals, museums, art galleries, theatres, and murals adorning the streets. The first place I visited was an art festival at the d’Art center. It was free for the community, and it drew me in because of the lively atmosphere. There were food, drinks, music, and even a clown for entertainment. The artwork was very diverse, including paintings, drawings, clay pieces, and even glass. Looking at a pamphlet, a map of Norfolk showed nearly a hundred other places where I could explore the arts. I noticed that quite a few of the pieces of artwork portrayed societal problems, my favorite being “My First School Lesson” by Tony Armadillo. Directly across from the d’Art center was the Chrysler Museum of Glass. Many of the areas displaying art were free, allowing the artists’ messages to be heard by the community. Musicians, painters, sculptors, and artists of all types have the opportunity to take what they have created and use it to draw people’s attention to a certain problem or idea, and I found that a lot of the art that I viewed did just that. Although Norfolk was full of tall buildings and parking garages, there was a certain charm that I didn’t expect to find in such a busy city. In one of the art galleries, I spoke to a woman who explained to me the importance of art, whether it is music or a drawing class. I wholeheartedly agreed, and it is my personal opinion that appreciation of the arts is very important, and one of the reasons why Norfolk is such a popular spot among tourists.

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