Day 9 - 20 Years Later

Read full blog and photos here.

The day began quietly after a party the night before, but since I don’t drink from the night before, I was fresh and eager to do something while everyone else was still sleeping. I thought about who might be in Tartu and remembered Karin and her daughter Katri, who I last saw 2 years ago but lived with my dad’s cousin Toomas and Karin, 20 years ago. I reached out, and to my delight, Katri was free. I rallied Mum and Dad and we drove into town, parked at Kaubamaja, a place full of childhood memories, and walked to a café for breakfast.

The breakfast was wonderful, the coffee even better, and the conversation with Katri and Karin deeply meaningful. We even talked about the possibility of me working at the University of Tartu, how incredible would that be?

It happened to be Tartu Päev (Tartu Day), so the city was buzzing. We strolled down the pedestrian-only street lined with shops and market stalls. The main square, Raekoja Plats, was set up for concerts. I’ve walked that square countless times and seeing it brought a rush of nostalgia. Though our favourite käsitöö (handicraft) shop was closed, we did visit a small gift store I remembered fondly—still full of beautiful Estonian folk designs. I even gave them a business card, dreaming that one day my products might be on their shelves.

Karin gave us thoughtful gifts: chocolate made by a PhD student of my dad's cousin, and a fridge magnet of a painting of Katri from 1977, which was originally exchanged for five bags of coffee. That story was such a beautiful snapshot of Estonia’s past.

Later, Dad and I returned to town to drop off my business card and try an Estonian kebab (more like a burrito), it was surprisingly good! We enjoyed a concert in the square and then decided to visit the Estonian National Museum, mostly to browse the gift shop. Dad was fascinated by the museum’s architecture and engineering, and I was comparing prices to Tallinn’s stores.

We wrapped up the day with dinner at a trout farm nestled in a forested valley. The fish was freshly caught and cooked, and the place had a peaceful, almost magical vibe. Afterwards, we drove to Elva, where some of Mum’s family live. I have such sweet memories of the lake there with my grandmother, and returning at sunset was truly special.

The day was full of unexpected adventures and reconnections, and left me feeling grateful, inspired, and even more connected to my Estonian roots.