Saaremaa Island

Francois and I planned a two day get away here, Estonia's largest island which is a big get away for many Swedes, Fins and Estonians. The island is thickly covered with spruce and pine trees and juniper groves, there are tiny villages that have stoop the passage of time and look unchanged. Lovely lighthouses and wind mills dot the island so there is always lots to see. Not to mention miles of pristine beaches where you can walk for hours, alone. No peaceful.

We rented a small flat from Kristina, a kind older women who is a native of Finland and has called Kuressaare home for over 15 years. The flat was spotless and Kristina provide us with advice on the local sights, she even brought us a home made blueberry pie (my favourite incase someone was wondering what to bake for me) on our second night. Yummm.

Kuressaare was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. It's a picturesque town with peaceful leafy streets lined with cafes and a magnificent castle rising up in the centre of it all. The castle is the best preserved medieval castle in the Baltics. There has been a castle at this location since 1260, however, the one pictured here was built in the 14th century. This Gothic fortress has so much fun to visit, I felt one again drawn back to Pillars of the Earth.

We spent the rest of our time walking the deserted beaches and parks, exploring the coast and visiting the lighthouse.

An interesting fact, during Russian rule, the island was off limits to everyone as it was the sight of a military base, for this reason, the island seems unchanged by time.