romania vs estonia

estonia vs romania sau invers :) e bine, nu sunt foarte multe diferente intre cele doua tari... sau? sa vedem...

in estonia oamenii - sunt nitel mai reci, mai distanti, seamana din acest punct de vedere cu nordicii. ai impresia ca fiecare isi vede de treaba lui. o data ce te apropii de ei sunt tare de treaba, prietenosi, amabili deschisi. sunt respectosi si seriosi in tot ceea ce fac si spun. este foarte greu sa obtii de la un estonian statutul de prieten, este greu in sensul ca ai mult de lucru pana a ajunge acolo... da' odata dobandit chiar inseamna ceva. comparativ, in romania, iesi cu o persoana necunoscuta la un pahar de apa plata si dupa 5 minute sunteti cei mai buni "prieteni" nu-i asa? dupa mine "prietenia" dureaza sau este atat de solida cat timpul sau efortul depus pentru a o construi. asemanare sau diferenta?

clima in estonia... brrrrrrrrrr... e 9 martie... nu am simtit deloc inceputul primaverii... daca s-a aratat nitel soarele a fost o intamplare cu -20 de grade la exterior. noroc ca in interior, suflet calduros. nu stau estonienii rau cu caldura in case... cel putin nu pe unde am umblat eu. da' am auzit ca si in romania, cam aceleasi temperaturi, aceleasi vremuri... brrrrrrrr... Ice Age'ul e pe noi... apucati si puneti ghinda la pastrare (pentru cei ce au vazut filmul Ice Age, pentru ceilalti: e un film ce merita vazut :) ) cele mai scazute temperaturi din iarna asta in tartu -34 de grade - record personal.

mancarea si bautura - aproape la fel... multe salate, multe sosuri, nu sunt traditionale, da' sunt bune. mancarea traditionala de craciun: piftie (tremuriciu' de la noi), varza acra gatita (un fel de varza calita de la noi, chiar seamana), carne de porc, carnati in sange (sangeretele din romania - poate fara usturoi) prajituri. nimic deosebit sau foarte diferit. au tzuica si slanina da' nu beau si mananca de astea cat noi (asa ca noroc ca mi-am dus de acasa). daca prefera vinurile, le prefera pe cele dulci. am intalnit aici cidru (cider in engleza, siider in estona) e bautura irlandeza - asta am aflat ieri (ce zici bogdi?). e combinatie intre bere si vin spumos cu 4,7% alcool... suc de-a dreptu'. normal ca estonienii beau si vodca, mie nu imi place asa ca nu am prea incercat si daca s-a intamplat numai cu suc... mai au un fel de lichior destul de puternic (40% alcool): vana tallinn pe care nu l-am incercat inca... da' mai am timp.

saptamana trecuta, in 28 februarie a fost ziua nationala a saniusului, cu mic cu mare ne-am pornit pe dealurile orasului (munti de-a dreptu - cel mai inalt varf baltic e in estonia: muntele (sau dealul - acelasi cuvant in estona pentru munte si deal) numit Ou 318,10m inaltime) sa ne dam cu ceva ce aluneca pe zapada... sanii, pungi de plastic, colaci de **u. in aceasta zi numita in estona "vastlapaev"se zice ca isi rupe iarna spinarea... ha? adica se rupe iarna in doua si nici ca o ia la sanatoasa ci mai sta inca pe atat pe meleaguri estoniene... sper ca e doar poveste altfel va trebui sa iau in mai uscatorul de par si sa topesc nitica zapada pentru a vedea un fir de iarba in estonia. de "vastlapaev" se mananca supa de mazare. un fel de mazare frecata cu carne afumata. are consistenta macarii de mazare de la noi, numa ca noi pastram mazarea intreaga. cel putin asa face mama :) si desert: un fel de savarine - aluatul e mai putin dulce, mai mult sarat, neinsiropat, doar cu frisca.

1 martie... am avut noroc cu frate-mio si cu prietenii de acasa care mi-au trimis cate un martisor ca altfel as fi uitat complet de aceasta zi minunata "de primavara"...

8 martie... se recunoaste ca e ziua internationala a femeii dar nu se intampla nimic deosebit... se impart bomboane si flori... daca e ceva. am iesit cu toate romancele din tartu la restaurant - pardon, la unul din cele mai faine din tartu: wilde (cunoscut si ca irish pub). m-am simtit tare bine.

cam atat pe azi... va mai tin la curent 220V ca atat e in prize in zona ;)

is strange 'cause i don't know what else to write, i mean i know but there are so many things, i don't know how to start.

estonia vs. romania or romania vs. estonia :) well i cannot say that there are so many differences between the 2 countries... or? let's see...

people - in estonia are little colder, distant, nordic attitude - this might be the first impression. you have the feeling that everybody minds their own business. once you get closer to them they are very nice, friendly, kind and opened. are respectfull and serious in everything they say or do. it is difficult to get a "friend" status from an estonian, is difficult because you really have to work to get it, to build for it... but once you get it really means something. in romania, you go out with a totally unknown person, just to drink a glass of simple water and after that you're his "best friend". isn't it so? the friendship in my oppinion lasts as much, or is as strong as it taken you to build it.

weather - brrrrrrrrrrrr... is 9th of march... i haven't felt at all the spring... if the sun came out these days it was accidentally and it brought -20 degrees outside. luckyly that inside the spirit is warm. no problems with central heating... at least in the places i visited. i heard that in romania were almost same temperatures... well maybe 10 degrees warmer, but that's not much... brrrrrrrrrrrrr... Ice Ace is coming so take care of your acom (for the ones who saw the movie, for the others: you have to see it! :) ) the lowest temperatures this winter in tartu -34 degrees - personal record

food and drink - almost the same... lots of salads, sauces, not traditionals, but very good ones. christmas traditional food: meat jelly (piftie, tremurici in romanian), sour cabbage (similar with our chilled cabbage, really similar), pork meat, blood sausages (sangerete in romania - maybe without garlic), and cakes. nothing special or different. they have plum brandy and bacon but don't "use" them as much as in romania (i was lucky to bring some from home). if the wine is preffered, is the sweet one. i discovered here the cider is an alcoholic drink (4,7 alcohol), is something between beer and sweet sparkling wine... almost like juice. normally, estonians drink vodka but i don't like it so i didn't really drank it. i tryed it only with juice... they also have some liqueur, quite strong one 40% alcohol named vana tallinn... i haven't tried it yet... but i still have time.

last week on 28th of february it was national sleigh-riding day, so everybody went on tartu hills (i mean mountains - the highest baltic peak is in estonia: mountain (or hill - is the same word in estonian for both of them: mägi) Egg 318,10m altitude) to sleigh-ride with sledges, or plastic bags, or toilet thing (i don't know the term in english). during this day, called in estonian "vastlapaev" it is said that the winter breaks its spine... ha? the winter breaks in two it doesn't mean that it goes away, it means that is only the middle of winter... i hope is only a story otherwise i will have to take the hair drier and melt the snow to see one grass blade in estonia. on this day "vastlapaev"estonians eat pea soup with some smoked meat. similar to romanian pea dish. similar to what my mom cooks. very good! :) for dessert: estonians have something similar with rum baba (savarina), the dough is less sweet and it doesn't have syrup, only with whipped cream.

1st of march... i was lucky with my brother and romanian friends who remembered me about this beautiful "spring" day...

8 of march... international women's day, nothig special happens... maybe some sweets and flowers sharing... nice. i went out with romanian girls to a restaurant... one of the best in tartu: wilde pub (a.k.a. irish pub). i had a great time.

that's all for today... stay online! ;)