Saaremaa 2008
                  an exciting island

It has become a tradition for us to visit the beautiful Estonian island Saaremaa. We have a lot there and every year we go there to see it and dream of our own country farm. Last year we had Brenda and Spot with us on the trip and this time we took Mia and Vesla. It was interesting trip for them too. People were so nice and came to talk to us and made lot of pictures of Mia and Vesla. The pyrenean mountain dog is rare in Estonia and seeing this beautiful large white dog gets a lot of attraction.

Little bit about Saaremaa, it is the largest island of Estonia, territory of 2922 km2 (6,5% of Estonian territory), main town is Kuressaare with exciting sights, population 39 231 (2,6% of Estonian population). More information about Saaremaa www.saaremaa.ee

We will make you to a littel tour of Saaremaa with our pictures ...

On the boat:
The trip with the ferry from Virtsu harbor to Kuivastu harbor takes 30 minutes

Dogs are not allowed inside so we were sitting outside                                  enjoyable sea wind!
and enjoying the sea and attention from the people

                                                                  Mia investigating the sea

          Kuivastu harbor is getting closer                              Passing ferry - departure every full hour from both harbours

    Mart and Vesla - gone with the wind! :)                                                  Mart, Vesla and Mia

Our first visit was KAALI METEORITE CRATERS
The structure of the craters and the distribution of meteoritic material suggest that the meteorite fell from the east-northeast at an angle of 45 deg. The initial mass of the meteorite could have been 400 to 10 000 tons, mass at impact was 20 to 80 tons, initial velocity upon entering the atmosphere was 15 to 45 kilometers per second, velocity at impact ranged from 10 to 20 kilometers per second. In the main crater there is a natural body of water that is known as Lake Kaali. Its diameter, ranging from 30 to 60 meters, depends on the water level. Its depth is one to six meters. The lake is fed by ground water and precipitation. The bottom sediment layers are about six meters thick and up to 4 000 years old. More infomation about this exciting place HERE

                  
                        Vesla and Mart                                                                      me and Mia

              Kaali guesthouse, museum and gift shop                                          Souvenirs

Our lot in Saaremaa, Mõisaküla
It is called the Rõõmula farm but was burned down long time ago - when the Soviet Union invaded Estonia. It is in a very private place, 4,5 hectares and close to the sea and Mõntu harbor. From Mõntu are ferryes to Ventspils, Latvia.

                    Our pasture and forest                                                 Mia and Vesla playing in the pasture

                         I love it here!                                                             Off we go to our next sight!

THE SÕRVE PENINSULA
Sõrve peninsula is 32 kilometers long and ten kilometers wide at its widest spot. At the very tip of the peninsula there is a lighthouse. The present one wa built in 1958 to 1960. The first lighthouse at the spot was constructed in the middle of the 17th century. The large foursquare stone lighthouse built in 1770 lasted until World War II, when it was destroyed in the battles between the Soviets and the Germans. A temporary wooden lighthouse was built in 1945. The present concrete lighthouse dates to 1960. More information about this bautiful place HERE

                  Boats and equipment                                                                     Vesla and Mart

KURESSAARE - the main town of Saaremaa
Our way to Kuressaare we spoted a dog agility training field. So made a stop and let Vesla and Mia to look around there
                           
                                                                       Vesla and Mia

KURESSAARE BISHOPRIC CASTLE
Among the medieval castles in the Baltic countries this is the one that has survived best.  The castle was built of chiselled dolomite blocks in the late 14th century. More information about this castle HERE

                                                                        Kuressaare castle
   

                   Can you imagine a pyrenean moutain dog  guarding  the castle of Kuressaare????

                                                                                                                        Stabels

Some beautiful houses in Kuressaare...
Places of interest in Kuressaare

             Bye, bye Saaremaa - see you next year!
            

I hope you enjoyed our small presentation of Saaremaa throw our eyes! Want to visit the island yourself? How to get there?  Here is a list of transportations options to Saaremaa:

By sea from the main land and Latvia - www.laevakompanii.ee or www.slkferries.ee
By air from Tallinn and  Stockhom - www.avies.ee , www.skyways.se , www.estonain-air.com
By bus - www.bussireisid.ee