Tallinn highlights. And the egoists.

• Architecture-wise, the Old Town is a combination of Brasov+ Cluj + Sighisoara centres (Transylvanian cities), including a mirror image of the Taylor’s Bastion from Cluj (despite my guide’s insistence that Tallinn is the only city with a Bastion in its very centre). Much better preserved, though. In a nutshell, a most modern medieval town. Plus a seaside. Lovely, lovely (we wouldn’t want it off the UNESCO World Heritage list, oh no)!

• Free wireless everywhere in the city. No kidding. I think it was in a single spot in the Old Town where my Ipod could not trace any free network. Admirable!

• Power to the youth: Estonian newspapers are being sold by kids; the Government minister who addressed the EALE ’09 audience was in his early thirties (possibly reason why he apologised a zillion times for having to leave as soon as done with his talk…); a/the Central Bank governor (gave the shortest and smartest address I have ever heard from EALE organizers/hosts/sponsors… ) was in his early forties etc. Something other countries in Eastern Europe should learn from?…

• Egoist was absolutely fantastic. And, well… egoistic… from all points of view (ex post non-egoistic complaints/regrets/remorses from real Swedes and Taiwanese were obviously ignored :-)…). Anyhow, the Foie Gras Escoffier was the second best I ever had, while the Estonian Elk Noisette paired with a 2006 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-de-Pape (which some believe to outrank even the legendary 2005 version!) was sheer perfection. A total bargain at that price!

• And, of course, once more congrats to Juanna for winning this year’s YLE EALE prize. Wishing at the same time that she stayed a pure “egoist”. Potential others seem to complain all the time :-).

PS. And yeah…, there’ve been already two weeks since I am back: had to fight off a stubborn Estonian flu acquired under the most unclear circumstances.