Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Swager on December 01, 2002, 07:51:59 AM

Title: Estonia
Post by: Swager on December 01, 2002, 07:51:59 AM

Looks like Swagger will be going on tour.  My job will lead me to Estonia in Feburary next year.  I hope to do alittle traveling to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Myself and the other instructor also want to travel to Finland and Sweden on some weekends.  Probably take the ferry across the Bearing Sea from Tallinn.  Would love to ski in Finland.  Anyone have any experience in that area?  Thanks!

Swag

Title: Estonia
Post by: Staga on December 01, 2002, 09:16:50 AM

Heya Swager, are you interested about cross-country or slalom?

From Tallinn it's very short trip to Helsinki, about 3,5hours with ordinary cruiser/ferry and there are several ships on that route.
There's also couple 35knot catamarans doing the trip in about 1,5hours.
Same company has ships sailing between Tallinn and Stockholm.

Also Copterline is flying between Tallinn and Helsinki once per hour from morning to late evening.

http://www.tallink.ee/
http://www.tallink.fi/en/index.html
http://www.copterline.com/eng/

Title: Estonia
Post by: Curval on December 01, 2002, 09:34:46 AM

IMHO

Downhill skiing = fun
Cross Country skiing = work

Swagger, what kind of instructor are you?

Title: Estonia
Post by: Swager on December 01, 2002, 10:01:42 AM

Thanks Staga!  :)

Downhill!   I am a OK skier!  Basically I will not get killed on a black diamond.  I may get hurt, but not killed!  :)

Ask Sour about my spill at Gore Mountain about 2 years ago!  Not pretty!  :)

Title: Estonia
Post by: Harppa on December 01, 2002, 10:51:55 AM

Southern Finland is quite flat for slalom, but if you take a trip further North , there is  some nice slopes. Most finnish hills are small anyway, unless you prefer cross-country skiing. Then they're high enough ;)

Title: Estonia
Post by: Swager on December 01, 2002, 12:18:17 PM

Harppa,


Looks like you are to be my main contact man!!  Its a dirty job but someone has to do it!!  :)

Oh, I also cross-country.  I've only hurt myself twice doing that!

:)

Title: Estonia
Post by: Boroda on December 01, 2002, 12:56:19 PM

Well, the only Estonian flightsim fan we have is Lilija. A beautiful girl  from Narva.

If you want to go to Leningrad - pleasae beware. Leningrad is only one night by train from Moscow, and I feel like going to see a fellow flightsim maniac ;)

My ICQ and mail are in my profile. I'll crosspost your message at  Russian-speaking boards.

My phone is - (095) 109-6453

095 is moscow.

Title: Estonia
Post by: whgates3 on December 02, 2002, 01:17:45 AM

finland is the ski-jumping capitol of the world, no?
that seems like it could be fun

Title: Estonia
Post by: Swag Abroad on February 28, 2003, 02:47:48 PM

Well, I have been in Estonia for about 10 days.  Things here are nice.  People are wonderful and friendly.

Live in a town called Rakvere.  Quiet little town.  Ride to the radar site is about 45 minutes.  Much of the road is snow covered but they allow studs on the wheels of the autos.

Food and beer is very good and cheap so I should stay healthy.  :)

Radar is running great.

I miss flying AH but I'll be back soon enough.

Swager

Title: Estonia
Post by: Makarov9 on February 28, 2003, 04:01:39 PM

Hey Swagger!

Glad things are going well on your trip. Maybe one day you can mention who you're working for. :)

Be safe and have fun!

Title: Estonia
Post by: Raubvogel on February 28, 2003, 04:16:35 PM

You left out the most important part: What do the women look like?!

Title: Estonia
Post by: Swag Abroad on February 28, 2003, 06:30:59 PM

Well Raub,  great question!

I will admit the women of Estonia are impressive!  Just walking around Tallinn is a sure way of getting a neck sprain.  It is pretty incredible.  I went to a nightclub here in Rakvere and figured about 90% of them were friendly, attractive and in pretty good shape.  IMHO it rivals what you would see in the states by a pretty good margin.

Mind you, I am a married man so I just look and hang out with the other guys from my work.  Two of these guys danced with multiples of women and mingled quite well.  The language is difficult.  I have learned a few phrases, but I stuggle with them even though I practice alot.

I learned:  Hello,  Thank You,  Welcome,  Good Morning, Please, How are you, Yes, No, fine,  good.

It is nice that most Estonian people you meet have some command of Inglise (English) so at least you can communicate on a limited basis.

So in a 1 to 10 scale in both the quanity and quality of women here I would rate a 8.5 to 9.  That is a visual score only.  If you desire a score on their other qualities you will have to get that somewhere else for I'm just a guilty bystander.  :)

We (myself and the other instructor) are going to Tallin on the 8th and then to Helsinki, Finland on the 14th to visit Harppa (who flies AH).  I am so looking forward to visiting Finland.  Harppa has our weekend all planned out.  

Hello Mak!  How are you doing?  I thought you knew I work for Lockheed Martin.  Yea, I am over here to train the Estonian Air Force in the proper Operations and Maintenance of their new long-range radar.  The Estonian Air Force got some great people over here.  Very smart and friendly people.  It is a great assignment but I do miss my family. Alot!  It is hard to leave a wonderful wife and a 20 month old little girl.  

Take Care

Swag

Title: Estonia
Post by: Swag Abroad on March 12, 2003, 07:17:28 AM

Well, Im going to Finland this week.  Taking the ole ferry over.  Should be much fun.  We have been looking forward to it for awhile.

Wish me luck, I hope I dont need it.  Im pretty sure you can get hurt Cross Country skiing.

:)

Title: Estonia
Post by: Saintaw on March 12, 2003, 07:33:14 AM

Sounds like you're having fun Swaggie, nightclub bystander heh ? ... ;)

Title: Estonia
Post by: Harppa on March 12, 2003, 10:26:41 AM

I'll be gentle with you guys ;)

You won't suffer much, the end comes quick...
Heheh, will be fun seeing two newbies loaded up with FPO, on skis :D

Cu soon !! :)