Difference between revisions of "Estonia"

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<map lat='58.75680543225761' lng='25.740966796875' zoom='7' view='0' float='right' height='320' width='450'/>
 
<map lat='58.75680543225761' lng='25.740966796875' zoom='7' view='0' float='right' height='320' width='450'/>
'''Estonia''' is a small country that belongs to [[European Union]] and is a [[Schengen Agreement]] country.
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'''Estonia''' is a small country that belongs to [[European Union]] and is a [[Schengen Agreement]] country. Thumbing and waving carton with town name are both understandable ways for drivers. In case of bad weather poster is better seen from car.
 
__NOTOC__
 
__NOTOC__
 
Estonia is relatively a good country for hitch-hiking. The cars stop easily next to highways and small roads. Cars of the drivers that pick you up are various - trucks, old soviet cars, nice new cars and even tractors. Officially there is no difference if a truck driver or a car driver offers you a ride - everyone (except tractors) is allowed to go 90km/h. Except - in the summer on some roads it is allowed to go up to 110km/h. But unofficially - even truck drivers like speeding.
 
Estonia is relatively a good country for hitch-hiking. The cars stop easily next to highways and small roads. Cars of the drivers that pick you up are various - trucks, old soviet cars, nice new cars and even tractors. Officially there is no difference if a truck driver or a car driver offers you a ride - everyone (except tractors) is allowed to go 90km/h. Except - in the summer on some roads it is allowed to go up to 110km/h. But unofficially - even truck drivers like speeding.
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* [[Narva]], * [[Kohtla-Järve]], * [[Pärnu]] - inhabitants over 30.000
 
* [[Narva]], * [[Kohtla-Järve]], * [[Pärnu]] - inhabitants over 30.000
 
* [[Viljandi]], * [[Sillamäe]], * [[Rakvere]], * [[Maardu]], * [[Valga]], * [[Kuressaare]], * [[Võru]], * [[Jõhvi]], * [[Haapsalu]] - inhabitants over 10.000
 
* [[Viljandi]], * [[Sillamäe]], * [[Rakvere]], * [[Maardu]], * [[Valga]], * [[Kuressaare]], * [[Võru]], * [[Jõhvi]], * [[Haapsalu]] - inhabitants over 10.000
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==Crimes==
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Crimes related to hitch-hiking '''are not''' common in Estonia. But a hitch-hiker should be totally sober and avoid cars where is even drunken co-passenger.
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In 2005 a (drunken) guy who asked for a ride got beaten and robbed. In 2001 happened same thing, but the hitch-hiker was sober.
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In the end of November 2007 an hitch-hiker demanded driver to make stop for smoking, waving self-made pistol. Luckily everything went well.
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Also there have been situations where hitch-hiker stole valuables from back seat.
 +
In 2002 convicted two men who grabbed two girls (not hitch-hikers), put them in their car, took to their house and raped. The girls were lucky to escape later.
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The conclusion is - no matter is you're as driver or traveler - safety first. Better be late or sleep on mother Earth than get in untrustworthy vehicle.
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And be aware there you are all times. No "shorter cuts" are necessary.
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==Useful phrases==
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1) Tere - Hello!
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2) Kas ma saaksin... [town name]? - Could I get to...[town name]?
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3) Kui kaugele te lähete? - How far are you going?
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4) Palun näidake kaartil - Please show on map
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5) Palun peatuge siin - Please stop here
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6) Aitäh sõidu eest - Thanks for the ride
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7) Vabandust - Excuse me
  
 
[[Category:Estonia|*]]
 
[[Category:Estonia|*]]

Revision as of 20:51, 22 December 2007

<map lat='58.75680543225761' lng='25.740966796875' zoom='7' view='0' float='right' height='320' width='450'/> Estonia is a small country that belongs to European Union and is a Schengen Agreement country. Thumbing and waving carton with town name are both understandable ways for drivers. In case of bad weather poster is better seen from car.

Estonia is relatively a good country for hitch-hiking. The cars stop easily next to highways and small roads. Cars of the drivers that pick you up are various - trucks, old soviet cars, nice new cars and even tractors. Officially there is no difference if a truck driver or a car driver offers you a ride - everyone (except tractors) is allowed to go 90km/h. Except - in the summer on some roads it is allowed to go up to 110km/h. But unofficially - even truck drivers like speeding. hitch-hiking during night is quite impossible because there aren't many roads for traveling through country nor people there who have enough long ways they have to drive during night

Weather

Weather is a lot worse problem than small roads or lack of cars. Winters are cold, snow in midland (harder to walk to good spot), early darkening most time of year, rainy weather sometimes for long periods. "Thanks to" climate warming it is a lot easier to hitch-hike in winter nowadays. But i wouldn't advise trying it on smaller roads.

Food

Many people from rural places goes to work in bigger towns. That means you can get stuck easily because of night on highway next to turnaway from main road. And no gas station near. It is smart to keep some bread, water and chocolate n your bag. Water is almost everywhere drinkable from tap and wells. Even from lakes. The color of lake water might be brown but that is pure turf water.

People

In Estonia share their rides younger and older, Estonian and Russian origin people, men and women. Even taxi drivers on their way home (for free). You can expect driver to start conversation in Estonian or Russian. English is widely spoken amongst young and middle aged people. Experiences show that Russian-speaking drivers understand well Estonian even if they don't speak it. And Estonian drivers understand Russian same way. Estonians love foreign visitors and are very helpful showing the right direction and giving instructions.

Public transport

Not much money can be saved trying to hitch-hike instead of using public transport. But there are places that have lousy bus connection so hitch-hiking is great help then. Buses that depart from smaller and bigger towns can be found on [1]. Trains to towns: [2] Air planes: [3]

Only Tallinn is big enough you need public transport to get out of the city: [4].

Cities

Crimes

Crimes related to hitch-hiking are not common in Estonia. But a hitch-hiker should be totally sober and avoid cars where is even drunken co-passenger. In 2005 a (drunken) guy who asked for a ride got beaten and robbed. In 2001 happened same thing, but the hitch-hiker was sober. In the end of November 2007 an hitch-hiker demanded driver to make stop for smoking, waving self-made pistol. Luckily everything went well. Also there have been situations where hitch-hiker stole valuables from back seat. In 2002 convicted two men who grabbed two girls (not hitch-hikers), put them in their car, took to their house and raped. The girls were lucky to escape later. The conclusion is - no matter is you're as driver or traveler - safety first. Better be late or sleep on mother Earth than get in untrustworthy vehicle. And be aware there you are all times. No "shorter cuts" are necessary.

Useful phrases

1) Tere - Hello! 2) Kas ma saaksin... [town name]? - Could I get to...[town name]? 3) Kui kaugele te lähete? - How far are you going? 4) Palun näidake kaartil - Please show on map 5) Palun peatuge siin - Please stop here 6) Aitäh sõidu eest - Thanks for the ride 7) Vabandust - Excuse me


Find hitch-hiking spots on Hitchbase.org [5]