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Estonia

1,532 bytes added, 13:30, 13 October 2020
Nomadwiki & Trashwiki
|capital = [[Tallinn]]
|pop = 1,340,602
|BW = FI|currency = Estonian kroon Euro (EEKEUR)|hitch = {{good}}<rating country='ee' />
}}
'''Estonia''' is a small country that is a member of the [[European Union]] and is a [[Schengen Agreement]] country. Thumbing and waving a sign with your destination town are both understandable to the drivers ways of [[hitchhiking]] in this country. In case of a bad weather it is recommended to use a sign since it is better seen from a car.
Estonia is relatively a good country for hitch-hiking. The cars (can) stop easily both on the highways and small roads. You can hitch trucks, old Soviet cars, new neat personal 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 up to 90km/h, although during the summer period the speed limit on some main roads is lifted up to 110 km/h. However, over-speeding is usual in this country, and so getting a personal car usually is a better choice than traveling with a truck in case you value your time a lot.
[[Hitchhiking at night]] can be much less successful due to the usually low night traffic on the roads in Estonia. Since Estonia is not a very good transit country one shouldn't hope for a truck either. '''''Be aware that if you happen to stand on a dark road at night you must (by law) wear a light reflector so that the drivers can see you'''''. Or better yet - reflector vest - too many people have left their lives on the roads during dark autumn evenings!(Be careful with wearing a vest though as many drivers might think that you are a police officer measuring the speed of cars and will not stop.)
== Weather ==
== Eating on the road ==
Although Estonia is quite a small country, you might get stuck on its roads for the night since the traffic is usually low on smaller roads, and for that reason it would be smart to have some food with you - there is hardly any [[rest area|service area]] on the roads and you won't be able to buy food unless you are in some town.
You can drink water from the tap and wells almost anywhere in Estonia. Some say that even lakes contain pure enough water to drink.
Some useful links are:
* [http://bussireisid.ee/index.html?MENU=&KEEL=en Intercity buses]
* [http://www.edel.ee/ Trains] [http://www.elektriraudtee.ee/ Trains]
* [http://www.tallinn-airport.ee/index.php?page=162 Air travel]
== Carpooling ==
[[File:Paldiski liftausta 2007-06-03.jpg|thumb|right|250px]]
There is a national carpooling website in Estonia that gives a driver the opportunity to search for passengers who would be able to share the cost of a planned ride; and vice versus. See the website http://www.kyytkyydiga.euee/ (in Estonian only). Using it is quite possible for foreign travelers, too: you can scroll-search from your departure point (''kust'') to a destination (''kuhu'') with a date and # of passengers. On a main page you can see most recent offers. The page isn't very popular, though, since many practice hitchhiking in Estonia anyway.
Similar systems exists also in [[Germany]], [[Belgium]] and some other countries.
== Regions ==
* [[Pärnu County|Pärnumaa]]* ''add more?''[[Harjumaa]]* [[Raplamaa]]* [[Lääne-Virumaa]]* [[Ida-Virumaa]]* [[Jõgevamaa]]* [[Järvamaa]]* [[Hiiumaa]]* [[Saaremaa]]* [[Läänemaa]]* [[Viljandimaa]]* [[Võrumaa]]* [[Valgamaa]]* [[Põlvamaa]]* [[Tartumaa]] == Border crossings ==* towards [[Latvia]] ** [[Ainaži-Ikla border crossing|Ainaži-Ikla]] on [[Tallinn]]-[[Pärnu]]-[[Riga]] road** [[Valka-Valga border crossing|Valka-Valga]] on [[Tartu]]-[[Valga]]-[[Valka]]-[[Riga]] road** and several smaller ones* towards [[Russia]]** [[Narva-Ivangorod border crossing|Narva-Ivangorod]] on [[Tallinn]]-[[Narva]]-[[Ivangorod]]-[[St. Petersburg]] road.** [[Koidula-Pechory border crossing|Koidula-Pechory]] on a smaller road between Värska and Pechory (Печоры, Petseri).** [[Luhamaa-Kashino border crossing|Luhamaa-Kashino]] on the [[Riga]]-[[Pskov]]-[[St. Petersburg]] road which passes through a small corner of South-East Estonia. For crossing the border to Russia from Estonia (not the other way around), drivers can register on [http://www.estonianborder.eu estonianborder.eu] and pay a small fee to reserve a time at any border crossing. The system significantly decreases queues and waiting times.
== Crimes ==
* There are known several stories when hitch-hikers stole valuables from a back seat.
Basically, be careful and avoid situations when you feel that it can bring you troubles. No matter if you're a driver or a traveler – [[hitchhiker's safety|safety]] first. Better sleep on a mother Earth than get into untrustworthy vehicle.
Please also be (more or less) aware of where are you going and where you are, especially if you are a [[women hitchhiking|female hitchhiker]]. Trust your intuition when it comes to "shortcuts".
== Useful phrases ==
* '''Tere''' – Hello!
* '''Palun''' – Please
* '''Tänan!''' – Thank you!
* '''Kas ma saaksin... [town name]?''' – Could I get a ride to...[town name]?
* '''Kui kaugele te lähete?''' – How far are you going?
* [http://www.ikaart.net Map of Estonia]
[[wikipedia:Estonia]]
 
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