Our last day in the capital of Estonia started with the second practice of the trip, in the Tallinn Exhibition Hall. This must have made the team feel like stars because the practice was attended by an audience of numerous guests who were all constantly filming and taking pictures of us working hard throughout practice. Harry Huge was there, wearing an old school NWU basketball jersey that had the name Plainsmen instead of Prairie Wolves on it. Also, Kalle Tenno, Jaak Lipmaa, Larry Mohr, and Juri Karemae, who were all Harry's guests at the dinner on Friday night were there. After practice, we had a little shooting contest - Harry had challenged me to a free throw contest months ago. He also chose Nick Dinan to compete against him. Each of us had to shoot 10 free throws. After a close competition, youth won against experience. However, Harry left with his head held high and ended his run with five straight makes. I hope I will be able to even hit the rim from the line at his age...
After practice it was time to head back to the hotel for a quick shower and our first meal in Tallinn outside the hotel. We headed to a local pub called St. Patricks. Even though they expected us, they were unfortunately quite slow to take orders and get everyone's food done. It took us over two hours to get our meals. However, everyone enjoyed the good Estonian meals very much and left happy. Having had to describe Estonian food to my US friends countless times over the past two years, I asked Andy how he would describe it. He said it is very 'basic and simple, seems like people have just put together what they have and are used to eating it. But it is not bad.' I would have to agree - Estonian cuisine is simple and healthy, but not always necessarily very rich in taste. I'm glad everyone seems to be enjoying the foods that I am used to eating every day, though.
After our longest meal of the trip, the taxis were waiting for us and we were headed for a tour of Tallinn, guided by Harry's friend Kalle Tenno. Our first stop was the Park of Kadriorg where we saw the Estonian National Museum of Art and a museum that Peter the Great, the famous czar of Russia had built as a summer house for his wife to Estonia. What Kadriorg is famous for, though, is the Presidential Palace, where the current President of Estonia has his offices and also lives during his term. It was amusing to see the team surprised that there was no fence around the Palace and everyone could walk almost to the front door, where only two security guards were guarding the house. Right by the Park was the Song Festival Grounds. This is the place were the peaceful Singing Revolution happened that helped Estonia gain its independence from the Soviet Union. The team recognized the place from the movie we had watched as a team the previous school year.
Next up was the tour of Old Town. We were dropped off at the house of the Parliament, saw a Russian Orthodox Church, and a platform with a great view of the Old Town. I heard many teammates say that they have never seen nothing like the Old Town before and they love it. I had not been up there in a few years and was amazed at the amazing view, too. I realized how everyone appreciates my home town so much, and I really do not notice it in my every day life. We discussed how everyone seems to take granted the place where they live. I was happy to show the team my home, but also discovered the place where I was born and raised as much as everyone else.
After the tour, most guys were getting tired from the long day, and it was time to get dinner and head back to the hotel. Everyone needed a good nights sleep because we are leaving Tallinn for Rakvere tomorrow to play our first game of three in Estonia. We managed to see and do a lot in Tallinn, but there is still a lot ahead of us on our trip. I can't wait to see what the team thinks of the sauna that we have planned in a few days, the ultimate Estonian culture experience!
For now, good night. Stay tuned!
-Sass Karemae
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