Don Curry and the Sparrow Gang

Don Curry has come face to face with many animals: whether Komodo dragons, Galapagos tortoises, leopards, tigers, African or Asian elephants. These have always been awe-inspiring encounters that left an impression. But today, unexpectedly, in the middle of the city, there was going to be an animal encounter that somehow overshadowed all of that.

The day had started quite peacefully. Don Curry enjoyed the comforts of his vacation rental, he had bought 2 pastries at the supermarket yesterday for a double breakfast, and he was reading his travel guides about Tallinn. Only around noon did he start his daily program, beginning with lunch.

Not far from his vacation rental, the recommended Indian restaurant 'Chakra' has established itself. The terrace turned out to be completely empty, so Don Curry asked if it was even open. This question was eagerly confirmed, and Don Curry took one of the many free tables, ordered a Mulligatawny soup and a Tikka Hara Masala with coriander-base, rice, and naan bread, along with a draft Saku beer. The beer arrived quite quickly, the freshly prepared dishes took some time, but the wait was worth it: the chicken soup, enriched with some lemon juice, and the pleasantly spicy curry tasted incredibly good. Especially the very greenish curry could have been served in India.

While enjoying his culinary delights, Don Curry observed several sparrows that briefly appeared near his table. He decided to sprinkle the crumbs of the naan bread under the table after the meal so that the birds could also get something. However, the sparrows had a completely different plan. As extremely well-behaved birds, they waited until Don Curry showed clear signs of being full. Only then did they begin to attack his table, to be precise, the flat dish with the rice. Within seconds, a sparrow would appear, snatch a grain of rice, and disappear before Don Curry could even react. Others worked with a different strategy: they tried to take as many grains of rice as possible into their little beaks, losing almost everything during their quick escape, which would then land on the table. Immediately, accomplices would pounce on these scattered white grains and clean the table in no time. Almost every 10 seconds, another attack on the rice bowl followed. At first, Don Curry tried to defend his rice with shooing hand movements, but with the audacious and much too fast superiority of the organized birds, he clearly came off worse. He could only surrender and leave the field, or rather, the rice bowl, to the feathered robbers. And then it became clear to Don Curry why the thievish action of the sparrows took place so hectically and concertedly: the waiter was already coming and clearing away all the leftovers.

Don Curry was full, some of the little birds probably were too - at least he hoped so; in the meantime, the restaurant had attracted several other guests who hopefully also ordered something with rice.

He leisurely strolled through the old town of Tallinn, which has now been very well restored, even if there are still scaffolding erected on some churches or city gates. However, the mass influx of tourists, who block each other's way at the most popular spots, was new for him. Tallinn is also a destination for RyanAir - and even interesting for Chinese tourists.

After an extensive tour, Don Curry returned to his vacation rental in the late afternoon, but not without taking advantage of the special location of his apartment. He was actually living above the ice cream parlor 'The Gelato Sisters', so he went there and got himself a cup of ice cream with 3 scoops and enjoyed it comfortably in his temporary four walls.

After a long break, he set off through the old town again in the evening, went to the most renowned street food stand in Tallinn, and returned to his apartment with 2 hot dogs and fries. Without Heino and other excesses, without hungry sparrows and other envious beings, he could now enjoy his delicious dinner with a can of beer in peace. That's also what a vacation is about...