Нийтэлсэн: 26.07.2019
For decades, Don Curry could be described as a lover of traditional camping holidays. This allowed him to keep the cost of accommodation within a reasonable range, and living directly under the starry sky, separated only by a thin tent canvas, has its charm. The disadvantage was the need for appropriate camping equipment, which always had to be carried with you, and also the location of most campsites on the outskirts of the places worth visiting. Surprisingly, Tallinn had made an exception in this regard, as in 2005 Don Curry found a small private campsite in an industrial wasteland somewhere between the ferry terminal from Helsinki and the Old Town, which was more geared towards motorhomes, but also had a limited range of earthy places for classic tents.
It was in this city that Don Curry left his well-equipped holiday apartment today, hid the key again in the code-protected box on the bike lock, and drove to the Estonian Open Air Museum, which he had already visited back then. At least the surroundings of the museum had changed dramatically. Numerous high-rise buildings now "enriched" the outskirts of Tallinn, almost reaching the idyllic museum. On the grounds itself, you couldn't notice anything because it was still embedded in an ancient forest landscape, which excellently protected it from the noise of the city.
Most farms and other buildings were "inhabited" by one or two people in traditional costume - depending on the region from which the house originally came. They told the Estonian visitors in detail about the classic way of life of their ancestors. Don Curry preferred to enjoy the simple yet skillful architecture of these buildings, their scenic setting, and the wonderfully retrospective ambiance of the entire museum.
The old inn in the middle of the site was also lively. At the end of his visit, Don Curry used the lunchtime he had started for an extensive meal of typical Estonian delicacies. He ordered the daily menu, which consisted of a hearty sorrel soup, a noodle dish with chicken in cream sauce, and a berry pudding in milk. He also chose a Kama drink and a dark Saku beer again - all together for €14 and more than satisfying.
Fortified like this, he could now make his way to the western coast of Estonia. The ferry to the island of Muhu seemed to be waiting for him. As soon as he bought the ticket, he could already drive into the large ship.
The journey lasted 25 minutes and was supposed to take him to one of the most idyllic islands in the Baltic Sea.
In the central supermarket of the island, he bought drinks and cinnamon rolls for breakfast for the next two days, and at the street food stand Muhurito, famous for the best (and only!) burritos on the small island, he ordered a chicken and a beef burrito with a spiciness level of 3 (out of a maximum of 5). Even though the cashier looked skeptical, the spiciness turned out to be just right for Don Curry - noticeable, but far from his South Indian experiences. But he didn't eat the burritos right away; he took them with him to his very special accommodation.
Don Curry had actually decided to go camping again for 2 nights, but in its modern version: glamping, which stands for "glamorous camping" or luxury camping. In fact, each glamping night was more expensive than any Russian hotel on his trip. Curiously, he drove to the small village of Nomkülla in the far north of Muhu and looked for the entrance to the campsite. But there was no sign in sight. Now he tried the booking app on his smartphone, which actually showed a route to the booked destination. But when Don Curry followed the driving instructions, he ended up in the middle of a private farmyard, with no sign of a campsite. Just as he was about to turn around at the farmyard, a man came out of the door. Don Curry asked him if he knew where "Muhu Glamping" could be found. "Very precisely," the man replied. "He was the owner, and Don Curry should just follow him with his car." The man got into his own car and drove about 3 km on narrow field, meadow, and forest paths that Don Curry would never have voluntarily used, until he was near the sea.
Here he asked Don Curry to get out and follow him on foot. And then Don Curry saw his destination: It was not a campsite, it was a single tent!
It stood on a wooden platform with several seating areas and a table: In the tent itself awaited a wide double bed, a fireplace with enough firewood, a chest with kitchen utensils, towels, and warm blankets.
In front of the tent, there was also a campfire place with a kettle grill. 10 m away, there was a large shed that contained a supply of drinking and washing water and a chemical toilet. And then there was the sea - about 20 meters away, but always visible and audible. Don Curry would have this wonderful paradise at the end of the world - at least at the end of the island of Muhu - all to himself for 48 hours!
Of course, there was no electricity, no internet - but instead the sound of the sea, the chirping of cicadas, and the abundant scent of the surrounding wild herbs and flowers. Actually, that was priceless! And when it got quite cool in this starry night, Don Curry simply lit the fireplace, which soon spread a cozy warmth throughout the tent - glamping at its finest...