Hello Europe!

     As many of you know, Will and I have been spending the last few weeks in Estonia and Latvia to do some ski racing. Well, I've been doing the racing while Will makes my skis fly.

Tallinn City Walls (Photo: Google)

     To begin our trip we flew from Boston to Tallinn, Estonia. Tallinn is an ancient city about 80km south across the baltic sea from Finland. As we roamed the city it was easy to tell that it had been here longer than we would care to guess. Parts of the ancient wall around the city are still intact as you can see in this picture. Its a very beautiful place, and I would advise everyone to go there for a visit.
     We roamed the city and ate at a medieval restaurant in the town square. The scene included waiters and waitresses in amazing Robin Hood-esque costumes, live flute and drum music, and the decor to play the part. I had a wild boar entree with berry jams, a root vegetable salad, and spelt. 'Twas a quite delicious.
     From Tallinn we drove to Madona, Latvia, a five hour drive and competed in two Scandinavian Cup races there. Latvia is an interesting and rural post-soviet occupied country. Everyone there seems to buy only what they need and a garden seems an essential to every property. I think we could take these ideals to heart in our own lives.
     After the races were over we drove North to Albu, Estonia (about 60km from Tallinn) for the next two races. The drive was beautiful, winding through country much like what we see in Northern Maine. Lots of small farms, large fields, beautiful stone barns (not many of those in Maine, though). Its a place I could live.

Sprinting - Albu, Est. (Photo: Will Sweetser)

     The races in Albu were eye opening to say the least. I'm used to getting top 25 or so in most domestic races, but a 63rd, 58th, and others made me realize just how fast the best ski. Now some of the athletes at these races were World Cup skiers for their nations, but it made me realize how far I have yet to go on my journey as a ski racer.