Euro Odyssey: Estonia’s Miami Beach

Day 81

For once we awoke early and enjoyed the sunrise while eating breakfast on the beach. All exercised out from the previous day we decided to head back to the mainland and continue our journey south. To get back to the ferry, we took the northern route, which was a sealed route instead of the central dirt track, which proved to be more of a comfortable drive and a little easier on the van.

Our desitination for the day was decided as the town of Parnu, which is known as the ‘Miami of Estonia’ with its golden sandy beach, leafy parks and historic lively town.

As Estonia is such a small country it took just over an hour to reach Parnu and we arrived just after midday.

As we were driving over the main bridge into town we saw a young teenager riding his bicycle on the sidewalk with a group of friends and for no obvious reason he had a massive stack right in front of us. Arms, legs and bicycle went everywhere, as he went over the handlebars and was driven into the concrete. We both grimaced at the sight and it was a helpless awkward moment as we drove past him unable to stop.

Driving a few laps around the town gave us a good idea on how everything was laid out and we settled for a wild camping spot at a free car park on the edge of town. We had lunch then road our bikes down to the beach through the old town and leafy streets.

The beach was wide and sandy stretching a far as the eye could see. Money had obviously been spent on it in recent years as it had a nice clean promenade with cafes, fountains and park benches.

One thing that we have noticed about the Baltic beaches is their desire to throw a heap of equipment onto them, including swings, gym equipment, volleyball nets and soccer goals, toilets, plus cleaver little changing booths. It’s all very functional and keeps one entertained, however, if you were looking for an untouched coastal scene then this is not the place.

We took a walk along the beach; I practiced a few cartwheels and took a dip in the ocean. The tide must have been out, as the water was so shallow that you could walk out 500m and it only just reached your thighs.

A fairly rusty cartwheel from Claire - in need of a bit of work.

The rest of the afternoon was taken at a very leisurely pace relaxing over a few drinks at a seaside bar then having a go on reverse seesaw, which one launches the other person in the air with their arms rather than their bottom.