Island Profiles

Estonian cuisine has been formed and influenced by the various powers that have controlled  its territory.  The Scandinavian countries, Germany, Poland and Russia have all influenced what goes on the table in Estonia and its islands. In Estonian cuisine, meat and potatoes dominate, but fish is very prevalent on the islands and coastal regions.  Pork is the most common meat and one of the most popular main dishes is composed of pork, sauerkraut, apples, onions and barley. The Estonians use…

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Vormsi Vormsi is the fourth largest of the Estonian islands and is located between the mainland and Hiiumaa. It is called Ormsö in Swedish and Worms in German, but translates to ‘Snake Island’.  I haven’t been able to find out exactly why, but I am sure that this would not be such a popular holiday destination if it were like the Snake Island off the coast of Sao Paolo, Brazil, to which travel is forbidden. Vormsi and its 14 villages…

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Hiiumaa is Estonia’s second largest island and lies to the north of Saaremaa and Muhu. This heavily forested island is as unspoiled as it gets. The fresh pine scented air, sea breezes and overall serenity continue to lure many visitors to the island and have helped to establish its reputation as a retreat for artists and musicians. Hiiumaa’s history goes back to 4,000 BC when the island was mainly populated by nomadic Germanic tribes.  The Swedes took over in 1300…

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Saaremaa is the largest island in the Estonian Archipelago. It is connected to the smaller island of Muhu by a 1.5 mile causeway. The islands’ milder climate and strategic location are two of the reasons that these islands have been seized and fought over by so many powers. If you have been reading some of the history posts on this website, you will no doubt know that this is common as regards islands. History There have been inhabitants on Saaremaa…

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This month we remain in Europe, exploring the quiet and serenity of the Estonian islands. The islands of Saaremaa, Hiiumaa, Muhu, Vormsi and hundreds of smaller islands are located in the eastern Baltic Sea off the west coast of Estonia. Wide expanses of juniper forest, windmills, lighthouses and quaint farmhouses characterize these islands. An idyllic escape from the stresses of our modern world, crime and pollution are virtually nonexistent. Instead, fresh, pine-scented air, ocean breezes, rural unspoiled landscapes and friendly…

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