15 Oct Thoughts on Tallinn so far

It's been a little over two months since I arrived in [Tallinn, Estonia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallinn). When I stepped foot out of Tallinn Airport (Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport), I was still feeling the exhausting effects of a 20 hour flight, yet the first thing that came to my mind was: Wow, it's cold. Bear in mind I arrived in the middle of August, so technically, it was still summer! A few days later, I settled into a tiny apartment in Mustamäe. Thereafter, I began to notice other aspects of life in Estonia. For example, I was waiting for the light to turn green at a pedestrian crossing one day when I noticed a car slowing down. The driver then stopped before the crosswalk and motioned for me to go ahead. I was surprised to say the least! In Taiwan, drivers never stop for pedestrians, least of all if the light is green. But in Tallinn, drivers often stop for pedestrians - even when pedestrians don't have right of way! Another interesting fact about Estonian drivers is that I have almost never seen one run a red light. Buses in Tallinn are another thing of wonder. If you live in Tallinn and are a registered resident, you can ride the buses for free! Buses in Tallinn come on a strict schedule. All timetables are [online](http://soiduplaan.tallinn.ee/#bus/map/en), and in my experience, buses always come either right on time or 1-2 minutes late. You can plan your day easily with the convenience of free and on-time public transportation. The people of Tallinn are very nice and friendly. Many resources online say that Estonians are reserved and quiet, but I find that most people are easy enough to get along with. All in all, I really like Tallinn. It has everything a big city should have, without the crowdedness of a busy city like Taipei. I have yet to experience the subzero temperatures of the harsh winter here, though I hope it doesn't change my opinion of this place!

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