When it comes to visiting a country in Europe, only a relative few around the world might have thought about traveling in Estonia. Understandably, the name itself does not lend to its popularity. Hence, it is only natural that a lot of people could hardly shape a positive opinion - until they get to know some of the facts that make Estonia a very intriguing place.
Wicked Sports
One of the 5 incredible things about Estonia is that this country has two outrageous sports one may possibly think of - 'swinging' and 'wife-carrying.' The latter sounds funny enough, but they take such couple competition very seriously that they staged a series of national championships from 1998 to 2008, where wives locked their limbs around their husbands and hang on to them upside down (like a backpack) all the way to the finish line.
The best way to describe the sport called 'kiiking' is to think of repeatedly doing a 360 spin in a supersized playground swing - which is why it is done exclusively by adults. This sport makes vertigo sound like a potent brand of coffee.
Pioneers of Skype
Another of the 5 incredible things about Estonia is that its countrymen are largely responsible for the invention of the real-time online video call service known as Skype. 44% of Skype's employees are based in Estonia.
Land of Women
In Estonia, women might not feel the need to be feminist and fight the power because in this country - they are the power! For every 100 women, there are only 84 men. Furthermore, women have a decade longer life expectancy than men.
Almost 100% Literacy Rate
With its own unique up-linked public communication, it is no wonder that Estonia's citizens have a streamlined access to updated information. Traveling in Estonia can be refreshing for foreign intellectuals since 99.8% of the adults in this country are literate.
UNESCO World Heritage Town
There are only a handful of places in the world wherein an entire settlement is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Old Town quarter in the capital city of Tallinn has managed to retain its medieval architecture. Being the secular rival of Vatican City and Malta in terms of architectural preservation makes Estonia an intriguing place to visit.
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