Visit to Estonian Open Air Museum

Rachman Blake

Today, we visited an open-air museum, and I'm pleased we did. It offered a glimpse into Estonian life from days past. Interestingly, Estonian peasants gained their freedom and rights around the same period slaves were emancipated in the USA—more in common than one might think. The houses, primarily from the 19th century, were quite basic. My favorite was a 1960s-era Soviet-style apartment block with four units. One had been renovated; its occupants were the staff of the house and park. Touring a staff member's actual living space must be peculiar for them, but it's a testament to the impact of good innovation. Upstairs, we entered a residence that appeared frozen in time since 1992. A newspaper heralded the "capitalism" sweeping into Parnu, featuring a topless woman on the cover. I guess more breasts suggest more capitalism? Yet sharing so openly could be seen as more socialist—free exposure for everyone. My wife and her sister experienced nostalgia, recognizing familiar items, furniture, and toys from their childhood. Given the Soviet era's limited options—nothing like Ikea's variety—perhaps that scarcity allowed for greater focus on collective farm work. Nonetheless, they had many Western amenities: TV, radio, cassettes, Pepsi, and even a pirated Red Hot Chili Peppers cassette. It was fascinating to see the way things were. The population was larger, with more industry and farming—everyone had employment and housing. Yet it was all sustained by non-existent money, leading to an inevitable collapse. These abandoned sites now serve well as museums. The trip was enjoyable. We left Raiko in his stroller outside while exploring indoors, figuring nobody would mistake him for an exhibit in such a modern carriage. Don't call the police on us, it's a common thing here in the Nordics. For lunch, we dined in a traditional Estonian house, where a woman in national attire took our order. My wife craved authentic Estonian dessert, so I ordered two portions of what resembled sweet cream cheese. Overall a great day. Eesti Vabaõhumuuseum https://evm.ee/