A town for one season

  • 2008-07-03
  • By Marge Tubalkain-Trell

STREET SCENCE: Parnu is known for its beaches, but it has an old town too... em sort of.

One thing Estonia is not famous for is its summer. These tend to be short and not very warm. But we do pride ourselves on our summer capital of Parnu, the so-called Saint Tropez of the Baltics.

Go to Parnu to see a 3 kilometers long yellow sandy beach and an estuary that joins it.
The city's Hanseatic "old town," it not very remarkable. It is a couple of streets with older houses and lots of businesses; shops, cafeterias, night clubs and casinos.

The center is the place to be, so I am told, where things actually happen 's there are thousands of people when it's sunny. I could not stand it. I've never really understood the phenomena of Parnu. In my opinion people go crazy just because it is summer. They take their monthly salary and head to Parnu to blow the lot.
The town still has it's fascinations for me at other times of year 's In winter it doesn't felt like I am even in the same town at all. The buildings are the same, the streets are the same, but the people are different.

In summer I walked on the streets, wondering, what in earth am I doing here again? I once swore never to return! It could be like that with any place you know well any place that is familiar can feel different. Try it, be a tourist for one day in a place you live. Chances are that if it's not a very small place you will certainly find something that's interesting that you haven't paid attention to before.

In the summertime the streets look leisurely busy, with lots of people walking and enjoying themselves. The main street is decidedly un-Estonian. Everybody is smiling. Whilst the country descends on their city, Parnu natives run away for the weekend. It's too crowded for them.

I have heard that Parnu is also a great town to party. I know people who book a hotel just to spend one night in a club. They say people act friendlier.   I haven't had a chance to party there properly but I know that you can meet some really friendly people. A black friend of mine met some really nice guys who chased him out of the city a few weeks ago.

From a strictly tourist point of view the town is very seasonal. In the summer the hotels are full, sometimes booked a year in advance, then in the winter the streets are empty.

Only spa owners are not complaining. They offer other benefits. Recently a new pool complex opened in Estonia Spa. It's different from the ones which have been opened for years. While it can be great while you're alone and searching for an experience, children will get bored there soon, I think.

Parnu won the summer capital title 16 years in a row, but has been a famous resort town for 170 years, when the first spa was opened. Right now it houses one third of Estonia's spas. I was in the spa couple of months ago and I would like to go back.

Apart from that there isn't that much to Parnu. It is a just another dull, grey town with lots of Soviet era buildings