TALLINN - It may not be a well-known fact, but Estonia's islands were once home to some of the fiercest Vikings on the Baltic.
In fact, Sweden's current capital, Stockholm, was only established after raiders from Saaremaa burned down the town of Sigtuna and the need for a new, better protected trade center arose.
It's in the spirit of these great accomplishments that the people of Saaremaa host the annual Sea Days festival, during which you can find out all about the Estonians' longstanding connection to the sea and all the goodies it provides - fish, flotsam and foreigners.
The celebration kicks off on Aug. 6, with the Alberto Gutierrez Band showcasing the music of Cuba, an island nation of people who have been known to enjoy a spot of piracy themselves now and then, and who are thus close to the heart of the inhabitants of Saaremaa.
The spirit of international friendship and cooperation is perpetuated through Aug. 8 when the Zorbas band will be playing Greek music - apparently to make it clear to the various assembled Vikings that while Greece may not be legitimate booty any more, you can still enjoy attending the forthcoming Olympic Games there.
Wake up early enough on Aug. 7 and you can see the seamen of Saaremaa setting off on an adventure trip cheekily dubbed the Optimists' Regatta, followed by the Pirate Parade through the streets of Kuressaare, the island's capital. The biggest event of the day is the Lossikala fishing competition held at the castle moat, and in case you're wondering, every town in Estonia does have a castle of sorts. None is threatened with the fate of the Coliseum in Rome either, as there is such an abundance of stones just lying about on the ground that finding patchwork-building materials is not a problem.
If fishing isn't your game, however, you can go to the Ruutli spa to see the various artifacts of the smuggling trade, another islanders' favorite. To balance that out, the Border Guard Band and the Tallinn Naval Academy Choir will be providing the entertainment. When darkness falls, head to the town hall gallery for the opening of an exhibition of amber and jewelry themed on the sailor's idea of the dream woman.
You'll also have the chance to see other people being silly when the Kuressaare municipality faces off the Spa Hotels team in a game of blindfolded beach volleyball, or wait until that evening to be silly yourself in a karaoke competition. So if you're an amphibian at heart, get over to Saaremaa and find out just what made it into the strange and fascinating place that it is.
Saaremaa Sea Days
Aug. 6 - 8
See www.kuressaare.ee
for more details
NB! Reserve your ferry tickets, as long lines are expected
