6. nap

We started our day at 9.30 at the school. We had to continue our project work, which included implementing our project idea. Every team made their work unique. Moreover, we could test the others' task and give them feedback. The Estonians introduced us to a new sport, pétanque. The goal of the game is to toss metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden target ball, called the jack. We played this in a team of 3. So, each player had 2 balls. In the afternoon, we went on a two-hour long city tour where our guide, a teacher from the HTG, told us historical facts about the buildings and places we visited. We admired St. John's Church which was built in the 14th century. It is one of Tartu's most iconic landmarks. Our next stop was the Kissing Hills. The spot is highly popular among young couples and newlyweds. It is a local wedding tradition in Tartu that the groom should carry his bride up the stairs of Kissing Hill. This act is seen as a test of the groom's strength and a symbol of his commitment to support his wife throughout their marriage. Seeing the Ruins of Tartu Cathedral was a fantastic experience. This place offered a magical panoramic view of the city and the surrounding park. We also passed by the Supreme Court of Estonia. In front of it, there was a unique, seal-shaped sculpture which is a monument to Johan Skytte, who was the founder and first chancellor of the University of Tartu. We saw the Tartu City Government and 'The Kissing Students' sculpture with the fountain in the centre of the town. After this, we had a free afternoon. I spent my time in the toy museum where, I saw thousands of toys, from ancient dolls and traditional Estonian wooden toys to Soviet-era ones. What is more, I saw Hungarian dolls, too. It was very nostalgic and I could relive my childhood memories. For dinner, I had a chance to try out mulgipuder, which is a traditional Estonian food typically served with bacon and sour cream.It is a porridge made of potatoes and groats. It's also one of the few Estonian foods not adopted from other cuisines, which is one of the reasons it was added to the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024.

Kozma Gabriella