Estonian Oddities

Funny and strange things found in Estonia...

• When you order a meal in a restaurant, you will rarely get a napkin unless you ask for it.
• You will almost always get some black rye bread with your dinner but NEVER any butter.
• If there's a group of you eating in a restaurant, and you order all together, the food comes to your table in a staggered pace. So some will begin eating and can finish while others are still being served.
• Nobody will ever hold a door open for you, anywhere! Whenever I go into a shop, I always look back and hold the door open for the next person - always! This is never happened to me in return.
• Trams and busses stop at every stop so there is no need to ring a bell or flag a bus down like you have to in others cities (like Taipei).
• Busses often will NOT wait for people running to get on the bus. It is amazing sometimes to witness this...
• I can't tell you how many times I have been on a tram early in the morning when the guy in front of me smells of booze. It just makes me shake my head.
• Speaking of trams, payment is on the honour system. If you don't have a monthly pass, you are supposed to have your ticket punched in the machine upon entering the tram/bus/trolley. Every once in awhile, inspectors come on board and ask you to show your proof of payment. It's funny when it happens because of the excuses that the passengers come up with.