Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

Thinking of going either to those two places - have heard the ladies are incredible (I can vouch for Latvia - the three girls I met in NYC were amazing and nice). But also heard good things about Croatia and Slovakia. I guess I could turn the Estonia/Latvia trip into a sort of Helsinki/Stockholm/Talinn/Riga combo which also would be cool. I've been to Stockholm so would be more into Helsinki - isn't it like a short ferry ride from there to Estonia?

One thing that really worries me is that all the ladies will be somewhere else on vacation like the rest of the world in late August. Also, given all the idiotic British bachelor parties there are I'd hate to go somewhere and find out it's like being in London with 500 English hooligans running amok (no offense to any Brits!).

Thx!

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

Hotter women in Estonia then in Helsinki although there are quite a few there.

Yes, there is a ferry you can take to Tallinn from Helsinki. It's pretty cheap. It also might be worth it to check out St. Petersburg. Tons of hot exotic looking women there too. There's a train you can take from Helsinki to St Petersburg that is pretty cheap. It helps if you know some Russian though.

If you go to Stockholm you might want to go to via train from Helsinki to Turku. There's a university there and fewer Americans visit so you'll stick out a lot more and be more popular in clubs. Plus Turku is kinda a cool city.

Be aware that everyone under 40 in Helsinki or Stockholm will speak English but not so much in the other countries.

Also, most people take their vacations in June or July. August should be pretty good, be aware that the weather can turn chilly though.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

Totally agree w/ esad. Lived in Russia for four years and traveled throughout Eastern Europe. Can confirm that the ladies are smoking hot in Latvia and Estonia.

I would recommend visiting both places but I would lean toward Estonia since it’s easier to visit other places.

Love the plan of taking the train from St. Petersburg to Helsinki then boat to Tallinn (Estonia). In Finland, go to the Helsinki Club and mix it up. Be sure to bump into some ladies, apologize, then say "yes, I am American" when they ask. This move would not work well in many countries but it's effective here.

Take the slow boat to Tallinn - under no circumstances should you take the fast boat. Sure, the fast boat takes less than half the time, but everyone barfs and the ride is the terrible. No joke, I would rather break my ankle again than set another foot on that fast boat.

In Tallinn, enough people speak English.

If you're feeling adventurous, take an overnight trip to Tartu if the students are around - it's apparently the oldest university in Eastern Europe and the kids are mad fun & very cool.

The Riga angle is ok. It’s a small town but the kids love to party. If you solely care about the exotic factor or partying & chicks, this is a great stop, but the scene is equal to Tallinn. Lots of degenerate expats in Riga and it’s cheap to do things that may conflict w/ your moral compass.

Slovakia – it’s a yawn.

Be prepared to hit the clubs and stay out late.

Be sure to post a write-up if you go.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

In general, the economic conditions are considerably worse in all the ex-Soviet satellites, and Russia itself, in comparison to other European nations. It can be a scary experience for those not prepared for it.

However, the women are world class, especially in Estonia and Latvia. If marrying/fornicating with model quality girls is your priority, then go East young man.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

I have a friend who did a stint in the peace corps and lived in Ukraine for a year. He said the economy was incredibly depressing. He said the women were cute but it wasn't worth it as the living conditions were awful and a lot of the men drank way too much and were really hostile.

Do girls in these countries seriously want to marry foreigners? Why would a guy marry a girl from one of these places? It seems obvious that any girl who is willing to do this is just using the guy for a meal ticket and will divorce him as soon as possible.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

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I have a friend who did a stint in the peace corps and lived in Ukraine for a year. He said the economy was incredibly depressing. He said the women were cute but it wasn't worth it as the living conditions were awful and a lot of the men drank way too much and were really hostile.

Do girls in these countries seriously want to marry foreigners? Why would a guy marry a girl from one of these places? It seems obvious that any girl who is willing to do this is just using the guy for a meal ticket and will divorce him as soon as possible.

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Good points but I'd point out that US guys have the most to lose here what with our incredibly pro-woman divorce laws [img]/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img] - not so sure Europeans have as much to be concerned about - I think European laws actually tend to be pretty fair and/or favor the man in some cases. Considering the state of marriage over there in general and the fact that most of the women outside Britain, Germany and Switzerland are pretty hot in Europe I don't think they need to shack up with the E. Europeans anyway!!

Thx all for the country advice. I've been to Slovakia and actually found the ladies there pretty attractive. Also have spent a lot of time in Poland and think that they are the best looking group of women I've ever seen, so will be interesting to compare them with Estonia and Latvia.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

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Do girls in these countries seriously want to marry foreigners? Why would a guy marry a girl from one of these places?

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You answered your own question

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He said the economy was incredibly depressing...a lot of the men drank way too much and were really hostile.

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Abuse and alcoholism amongst men in these countries is very high. Yes, there are a ton of women who honestly want to meet a nice western man. Like women around the world they want to settle down and eventually have children in a nice stable environment with a man who is normal and doesn't beat them every day.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

[ QUOTE ]
In general, the economic conditions are considerably worse in all the ex-Soviet satellites, and Russia itself, in comparison to other European nations. It can be a scary experience for those not prepared for it.

Interesing comment - I did not find Poland, Slovakia or Hungary scary at all (maybe bc I live in NYC). Sure stuff is dated and not a whole lot of modern things in general but by and large I got around find. Perhaps the Baltics and places like Romania and Bulgaria are a little more sketch.

However, the women are world class, especially in Estonia and Latvia. If marrying/fornicating with model quality girls is your priority, then go East young man.

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Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

[ QUOTE ]
I have a friend who did a stint in the peace corps and lived in Ukraine for a year. He said the economy was incredibly depressing. He said the women were cute but it wasn't worth it as the living conditions were awful and a lot of the men drank way too much and were really hostile.

Do girls in these countries seriously want to marry foreigners? Why would a guy marry a girl from one of these places? It seems obvious that any girl who is willing to do this is just using the guy for a meal ticket and will divorce him as soon as possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought that the conditions in the Baltic States are much better than they are throughout the rest of the ex-USSR. Supposedly permission to vacation there was a sought-after privledge in Soviet times. Can someone confirm/debunk that for us?

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I have a friend who did a stint in the peace corps and lived in Ukraine for a year. He said the economy was incredibly depressing. He said the women were cute but it wasn't worth it as the living conditions were awful and a lot of the men drank way too much and were really hostile.

Do girls in these countries seriously want to marry foreigners? Why would a guy marry a girl from one of these places? It seems obvious that any girl who is willing to do this is just using the guy for a meal ticket and will divorce him as soon as possible.

[/ QUOTE ]

I thought that the conditions in the Baltic States are much better than they are throughout the rest of the ex-USSR. Supposedly permission to vacation there was a sought-after privledge in Soviet times. Can someone confirm/debunk that for us?

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yea, you can't compare estonia with ukraine (it's like camparing us with mexico).

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

Partially agree w/ Peter666. For background, I lived in Russia for four years in the late 90s and have been to both Latvia and Estonia over 5 times.
The women in these countries are world-class and model-hot. Granted not every one is, but there are an amazing number of smoking hot chicks w/ great bodies (partially cause by the fact they walk almost everywhere)

Don't agree w/ the take on the economic conditions. Both countries have been hailed for their economic progress and both were accepted as full members of EU in 2004 (an amazing accomplishment). Both were quick to distance themselves from Russia as they embraced the Western philosophy and technology. The middle class, generally regarded as the backbone of a solid economy, also developed quickly. Based on my observations of former USSR countries is that, Gen X and Y have a huge advantage b/c they were quicker to "westernize" whereas the older generations spent much more of their lives/careers following the old style. This is especially true in Tallinn, Riga, and St. Petersburg.

I'll acknowledge there is poverty in both countries - as there is poverty in New York, Las Vegas, London, and virtually ever other country in the world. I would also think that if someone did a term in the peace corps or their church, they're going to be working w/ the poor, sick et al. Naturally, one is going to think the people they work w/ are representative of a larger part of

Quicksilvre, yes you needed to get permission to visit Latvia and Estonia, but the real coveted vacation spots were on the Black Sea (generally Sochi) and Malta.

Wife meeting parties: I was lucky enough to witness one when I lived in Moscow. I had left my jacket at a club and I returned the following afternoon to retrieve it. It was ~3:00 on a Saturday and I expected to find an empty club. To my surprise, there were a lot of people and it felt like a real party - loud music, dancing, drinking, smoking. As I strolled in, a woman came up to me and said "this is a private party, you can't be here." I was caught a little off guard since she spoke English, and I was used to hearing Russian 24/7. I explained that I was going to get my jacket then bail - naturally, I was curious. Strolled inside and eavesdropped on a few conversations - no doubt about it, this was a party where they take Western men, Russian ladies, add alcohol and hope that a few marriages blossom. The guys seemed like losers - dudes who were probably pretty lonely but most seemed to be loving the attention; it was obvious they felt pretty cool. the ladies were generally on the positive side of the coin. I suspect they didn't live in Moscow but rather the suburbs or nearby towns since their makeup, dresses, and overall appearance didn't look current. I would guess the women were there for the same reason as the men - they're lonely. Plus, I presume the women would rather take a chance w/ a Western man over a Russian one b/c way too many Russians are known for their drinking, cheating, laziness, and temper (manifested through spousal abuse.)
Needless to say, I strolled out of the club w/ huge boost to my self esteem.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

I should explain my generalization about poverty in Eastern Europe. If you go as a tourist and have money to spend, you will find first class accommodations like anywhere else. And some spots are particularly beautiful and unique. Also, there is variance between the countries. The Baltic states are very progressive economically, and the countries bordering old Europe are better off as well.

For the average working person though, you are on a lower economic scale. You will be living in an apartment with extended family, and owning a car is not ubiquitous. The education standards are very good though.

A tourist will also notice a lot of stray dogs. Once I was even approached by a wolf - not a dog, not a half dog half wolf, but a real wolf. This was in the center of a small city, and not something you'll see anywhere else! Also beware of the gypsies! I was once swarmed by six women who put their hands in all my pockets at once. My martial arts training kicked in and they got nothing, but it was quite memorable.

If you can survive the pack of taxi drivers badgering you as you exit the airport, you'll do fine.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

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Can confirm that the ladies are smoking hot in Latvia and Estonia.

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Proud to be a Latvian.
However, from my family experience I can say that the men are usually biiiiiiig drinkers so if you come across as even somewhat stable and not a lush, you should be able to score at least somewhat.
gl and tr please as I'd like to visit the homeland. [img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img]

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

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A tourist will also notice a lot of stray dogs. Once I was even approached by a wolf - not a dog, not a half dog half wolf, but a real wolf.

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Holy crap! What did it act like? Was it looking for a food handout?

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

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A tourist will also notice a lot of stray dogs. Once I was even approached by a wolf - not a dog, not a half dog half wolf, but a real wolf.

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Holy crap! What did it act like? Was it looking for a food handout?

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It was a white she-wolf, and acted perfectly calm. She had to have been use to human contact and looked like this: http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d8...Tundrawolf.jpg

It trotted up to me out of nowhere, and I instinctively patted it on the head. Then it trotted away. My friend was watching about 10 yards away, and when the wolf left, we were both amazed, "Holy crap, that was a wolf!" Only in Russia.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

I went to HS with two sisters that were Estonian. Both of them were beautiful and very cool. One of my friends dated the older sister for a long time. That's all I've got. Oh yeah, the Grateful Dead sponsored the Lithuanian basketball team in '92 and they won a bronze.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

I went to all 4 places in 2001 and I would say that Croatia >>> Estonia at that time though both were nice.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

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I went to all 4 places in 2001 and I would say that Croatia >>> Estonia at that time though both were nice.

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hmnnnn...is this bc of the hottness of the women or the scenery? I hear that Croatia is just beautiful with clear blue water and great beaches + lots of nice towns like Dubrovnik and Split. Also there are great mountains that go right into the coastal waters and many hiking trails.

I was set up with a Croatian girl last year - didn't work out but she was def. hot (~8-ish). So I'm positively inclined about that place but the Estonian girls I've met have been just as attractive.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

How about taking an Estonian girl to Croatia on holiday?

To my mind, Croatia will be more pleasant to visit in terms of accommodation and scenery, but the there are more available women in Estonia and Latvia.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

I would put the Baltic women at slightly better looking, but women from all over Europe are vacationing in Croatia in the summer. And there are plenty of hot locals. I wouldn't say there were more available women in the Baltics.

I would definitely recommend Hvar Island, there was lots of girls on the beaches there and Hvartown is gorgeous and relaxing. I really don't think you will be disappointed either place, I just liked Croatia a lot better.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

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How about taking an Estonian girl to Croatia on holiday?

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Hmnnnn...I like where you are going with this. But why bring sand to the beach??

I think I really can't go wrong either way!

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

Spoke to my friend who lived has also been to Riga & Tallinn 5 times each. His take (with which I fully agree)

"Lativa rests at the intersection of Scandanavian genetics and Russian morals"

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

Since this thread seems to have a few knowledgeable people in it I'll ask for some advice too.

I'm heading to Tallinn in October for a long weekend with the lads. There'll be 4 or 5 of us with the intention of doing touristy things during the day and drinking through the night. Any advice on what places to make sure we take in and what places we should avoid?

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

From what I remember Tallinn, as a tourist destination, is basically just an old city with a big Orthodox church. The whole thing can be walked and seen in about 4 hours or so.

To find a good place to meet people, I would just pick up a lonely planet and read up of the clubs. If I remember correctly, we stayed in a reasonably priced hostel in the old city. We checked out a few clubs that featured drunken Estonians making out to U2 before we found some real techno and real fun. I did not travel outside of Tallinn while in Estonia.

Re: Tell me about Estonia and Latvia....
 

Never been there but one of may favorite bands named Dallas is from Tallinn