With four times more startups per capita than the European average, Estonia is one of the most digitally advanced societies in the world. Now, more and more locals are turning towards the country's stunning ancient bogland to help them disconnect.
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00:00 >> And welcome to Tallinn, Estonia's capital city.
00:05 It's a small port city on the Baltic Sea and the center of activity for a country that's
00:09 been making leaps and bounds on the global stage in recent years.
00:12 I'm on a journey to really discover Estonia.
00:15 So what better place to start than at Speeding Heart?
00:19 Tallinn is where the old world meets the new.
00:21 Here you'll find one of the best preserved medieval cities in Northern Europe, right
00:25 next door to one of the continent's most digitally advanced urban centers.
00:29 >> Walking through Tallinn, you can feel the different layers that history has left for
00:35 us.
00:36 Basically, within 100 yards, you're able to come from the medieval cobblestone streets
00:40 into the modern high-tech environment.
00:43 So walking down the street, you might not be surprised when you see a medieval house
00:48 next to Baroque.
00:50 And it is basically like a little trip through time.
00:55 >> Today, Estonia is one of the most digitally advanced societies in the world.
00:59 It's also the startup capital of Europe, with four times more startups per capita than the
01:03 European average.
01:05 Tallinn even has these cute little robots that will drive around downtown delivering
01:09 everything from groceries to online shopping to fully cooked meals.
01:14 The city really likes its tech.
01:16 But how easy is it to unplug?
01:21 Lucky enough, Tallinn is surrounded by nature.
01:24 Estonia is covered in forests and wetlands.
01:26 We're going into the wild to discover one of the country's most ancient landscapes.
01:31 It's bogs.
01:32 There's no better person to guide us than Romit Vaino.
01:35 He's an Estonian nature photographer who spends most of his free time outdoors.
01:38 He also organizes trips to many of the bogs around Tallinn.
01:42 Romit, tell me what is so special about Estonia's bogs.
01:45 >> Well, I would say the first reason is that if you think of something primeval, something
01:51 ancient, then the bog is definitely the place to be.
01:55 The oldest bogs in Estonia are somewhere around like 10,000 to 12,000 years old.
02:01 >> Well, it's time to gear up and get bog walking.
02:05 These bog shoes will keep us from sinking into the peat moss.
02:09 (Laughing.)
02:11 Okay.
02:13 It's not as easy as you make it look.
02:17 I feel like a duck.
02:22 >> So this name, Kakkertaja Rava, this Kakkertaja, the name is given by one specific bird who's
02:31 a water bird, but it's really clumsy on walking on the ground.
02:37 >> So like me.
02:38 >> And this word, Kakkertaja, means either an animal or a person who's very clumsy.
02:45 >> Okay.
02:46 >> Yeah.
02:47 >> So I am the Kakkertaja.
02:49 >> You are Kakkertaja.
02:51 In this situation.
02:52 >> Yeah.
02:53 >> Is it common for Estonians who live in the city to come out and just get some air?
02:58 >> Yeah.
02:59 It has become like very, very popular in recent years.
03:03 Like 10 to 15 years ago, it was rather surprising to see people coming, for example, for a swim
03:12 to the bog in the morning, but now it's almost like a rule.
03:17 In the middle of summer, when people have vacations, it's very common that you would
03:23 come here like 4 o'clock in the morning.
03:25 >> 4 o'clock in the morning.
03:26 >> And you would see like maybe like 5 to 10 people swimming over here.
03:32 >> Romit convinced me to try this sunrise swim.
03:34 So we set up camp near the bog to wake up early.
03:38 Estonia's forest ministry maintains hundreds of free campsites like this one, with tables
03:43 and toilets and complimentary firewood for cooking and keeping warm.
03:47 Sunrise is at 4 a.m. tomorrow, so it's going to be a short night.
03:50 We're going to go to bed.
03:54 It was a rude awakening.
03:56 We walked in silence towards the bog.
03:58 So I was regretting every single decision I made this morning.
04:02 I hardly slept.
04:03 I put my jacket on inside out.
04:05 I was so tired.
04:06 But then I saw that sunrise and it was so stunning.
04:09 The colors were beautiful and it really felt like one of those once in a lifetime types
04:14 of moments.
04:15 I'm still very nervous about this, though.
04:17 So can you tell me, do you have any tips for how I can get into this water and not freak
04:22 out?
04:23 >> Yeah.
04:24 Well, there is no best way to do it.
04:26 It really depends on you.
04:28 Just take like deep breath.
04:32 The idea is not to kind of stop yourself.
04:35 Just try to keep the process just going.
04:39 >> Okay.
04:40 Okay.
04:41 So here goes.
04:42 If I survive this, we'll see you next time on Discover Estonia.
04:45 Thank you so much for watching.
04:47 Oh, no.
04:48 Aah!
04:49 Aah!
04:50 Aah!
04:51 Aah!
04:52 Aah!
04:53 Aah!
04:54 Aah!
04:55 Aah!
04:56 Aah!
04:56 (water splashing)