Update on Estonia continued

We departed from Tartu and headed for Parnu via Viljandi. Enroute we skirted the shore of Lake Vortsjarv, Estonia's second-biggest lake. At its deepest it is only 6m deep and has a surface area of 270 sq kms.

Views of Lake Vortsjarv. On arrival in Viljandi we had lunch in a local pub and then toured the ruins of a 13th-century castle built by the Livonian Order. Viljandi is a peaceful market town at the heart of one of Estonia's most fertile agricultural areas.

Views of Viljandi. We continued on to Parnu, Estonia's summer capital on the shores of the Gulf of Riga. With the assistance of the local tourist information office we located a hotel for the night and then decided to see the famed beaches. The beaches were a little walk from our hotel and as we climbed the boardwalk over the sand dunes we missed the sign saying ladies beach and advising of nudity - we couldn't understand the strange looks in our direction by women leaving the beach until we reached the top of the dunes and could see the beach. We made a hasty retreat and went to another part of the beach.

Views of Parnu.