Tallinn, Day 5

Tervist!

What a day this has been! Thankfully, the day didn't start too early. Dad and I ate a snack around noon and headed to one of the main roads in Tallinn. The Song and Dance Festival, called the laulupidu, officially starts in one hour with 3-4 hours of singing. 

Leading up to the festival, however, is a 5 kilometer processional consisting of over 35,000 song and dance participants marching from the center of town to the festival grounds. Even more spectators lined the entire route, and the parade was broadcasted live on television. 

The parade started today at 2. Dad and I got there about an hour and a half early because we wanted a good view. After a long period of waiting, it finally began! There were all types of folk costumes. Traditionally, Estonian dress consists of linen and pleats, often with vertical red, yellow, and blue stripes. Both men and women wear head coverings, and the women often wear broaches and jewelry. Here are some pics:

The official laulupidu Toyota. 

A cameraman on a Segway with no handles!

 The beginning of the parade.

Hirvo Surva, artistic director if the festival. 

A choir from California. 

The poor guy has no lyre...

Asian women watching the parade. 

There are many children's choirs here. 

Parading on a penny board! :)

I am currently waiting for the festival to start. I decided to go ahead and blog because I won't get back to the room until after midnight, and I have a press breakfast to attend in the morning. There are TONS of people here! Even more than Independence Day in Peachtree City. Here's what it looks like right now-- and not everyone is here yet!

Lady from Setu tribe. 

Many people eating at stand-up tables. 

Finding our seats. 

See all of those people on the hill? This pic was taken two and one half hours before the concert, and the hill (general admission and cheapest tickets) was not even full yet. We are in the fourth row. :) Here's our view:

Alright. I will catch you up later! Tomorrow is 7 hours of festival, so I might have to catch you up after the festivities are over. 

Until sometime soon!

Amy