Hiiumaa Island - closed on Monday’s

Today we travelled by car ferry to Hiiumaa Island. It is very Scandinavian, very small and very quiet. Most places we had planned to see were closed. Luckily, we bought some bread, cheese, and boiled eggs with us, as every cafe we tried was closed. Karen bought some of the bread from the excellent cafe where we stopped for lunch yesterday - Ott and Matilda. We have never been so excited about a loaf of bread. It was excellent.

Before lunch, Len and Karen girded their loins and did the very challenging climb to the top of Kopu lighthouse. This was first built in the 1500’s to protect ships from the shallow reefs. In the 1600’s, they added light by carting up wood and keeping a fire going on top. It was then converted to hemp oil in the 1800’s, petrol in 1956, and then gas, until it was eventually converted to electric.

It still operates today but has been automated since the 90’s.Read more