Is this Europe’s weirdest holiday? Bog swimming in Estonia
I am a Princess Fiona seeking her Shrek. My best chance of finding my lonely yet loveable ogre and getting our long-overdue Happily Ever After, as every DreamWorks fan knows, is in a swamp. Hackney Marshes and Walthamstow Wetlands have thus far failed to deliver the requisite calibre of hero, so this summer I headed [...]
Embarking on a quest reminiscent of Princess Fiona's journey to find Shrek, a woman sought out Haraka Bog in Estonia. This unique bog, located an hour outside the capital city of Tallinn, boasts a landscape of coastal plains, open skies, and a mysterious, ancient atmosphere.
Marilin Pehka, a forest guide, preached the importance of remaining silent and listening to the natural world, for it held answers and wisdom. Bogs, nature's carbon-trapping miracles, are rare and breathtaking ecosystems where specialized plants and ground birds flourish.
Upon arriving at Haraka Bog, the visitor donned blue plastic boots and traversed the narrow boardwalk, surrounded by the wind's gentle shaking of the trees and the occasional bird twittering. The atmosphere was quiet, with an overcast sky casting a dark, metallic sheen on the water.
As the visitor prepared to relinquish their clothes and fully immerse themselves in the bog's waters, the experience felt like shedding layers of the material world. In this state of vulnerability and natural connection, the visitor felt reborn and ready to face the world anew.
Written by urgent.news from City AM's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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