Country Retreat

Last weekend I came back from my Finland trip and then went straight off to a Philosophy Department 'Spring School' for their graduate students held in a rural guest house about 20 miles outside Tartu. At the end of this 2-day event I got a ride back to Tartu from Margit Sutrop, who is head of the philosophy department and director of the (semi-independent) 'Centre for Ethics.'

En route back to Tartu we stopped off at the country retreat belonging to her parents. They are (or were) both academics at the University of Tartu -- her father is now retired -- and they had bought the collection of rundown farm buildings in 1974. Over the years they have gradually renovated various bits and then about 5 years ago built a brand new house alongside (see the picture above).

It definitely had the feel of an Estonian 'La Cabane' (the main difference being that it is only 20 miles from Tartu, so they would come down most weekends, or even just for a single night). Down the hill from the farm is a series of interconnected water channels, partly manmade and partly created by beavers. Margit, together with her husband and daughter, took me out for a spin in their rowing boat.


Then we had tea on the porch of the new house, looking out over the older farm buildings.




They still use the older buildings when there are more guests than can be accommodated in the main house, and the old interiors feel like they are from another era.


Margit is one of three candidates currently running for election to be the next head (or 'rector') of the University of Tartu, the most influential academic post in the country. During our visit, her parents were offering her various pieces of campaigning advice. The election is being held shortly after I leave Estonia, though as a temporary visitor to the University I would not have been entitled to vote in any case.

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