| This largely depends on the time of year. An athletic Estonian goes skiing in winter: mostly on flat land, although he tries to make use of even the smallest hill (the highest peak in Estonia reaches 318 m); people have even taken to snowboarding. Cross-country skiing is the sporting event which draws the largest television audience in Estonia. Athletics (track and field) is also popular, and in recent years football (soccer) has been gaining ground over basketball - which at one time was considered many to be a 'national game'. |
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| When the weather improves, many Estonians leave the city for the weekends. Almost every family has a cottage in the country, with a small garden and orchard, so that the fridge can be loaded with all sorts of jams and preserves in the autumn. A walk in the forest here is one of the most enjoyable pastimes: people go there to pick berries or mushrooms, to hunt, or just for a nice stroll. At every river or lake, or on the ice in winter you're sure to see a fisherman or two. |
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| Beautiful sandy beaches attract thousands every summer. |
| An important weekend ritual is the Saturday sauna. Estonians dart from the hot steam room directly into the closest body of water, regardless of the weather. Summer activities naturally include a lot of sunbathing on the beach; Estonia boasts miles of beautiful sandy beaches, and water that may seem too chilly for a southerner is just right for any Estonian who wants to swim, play water polo or go windsurfing. |
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