Three pretty unproductive but entertaining hours later I left August, hyped up on way too much coffee and a great conversation.  Because of the amazing weather I decided to walk through the Old Town like I hadn’t done in ages. Another hour later I had seen the inside of most of Tallinn’s designer stores and galleries, had spent way too much money and have had plenty of good conversations with Estonia’s creatives. My day got better and better and I had to force myself not to skip through town, but rather act like a normal human being. I think you get the point, talking to all these inspiring people made me really happy. I didn’t think the day could get any better. Boy, oh boy, was I wrong. Never in a million years would I have guessed what happened next. 

Climbing up the stairs to Toompea - Tallinn’s Dome Hill – I found myself facing  a group of four –tourists – as I thought – with American accents. Obviously, I was intrigued. After offering to take a group shot of them they told me that they were actually on a photoshoot. For Lonely Planet. The sane part of me managed to say “Oh cool, have fun then!” and leave it at that. But as I walked away, more and more crazy voices took over in my head. “They are from Lonely Planet. No big deal. Just the publisher of the best travel guides ever. What the hell am I doing walking away right now? They seemed like the coolest bunch. I want to be their friend. But what am I supposed to say? Hey, I don’t have anything to do, can we be friends? Also, could you please hire me? Right. No, that's too crazy, I can't do that.”

Of course I went back. After listening to the voices in my head for a bit I decided that I should just go for it. Because as the saying says "We only regret the chances we didn't take" - And I am so glad I don't have to regret not taking that one. Because the four of them were lovely. Turns out the two photographers of the group had just met the other two guys at lunch. And then the coolest thing happened. Just like that, they asked me if I had time to come with them and take some more pictures because they needed another person in the pictures anyways. Me. Casually, in pictures of Lonely Planet. Just what we normally do on a Tuesday afternoon in Estonia. I am not kidding. This was real life. Not imagining that in any way. (Yes, I am still pretty excited.)

After taking pictures for some time we all went out for dinner and just talked. These guys were truly incredible. An American photographer living in Norway, a Norvegian photographer traveling all over, a Norvegian living in Estonia, an Estonian Event Manager who changed careers is now producing and selling honey. And me. It was the most random group of people but that's exactly what made it so interesting. I listened to travel stories from the weirdest places, learned about bees and was just in awe of everything these people had done in their life. 

It still makes me so happy that five people who are - for the most part - so different from each other and didn't know each other a couple of hours earlier could just sit together like a group of old friends and chat about anything. I loved it. It reminded me why I love traveling so much. And why I like talking to strangers. And why I will never stop doing it. Yes, it is scary sometimes. And yes, there are times when I am too "scared" to talk to somebody. But to be honest, that is stupid. Because we are all human. We all have our baggage to carry. Nobody needs to be scared. And meeting new people is just so good. It gives you so much more perspective on this world. And it is so much fun. Everybody has a story to tell, we just need to listen. (And as a bonus you get to be part of a photoshoot - sometimes.)

So what is your take on talking to strangers? Yes? No? Maybe? Let us know!

xx Kathi

Photo taken in: Tallinn, Estonia