ESTONIA: Bogging In The Famous Waterlogged Peat.

NYTIMES/ Clifford Levy/      Estonia is famous for its extensive peat bogs - masses of feet deep decayed vegetable matter saturated with water.
LEVY: "Estonians have long had a spiritual bond with their bogs, coming here to take in the solitude, as well as to collect the wild cranberries that are strewn across the surface of the peat. The bogs are also filled with marsh tea, an extremely fragrant plant that is considered to have medicinal qualities, reputed to cure stomach pains, asthma and various other ailments. Animals, including turkey, boar and roe deer, inhabit the area, and while we did not see them on our trip, we did spy their tracks, and some scattered bones."