Port #3 Tallinn Estonia

Tallin Estonia.  Oh how I love thee, let me count the ways.  No need for a subway, map, or tour guide.  No need for rushing from highlight to highlight.  Great shopping.  Cheap food.  Amazing cobblestone, old walls, and churches.  A nice relaxing day of meandering the unique and colorful streets that makes you your own little place.  Nice people, nice and clean, and nice views from the top.  Tucked up in the eastern edge of the Baltic Sea you can find one amazing little cool city……Tallin, Estonia. 

Facts about Tallin:

It is the oldest capital city in Northern Europe.  It was known as Reval from the 13th century until the 1920’s.  It has a complicated history in which Denmark, Sweden and Germany all had a turn in influencing as well as ruling Tallin.  Pre WWI and II, Russia ruled Tallin.  During the rocky WWII times it was occupied Russia and then by Nazi Germany.  After the war ended it was again occupied by the USSR.  After annexation into the the Soviet Union, Tallinn became the capital of the Estonian SSR.  Not until 1991 did Tallinn become the capital of a de facto independent country once again.  It is a UNESCO WORLD CULTURAL sight which means its been recognized as having special cultural or physical significance.  

 

The first sign we read and realized we were in a “Russian” speaking country. 

We spent a good portion of the day with Annie and kids…..we hiked St. Olaf’s church with them.  Such a cool church, climb and view. 

Annie remembered 3/ 4 of the way up that she actually hates heights and was certain that her babies were going to die on the rickety scaffolding built around the spire…..so she kind of panicked and I carried Gigi (her baby that’s two) most of the way up and down the stairs.  I was glad I hadn’t had time to work out that morning! 

Great view of the old Town and of our boat

Most of the old walls have been rebuilt.  This city has had a rocky history filled with attacks, bombings, pillagings and more due to its strategic location right on the coast. 

       

The open air market was fun to shop at.  It was located in the Town Hall city Center. 

The picture above and below just might be my favorite ones from the day! 

We almost bought this for Jake until we realized that they cost around 60 euro ahhhh

This restaurant may have been the highlight of the day.  It was so cute and quaint inside and had the most interestingly delicious food.  We had Moose soup, Hand held Meat pies, and mini apple pies all for one euro each.  You had to drink your soup out of a bowl unless you sang to them, then they would give you a spoon. 

This was Carter and Hanna’s favorite part of this day

 

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral…..built in 1894-1900, why did you have to be under construction on my day to see Tallin…ugh

     

The rest of the day we spent meandering the streets and finding cool walls, houses, churches, and alleys.  Cole was getting a little tired at this point in our trip….as was evident when we stopped at this cool building to get some photos.  Cole has some anger management issues that we have been dealing with for about a year…..he can go from happy go lucky to kicking, biting, scratching, SCREAMING in about 7 seconds flat.  It is especially evident when he is overly tired…….

 

The weather cleared by about 10:30 which made for some great views of the old city……

 

My souvenier above was this great hat and some wooden beaded necklaces.  The shopping was so fun!!!

 

A favorite day for sure!