NORTHERN COUNTRY TOUR - TALLINN (Estonia)

October 16, 2018

Here is a map of the whole tour and how it started.

After St. Petersburg we were again checked at the Russian border and entered Estonia. Back to the Euro, since Stockholm,  fortunately I hadn't changed any roubles because it was rather difficult to change them back to Euros ! We then drove to Tallinn the capital. The landscape was a bit boring only firs and rather flat. But the city was wonderful !  

Tallin has become one of Europe’s newest capitals, since in 1992 the Communism ended. There is a rich mix of architecture and culture in this small geographic area. Its Old Town was almost untouched by war and remains perfectly preserved. And outside the city walls there are districts of brightly painted wooden houses, parks, redeveloped docks, beaches and forests.

Tallinn is also a cultured place that attracts visitors who wants more than just a cheap drink: Baltic, Nordic, Teutonic and Russian cultures meld in food, art, design and music.

The city has a surprisingly modern, sophisticated air: trams and buses (free for the locals) make everything easily accessible and old warehouses are being converted into new spaces for business and culture. Free wifi and a nascent tech scene (Skype was developed here) show this is a city looking forward as well as to its traditional, folkloric roots. We should take example ! Espcially concerning Wifi !

Our bus took us into Tallinn’s Old Town, where buildings stick against the hillside. A small street had steep steps and characterful wooden beams which  date back to the 1700s. Everything had been restored and is now really beautiful. It all started in 1992 as Communism ended. After having seen the 2 others Baltic cities, Riga and Vilnius, I thought that people here know what is really working, because what they have achieved in restoration work in such a short time is really amazing ! When I think that some buildings here  in Brussels are not yet finished after 40 years or more !

I really liked this city even though I only had a too short overview. We tasted the good food of which there was a big choice in little cafés and everywhere I could get my alcohol free beer.  In the evening our group met again and we had dinner together in a beautiful old restaurant called "Peppersack".



Outside the old city



We start to go into the old city












and here are the two towers of the city wall






A closer view



the little streets




Advertising for a restaurant



going through thick walls



into romantic small cobbled streets with restaurants and pubs










a large choice of restaurants and cafés








The city square



I had ordered an alcohol free beer and got half a liter !!



No wonder that I had to go for a "comfort stop". From the terrace I had to go through this nicely decorated little alley



to the inside of the Pub ! which looked very cosy and had a lot of beautiful old decorations



Besides us sat 3 young men with this strange thing on the table ! I had never seen that and asked what it was and if I could take a picture. It turned out that these guys were French and the "thing" was a 5 liter (3.2 gall) beer distributor, apparently it's cheaper then ordering a glass ! 



Beautiful architecture



Lots of restaurants and a shopping paradise



The restaurant "Peppersack" (pepperbag) where we had our dinner




You can see the bags on the seats, not filled with pepper anymore but with straw ! Was very comfy !




We again had a very comfortable and nice hotel, the Seaport Hotel, which was just in front of the seaport terminal.

more participants here