Tallinn - Estonia

Tallinn, Estonia 

Tallinn is one of the Baltic's great surprises.... the Old Town has remained virtually unchanged for over 600 years and is a living museum of spired churches and medieval architecture. The medieval section is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to the massive stone castle called Toompea Hill where Estonia's Parliament sits.

Though it has been influenced by the Teutonic, Polish, Russian and Soviet regimes that ruled over it for years, it has also retained many western traditions such as the Latin alphabet and the Catholic and Protestant faith.

We woke to another beautiful sunny day with blue skies for our day in Tallinn.

I was up early and was showered and on deck to see the sail in.  This ship is huge and it amazes me how the Captain can manoeuvre with such precision.

We were off the ship just after 9am as we have a relatively short day in port.... all aboard by 4.30pm.  It was about a 20 minute walk to the gates of the old city from the ship.  Our plan was to follow a walking map that we had downloaded before we left home.  A lot of shops were not open at this time which was good in some ways as there were not a lot of people around and no temptations.  There are at least 5 cruise ships in port so it will be busy!  Boom time for the shopkeepers and cafes.

Our walking route started off in the Old Town then wove its way around the cobblestone streets to Toompea, the Upper Town.

In the Old Town we visited sites such as the Town Hall Square, Katherine's Walk, St Nicholas Church, the Old gates,  Fat Margaret tower, the Church of the Holy Spirit and St Mary's.  We also climbed the tower on the old city wall at a cost of 3 euro each.  The view was ok but would have been better if it was free!  I also climbed the tower at the Town Hall for a cost of 3 euro and the view was much better and more interesting and worth the money.

We then walked up into Toompea... the upper Old Town.  The main attractions here are the Cathedral, the Parliament and various view points where you can see over the city to the ocean.

Our next priority was lunch!  We found a nice sidewalk cafe where we sat outside in the sun with a glass of wine and a few snacks and watched the passing parade.

After we were rested and fed we ventured off for a spot of shopping and casually made our way back to the gates to exit the Old Town and head back to the ship.

Tomorrow we arrive in St Petersburg for our overnight stay.  We have a 2 day private tour booked with TJ Travel.

Now to rest up!

Some quick facts:

Founded: in 1154AD and is one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe 

Capital city of Estonia

Located in Northern Europe and the northeast part of the Baltic Sea region

Population: 431,021 (2014)

Climate: Cold winters and warm summers, rainy autumns

Language: Estonian

Currency: Euro 

Fat Margaret Tower - finished in 1530 and ended the construction of the Wall

Monument to the 852 people who died when the Estonia car ferry sunk in 1994

The oldest cafe in Tallinn

Marzipan creations

St Nicholas Orthodox Church is the oldest building in Tallinn with a dome which was added in 1872

From the tower lookout on the famous "Kiek en de Kok" fortification built in the latter part of the 15th century.... 38m high and walls 4m thick!

Another view from the tower

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral high on the hill next to a Toompea Castle

Ladies embroidering at the market in the Town Hall Square

View from the tower at the Town Hall

134 steps up!

Great views from the top of the Square and beyond

Girls preparing to sing

St Nicholas Church.... built around 1230-1275 and is dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron of sailors and fishermen.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral from the front

House of the Parliament (Toompea Castle) originates from the 12th century.

St Mary's Cathedral is the city's oldest church... contains elaborate tombs and more than 60 medieval Coat of Arms

View from a lookout in Toompea

An old water well

Cunard QE, Fred Olsen Balmoral and the Regal Princess

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