Tallinn, Estonia - Two days here wasn't enough time.

Monday, July 11
We had one day in Sweden after returning from St Petersburg, then it was off to Tallinn, Estonia. The flight from Stockholm is just 45 minutes. No visa is required for U.S. citizens or members of the E.U. Within minutes of walking into the old town section of Tallinn we were going, WOW! At the end of our 2nd day there we were still going, WOW!.

The architecture of old town is beautiful and varied. Old Town is large in comparison to other old towns that we have visited. There are dozens of streets to explore, and each street offers numerous paths that lead off to, or down to, more shops to discover.

We stayed at the Reval Central Hotel, which is just a 1/2jmile from the entrance to old town. The rate for a deluxe room was just $80 US. A breakfast buffet is included in the room price. The hotel is modern and high tech. The staff are very helpful and friendly. We bought a Tallinn card at the hotel desk. The card gave us a 2 1/2 hour free tour of the city, free acess to all museums, free bicycle rental for two hours, free use of a row boat for an hour, and discouts at many restaurants. The card, which costs about $20 U.S., is a great bargain.

Our first evening we took in a free concert at the St Nicholas Cathedral. On our 2nd day we systematically explored every street, but by the end of the day we realized we still hadn't poked our head into all the nooks and crannies. The mail square is lively with outdoor restaurant seating surrounding the square. Beuatiful young women in yellow t-shirts stroll the streets selling Estonian strawberries. It seems that everyone in the city can speak English.



This country has been free for only about 15 years, yet the modern and high tech feel of the city of Tallin outside of old town is a striking contrast to St Petersburg, which to us seems to have a long way to go before it can claim to be a modern city.


One of the old entrances through the wall
to the old town.













Just part of the large plaza that is lined with shops and resturants.














Narrow streets invite you to explore nooks and crannies.













Lovely maidens wander the streets in period costumes.











Pat and I have great local beer and a mouth watering lunch at a sidewalk cafe.







Hidden away on a side street is a salute to Texas and Texas style food.











Outside a mall in modern Tallinn

















Inside the mall.
Very modern.
Very sleek.
Even I loved it.






We will definitely return to Tallinn to not only explore more of the city, but to also see other parts of Estonia.