Wet & Cold In Beautiful Tallinn.

Cold & Wet but Tallinn was Beautiful.

Spring has definitely sprang in the northern hemisphere, the tulips are busting into bloom in most areas. We are now up around 60°north of the equator and the days though still cold are light from 5am to about 10.40pm.

 

The entrance to the Old Town of Tallinn.

We have decided to do our own thing in the old city of Tallinn the capital of Estonia, as the Eurodam has moored within walking distance of the city. Tallinn is a walled medieval town with narrow streets and very interesting architecture. It has a large square in the centre of town with many medieval shops facing on to the square and also a very impressive Town Hall. The streets are all cobblestones.

 

The Centre Square and the Old Town Hall.

Up on the highest point is a magnificent Russian Orthodox Cathedral. It is quite a hike up the narrow winding lane ways with their many well-trodden and worn steps –but it is well worth the climb. The outside of the cathedral is very impressive and inside it is absolutely beautiful. All Russian Orthodox churches have a large screen that separates the worshipers from the sacred area. This screen made out of gold has many large iconic pictures of Jesus, Mary and other Saints on it. The walls are also covered in iconic religious pictures, most framed in heavy gold gilded frames. Candelabras and chandeliers also made out of bright gold hang from the ceiling and impressive columns are also gold in colour. Unfortunately, we are not permitted to take photos in side so we settle on purchasing a small book.

                                        The Russian Orthodox Cathedral on a cold wet day.

 

The old wall of the city is also up at this highest point and at one vantage point you can stand beside the wall and get a great view over the whole of the old town. It is a very dull day and what should have been a magnificent view was shrouded in misty rain.

 

 

View over the whole of the Old Town from the wall.



 

                   The Gardens and old wall just outside the highest point in the town of Tallinn.

 



 

Tallinn however is a beautiful place to visit. It was large enough to be impressive but sufficiently compact to get around by walking. The only thing that dampened the day was the weather. Showers threatened from early morning and from lunch time on it just rained wet cold rain.

 

 

Walking along the wall.

Feeling quite cold and wet, we stopped at a gorgeous little restaurant/café for coffee and cake and we were pleasantly surprised when we entered. It was absolutely beautiful and charming. It had fantastic old beams, doors and windows and old rustic furniture, with tapestry tablecloths and subtle lighting. The lovely young waitress Christina, told us it was one of the oldest buildings in Tallinn -built about 1450 and that it had survived virtually unmarked during the 2^nd world war.

That day we were about the last people to get back to the ship. We had cut our return fine and we were wet liked drowned rats but we had had a great time in Tallinn. One of the great joys of cruising is that you always come back to a clean, straight and warm cabin. You can run a hot bath and then go and have a great meal.