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Published: July 15th 2010
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Well, I did a walking tour today… kind of? Haha. When I got to the info tent for the free-tour there was no one else there (other than the guide). I didn’t particularly feel like having a one-on-one tour… so I decided to take things into my own hands and just walk around.
I really do love their Old Town - you feel like you’re in a fairytale walking around. (Minus the kajillion souvenir shops, of course). There are all these towers, the cobblestone streets, the narrow alleyways - it’s all great.
I climbed up the little hill which is surrounded by and old wall which still has its guard towers and such. Very cool. The main tower, Kiek in de Kok was quite the site (and name...) - built back in the late 1400’s, it’s still in one piece without looking worn out.
I took pictures for a lot of families… I’m not quite sure what it was about me today haha, people just kept asking me. Okfine.
I then wandered back in the general direction of my hostel… yeah, you should know me and my aversion to maps by now =)
I actually passed
the place I was planning to have supper at tonight - apparently the best pancakes you can get in town for the low low price of $3. I’m down.
I did my survey of the, sigh, souvenir shops. It’s sad that I’ve actually got it down to a science in terms of finding the best priced ones while I travel. (That’s what happens when you collect shot glasses… you learn to shop around).
General rules:
• No chain stores, that’s a given.
• Also, no stores right beside the chain stores - they have slightly elevated prices too.
• If it says “lowest price” on the signs, it’s not.
• Same goes for “best deal”.
• Do not go to the shop closest to the bus/train stations. (Airport is a given)
• Also, do not go to the shop closest to the main attraction, nor the first attraction most tourists would come upon.
• Sells expensive jewelry? Likely will mark up other goods.
• Figurine outside? Giant troll or moose? Yeah, not good.
Again… I’m sad I’ve noticed all this. But then again, I’ve seen shot glasses (reg. small ones, forget the fancies) here ranging from 40
Niguliste Church
Tucked away behind some trees, and a few carts selling almonds. EEK to 100 EEK… so about a $5 range. That’s pretty major for a $3.50 shot glass…
Anyway, I’ll end my rant there haha.
After I finished roaming the Old Town I decided to go catch another movie - the sky was getting pretty dark and it looked like it was going to rain. I didn’t feel like getting my umbrella from the hostel, so movie sounded better. I went to see Knight and Day which was actually a lot better than I thought it would be.
Unfortunately, I can’t look at Tom Cruise without thinking back to the dance he did in Tropical Thunder… but I tried my best to look past that visual haha.
When I got out it was still raining… so I headed to McD’s for an Iced Coffee and some free wi-fi. Ah, whenever you need wi-fi, McD’s is the place to go.
Supper was wow… the largest pancake I have seen in my life. I got mince meat and cheese… and could not for the life of me finish that pancake. And it was really tasty too!
I then had to go try a shot of Estonia’s liqueur,
Niguliste Church
From behind Kiek of course… it kind of tastes like rum, but with a sweeter flavour. Def the smoothest shot I’ve ever had… guess what I’m buying to bring home.
It poured, and I mean POURED rain just as I got close to my hostel - so I ran back in for my umbrella and headed off to the supermarket to pick up a few things before my bus to Vilnius… which leaves in about an hour.
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