Day 32 Tallinn

---

We started our second day in Tallinn with a 2 hour free walking tour around the Old Town which started in Independence Square where we received a rundown on Estonian Customs and history which was very relevant to where we were standing as it is the centenary of Estonian Independence (1918-2018) even though that first independence would only last 1 day. Estonia has however enjoyed 27 years of independence since the fall of the iron curtain in 1991 however we were left with the impression that the multiple conquests over the last 600 years by the Fins, Swedes, Russians, Germans etc have left their mark on the country’s 1.3 million inhabitants in 2018.

From independence square, we walked up into the Toone area of Tallin visiting the old town wall and towers and hearing about the battles with Ivan the Terrible and later the Swedes and there are even some stone cannonballs from Ivan the Terribles army that were built into the recnstructed tower after Ivan’s retreat. We then proceeded up to the Parliament building, a palace built by Russian Queen Catherine as well as a Russian Orthodox Church opposite where we saw a practitioner using unorthodox methods of acquiring some Holy Water. We then proceeded to a Lutheran church which was the scene of the massacre of 100 Danish soldiers by some monks of the brotherhood of the sword. We then proceeded to a great lookout overlooking the old town and finished the walking tour back in the town square.

After grabbing a bite to eat, we took a tour of the tower museum and walked part of the old town wall. The tower became obsolete in the 1600’s but was used as a water supply storage after that time. The museum gave as a great insight into the history of water supply and waste water management from the 1500’s to present. In the evening, we ventured back to the town square and had some dinner tucker at one of the alfresco restaurants.

---

Photos

Tallinn
We start our free guided tour at the tourist information centre in Tallinn

Tallinn
Tish in Indepence Square with the 1918 independence memorial in the background.

Tallinn
Banner on a building in Independence Square signifying 100 years of Estonian first independence (1918-2018) which unfortunately only lasted 1 day before the Soviets took it away.

Tallinn
Tower which was part of the town fortifications in the 1600’s but after becoming obsolete was reused as a town water supply storage

Tallinn
Stone cannonballs built into the Tallinn wall tower which were fired by Ivan the Terribles Russian army in the 1500’s.

Tallinn
Tallinn Parliament Building which was built by the Russian queen Catherine when Russia ruled over Estonia in the 1700’s.

Tallinn
Russian Oryhodox Church opposite the Parliament building erected by the Russian Queen Catherine in the 1700’s when they ruled Estonia

Tallinn
View of Old Town Tallinn for the Toone Lookout

Tallinn
View of Old Tallinn from the Toone lookout.

Tallinn
View of Toone part of Tallin including the President’s residence from below.

Tallinn
Tallin Town Hall - note the dragons near the eaves which discharge stormwater runoff from the roof when it rains

Tallinn
Lunch tucker time in the basement of one of the medieval buildings around the town square

Tallinn
Tish inside the Tower museum with a soviet carbonated water machine which were everywhere around the Soviet Union in the 1980’s

Tallinn
Tish in the Old Town Wall tower which became a town water storage and is now a museum with a demonstration of water filtration behind her.

Tallinn
Executioners House in medieval Tallin days

Tallinn
Old Town Wall

Tallinn
Walking the Tallinn old town wall in the Toone area of Tallinn

Tallinn
Tish trys on some armour at the old town wall tower museum

Tallinn
This just has to be an Emu Tree of Orstrich Tree?

Tallinn
Side view of the Russian Orthodox Church opposite the Parliament building in Tallinn

Tallinn
Inside the Russian Orthodox Church on the Toone area of Tallinn

Comments

[Shauna Carroll]

LAST LEG!!
Fascinating history lessons guys! And the tucker throughout looks delish! (Beats spaghetti bolognese at home.... again!!) Where to next?? Must be nearly ready to start the homeward journey! Looking forward to an update of the last leg. Bon voyage Tish & Andrew! Safe home! Love Shauna, Fred & Bonnie. And Papa & GanGan xx

[Maureen]

Memories!!!!
Finally sat down and caught up with all your adventures. I loved St Petersburg so you reminded me of so many points of interest. Brian and I are leaving Adelaide for Europe as you return. Enjoy your last few days.