Advertisement
Published: July 31st 2023
Edit Blog Post
To Tallinn. Our 4th country so far unless you include transit stops then 6th country.
Tallinn is the capital of Estonia. It is just a stones throw from St Petersburg (in Russia). Again, close but not interested in crossing the border.
We got to the ferry terminal to see masses of people leaving the ship. They turn them around very quickly. Tickets done and into the waiting area with lots and lots of others. Suitcases, dogs, kids etc.
Our turn and on we get. Where to go. No idea. End up at the pointy end 1 level down from the bridge. Can see the skipper getting ready to go and right on time we slip away from the dock. Giant u turn then head out through the many little islands towards Tallinn.
Breeze picks up - more like a strong wind now so inside. Look for seats in the cafe but all taken. End up at the blunt end in a bar. Seats beside a window for the view. Watching the Melbourne Richmond game scores which at first were horrible then got better in the last quarter. Jessica ends up doing a video call so I can
watch the last 2 minutes. Good result.
Eventually find Tallinn. We have a guide arranged. Coming down the escalator we see our name on a piece of paper. Our guide welcomes us then we see another sign with our name. This is our driver for the first part of the tour.
We get into the car and our guide and the driver are in earnest Estonian discussion. We leave and our main guide talks to us. She is good but there appears to be a bit of conflict between her and the driver.
Eventually sort that out and we are shown lots of stuff in the newer part of town. A few photo stops then we get to the old town where our drivers job is done. Now we walk.
Cobble stone streets are a bugger to walk on but there is no rush. More interesting facts and information. Good views over the old town and new parts as well. Finally get down into the main square and then our guide shows us how to get back to the ferry terminal.
We bid her farewell and go back and have a cold beer and some
fries. Nice way to finish our tour. Walk back to the terminal without getting lost. New tickets issued and we are off. Again, people everywhere.
Like sheep we followed the crowd. Bloody hell. Was the crowd big. Finally got on the ship. We had decided that we would eat on board so headed for the restaurant. Got there. 2 choices, buffet or a la carte. Buffet had huge numbers going in so guess what - a la carte.
Waiters lined up. Asked if we should have booked. Nope, follow me. Lots of tables for 4 along the windows. Baulked a little when our waiter said to sit where we liked. Ok, done. Window seat and very personal service - i.e. No one else here yet.
Turned out to be a great choice. Fantastic menu options, beer and wine so a really pleasant way to cross the whatever sea we crossed to get back to Helsinki.
Our waiter provided another history lesson about Estonia so even betterer.
Still sitting at our table while the plebs are fighting for space in the outer areas. Winner winner chicken dinner.
Off the ship and into a taxi. Traffic
is chaotic with cars and trucks coming off the ship. Eventually make it away from the port and to our hotel. Now to pack the bags for our last internal/international flight to Oslo tomorrow.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.079s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 12; qc: 29; dbt: 0.0406s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb