Tere!

Today we are going by bus for a 5 hours long drive to Tallinn. It took us an hour at the border of Russia an Estonia. We are staying in the Tatariv53 hotel in Tallinn.Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, 80 km (50 mi) south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is ranked as a global city and has been listed among the top 10 digital cities in the world.The city was a European Capital of Culture for 2011, along with Turku, Finland.

Tallinn is the oldest capital city in Northern Europe.The city was known as Reval from the 13th century until 1917.

When we arrived in Tallinn we had a little walk into the city. We visited Toompea, this is a limestone hill in the centre of the city, towering over Lower Town, home to the former Royal Castle and now the centre of government. We saw Toompea Castle, The Great Coastal Gate, the Dome Church (Toomkirik), Kadriorg Park and its Palace, the Oleviste Church and the Aleksander Nevsky Cathedral. Later that evening we went to a restaurant and had a great dinner with some drinks (beers and shots).

The day after we had a look around in the tunnels of Tallinn, under below the Bastions, dug in the 17th. century during the time of Swedish rule. This defensive tunnel system enabled the movement of soldiers and ammunition and can be toured. Other tunnels are located beneath Harju Hill and Linda Hill at the edge of Toompea, which are now open for tours. These were also built in the 1670s but renovated into bomb shelters in time for World War II, Electricity, running water, ventilation and phones were added during the Sovjet period.

We didn't go out the last night because we had to go early the next day to Riga (Latvia).

Hüvasti Tallinn! Siin me läheme Riia

Edwin