Scandinavia Day Thirteen: An Unscheduled Visit To Enchanting Tallinn Estonia On The Last Day Of Our Tour.

It was another early start on the last day of our tour of Scandinavia. Our group decided to take the 53 mile trip over the Baltic Sea to Tallinn the capitol of Estonia. I would have liked to have seen more of Helsinki but was excited to see another, even more exotic country. 

Our ferry left Helsinki harbor under bright sunshine and made the 53 mile trip in about a  little under two hours. We passed a few cruise ships along the way including the Viking ferry that brought us to Finland. We approached Estonia and I was impressed by the church steeples and colorful houses of medieval Tallinn. This is a link to some more photographs of our ferry ride to Tallinn. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/scandinavia-july-26-august-8-2015/nggallery/scandinavia-july-25-august-8-2015/tallin-estonia-ferry-ride-august-7-2015

We left our ferry , and since this was not part of the tour we were on our own, and walked through the old city wall into the cobblestone streets of Tallinn.  One of our group led us on a tour of the many old building, including the six hundred year old Great Guild Hall.

The narrow streets were lined with shops and restaurants.  This is a link to some more photographs of our morning walk https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/scandinavia-july-26-august-8-2015/nggallery/scandinavia-july-25-august-8-2015/tallin-estonia-morning-town-walk-august-7-2015

We stopped to visit, and climb the narrow spiral steps of ,the famous St. Olaf’s church for a spectacular view of the city. The climb was steep and the steps narrow but the breathtaking view was so worth it.

  This was, at one time during the middle ages the tallest structure in Europe. This os a link to some more photographs of our visit to the church. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/scandinavia-july-26-august-8-2015/nggallery/scandinavia-july-25-august-8-2015/tallinn-estonia-st-olafs-church-august-7-2015

We then continued our walk through the busy narrow streets of old town and we entered into the crowded old town square. The square was surrounded by many old and colorful buildings.

We toured the square and visited the historic Holy Spirit Church.  I love the feeling I get in old churches and imagine all of the human history that took place here over the centuries. Weddings in the spring, Christmas celebrations in the cold of winter, funerals throughout the year and so many other events . It was like the place held all these memories in it’s old walls. 

We than walked around a bit and toured the famous Niguliste Church Museum. Much of the interior of the old church was burned during World War Two but there where still many exhibits on display including The Dance of Death, depicting how all of  us, peasant or Pope is mortal . So much to see but we, again , did not have a lot of time. . This is a link to some more photographs of the many exhibits in the churches . https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/scandinavia-july-26-august-8-2015/nggallery/scandinavia-july-25-august-8-2015/tallinn-estonia-holy-spirit-church-and-niguliste-church-museum-august-7-2015

We then made our way slowly back to the lower town and stooped to visit beautiful Russian Orthodox Cathedral. This was one of the most splendid churches I visited on the trip but, unfortunately, we weren’t aloud to take photographs.

We then walked down the hill to the lower town where I picked up a small painting from a local artist. This is a link to some more photographs of our afternoon walk https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/scandinavia-july-26-august-8-2015/nggallery/scandinavia-july-25-august-8-2015/tallin-estonia-town-square-and-afternoon-walk-august-7-2015

My sister and her friends decided to shop so I walked back to the ferry dock and sat by the water  and relax until it was time to leave. Here is a link to a few photographs  of my time at the waterside. https://keepyoureyespeeled.net/scandinavia-july-26-august-8-2015/nggallery/scandinavia-july-25-august-8-2015/tallinn-estonia-seaside-august-7-2015

I fell asleep on the ferry ride back. We got in late but met for one last drink together as a group. My sister and our friends an d a nice last meal at a local restaurant in Helsinki. I had an early flight so was in bed early dreaming about the wonderful two weeks I spent in Scandinavia, Glad I was able to share it with you.  Please feel free to ask any question you may have since I haven’t had a lot of time to put into these blog posts. I hope I could do better on my next trip. Hope you all follow me in Australia next February.

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.  ~St. Augustine