Stepping off the boat in Tallinn, Estonia, you feel that you've traveled further back in time than any other place in Scandinavia. While it has modernized since the end of Soviet domination in 1991 it still has some of the Soviet influence from the people. It is also preserves it's Old World ambiance of its walled town center, colorfully painted houses and cobbled lanes. Out side the city are many of the Soviet built apartment houses built of concrete blocks and looking depressing. Here Linda is in front of one of the gates to the old city and of course shopping!!
It is fun to talk to our guide about her experiences. Having never tasted a banana or pineapple until 15 years ago. Being told the TV shows they got from Helsinki were all propaganda. Never being able to travel anywhere other than in the country. And of course the terrible stories of the hundreds of thousands of Estonians shipped off to Siberia.
This is Linda with
several of our group. The guy in the middle is Father Dan a Roman Catholic Priest. In front of Linda is Sister Joan our good friend and leader of the tour. The picture of the Patkuli Viewpoint with the tower of St. Olav's church. Beyond that is the Baltic Sea looking out towards Helsinki about 50 miles away. Below is the lower town medieval city.
Some of the beautiful buildings in the old city of Tallinn. Lots of little courtyards surrounded by several buildings much of which is intact from medieval days.
Our guide pictured here with Linda was a true delight. Raised during the days of Soviet control she entertained us with Estonian humor most at the expense of the Soviets. She explained the people really did not dislike the Russian people just their government. One of her jokes about Estonians was that you could tell the difference between and introvert and an extrovert. When talking "the Estonian introvert looked at his shoes while the extrovert looked at your shoes"
The town square was very picturesque and the restaurants were very good. The beer excellent!
A left over from the days of Soviet control of Tallinn, this is the Hotel Sokos Viru. It's one of the few built by the Soviets and is the butt of jokes about the Soviets. The Estonians claim it was build out of micro-cement. That there are so many listening devices built into the structure that it maybe what is holding it together.
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