Tallinn, Estonia

When told I was going to Estonia, I said "Isn't that an imaginary place from a Disney movie?" Upon arriving, I realized that I was right. Tallinn, Estonia couldn't be a real place....it was too whimsical. As we strolled down the cobble-stone streets, music played as if coming from the clouds. The town folk were dressed in sheepskin, linen and flax clothing, spinning wool into thread as we looked on. We were completely enchanted with this little town and can't wait to go back and spend days and days exploring and taking in all that is Estonia.

On the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland lies Tallinn, the capital of Estonia. Though the city has been bombed and pillaged many times, much of the town as it was in medieval times remains.








We started our tour at the pier where even the sailboats seemed placed as a set to a movie. We passed through Old Town where every outdoor cafe looked as if from a scene from the latest romantic comedy. We walked along narrow cobblestone streets to the Town Hall Square. It was the most picturesque place I had ever seen. All of the buildings were painted green or yellow, with red gardinias and pink and orange gerber daisies growing from their window boxes. It was incredible that all of these were built in the 13th and 14th centuries.










As we walked, we came upon Vene Street and the Medieval Master's Courtyard....a little alley way tucked in between tall store fronts. We heard a cello, violin and piano playing at the end of the alley. Pure magic and romance.....





This is where we found the famous Chocolat de Pierre. This charming little cafe is where you will find the absolute best hot chocolate on this planet. It wasn't hot cocoa like we know it.......all that I can say is that it is from another world. We also were graced by the presence of one of the master confectioners who taught us how to make delicious fillings for truffles, and then cover them with chocolate. We made a few truffles with different flavors like almonds, coconut, hazelnuts, cherries, or whatever else sounds like it could possibly taste good when added to chocolate....all while being serenaded by the sounds of good music.






After we made our truffles, we headed back to Old Town square on Müürivahe Lane. Because the winters are so incredibly dark and cold, everyone in town stays outside during the summer in the square either selling homemade wool and linen or handmade bowls....or they sit at one of the outdoor cafes sipping something delicious, I'm sure.







At the curbside of one of these cafes, is a marker of half of a cross. This marks the sight of the only public beheading to ever take place in the square. The story goes like this......A priest asked one of his servants to bring him an omelet. When he was dissatified with it, he asked her to bring him another. He didn't like this one either. Then, after she brought him the third omelet, he was so angry that his omelet was bad, that he killed the servant with an ax. (Pleasant, I know.) Feeling remorse, he turned himself in and was then beheaded in the town square and it was witnessed by all of the towns people. This is the only unpleasant thing we heard about Estonia. Although, I think that we were only told the wonderful and good things by our tour guide Anna (Byron says she's easy on the eyes). Funny how there's not one picture of her--I was taking the pictures. But there is plenty of video--Byron had the video camera. We even had stray Estonian boys hanging out with our group just so they could watch and listen to Anna.....I did take a picture of them.



Oh how we loved this fairy tale place. Tallinn will forever be etched in our minds as one of the most beautiful and magical places that we've ever been. I can't wait for the day that we return and stay in a little cottage down one of the cobblestone alleyways....maybe across the way from Chocolat de Pierre....






Next....3 days in St. Petersburg, Russia.