It was very early in the morning as we approached Tallinn, but the sun was already there to meet us. Most passengers were still asleep; but the view on top deck was nice. We were followed by an Italian cruise ship the Costa Atlantica. As I found out later, aboard that ship was the young lady who sat next to me at the ballet in St. Petersburg, her name is Flavia. We would meet again during the day in Tallinn. . . .
Both ships docked along the new pier, just north of the normal harbor.

We were ready to disembark; all six of us (I am usually taking pictures). For some of those who come here, you might enjoy one of the colorful (although empty) hop-on busses along the pier. They are nice for those who cannot (or don't want) to walk the short distance to this scenic town. But, it so easy to explore Tallinn on your own, so don't sign up for a ship tour, nor take a taxi!!!
After we left the ship and walked to the gate, we noticed that besides the Italian cruise ship, there was another one in port, the Adriana. We wondered what the crowds would be like in town ???

It didn't take long to find our way. All we had to do is head for the spire of the tall church you see above. After a couple busy streets to cross (they are not as bad as what we are used to in big US cities) and climbing some steps to the gate: voila, we were at Roosikrants, the stubby tower in front of you. This formitable structure was at one time part of the city wall. It was the Great Coastal Gate; the entrance for most merchants who arrived by ship to trade their goods in Tallinn. The tower was built during the 16th century. It had 155 openings for archers and later for cannons, had a diameter of 82 feet, but was only 65 feet high. It was named Roosikrants; however, because of its shape, it became known as “Fat Margaret”.

But now I am repeating what I showed before in the "Tallinn Walking Tour". In fact, that is what we did: take the tour and add the following pictures and some comments. Most are pictures of more scenic places, comments refer to pleasures and happenings for our party of six that day. So let's start the 'Walk' at the Great Coastal Gate. No comments.

Sorry, but I do have a few comments here.
The alley above is the way towards the top of Toompea. Near the bottom of this walk are a couple little shops.
So I ask one of the lady shopkeepers, sitting along the wall, "How do you say 'Good morning' in Estonian".
She looks at me and says something like 'Doboreh Utreh'.
"That sounds like Russian to me," I replied. She shrugs, and turns away as of to say "Bye". A Russian Shop?
A little further up the hill I see a girl selling postcards and other small souvenirs. So I say "Doboreh Utreh" to her. She gives me a look that would have killed me if it could.
That was the wrong thing to say and I respond, "I am sorry, but how do you say 'Good morning' in Estonia?"
She smiles, says something I totally did not understand, and then adds, "I hate Russians!"
I love talking to people and get a first hand impression about what is going on, despite our tourist attitudes.
How about a few front doors that we saw in Tallinn?

Near the top of the hill, we met another industrious young girl selling bottled water and sodas.
After a few words of polite conversation, I asked, "Can I take your picture?"
"Only if you will send me a copy," was her reply, and gave me her email address in Estonia.
I have not yet sent the following poor pictures of this cute blue-eyed blond young woman who would have loved to come with us to the USA, but I will. It was fun to talk to her on the spot.

By now we were getting thirsty and a bit hungry. So it was time to find the Olde Hansa near the corner of the main square of old town. After a peek inside, with all its candle lit ambience, we decided that the wonderful weather we had thus far was more important and took a table on the deck. Thirsty? Well, there are several kinds of beer and some nice soups and platters with reindeer sausage, sweet potatoes and cabbage.

I did not like the honey-beer (too sweet, of course), and Sharon thought the herbed beer was worse than my Heineken. But we had fun, filled our bellies and then used the toilets. Now, I never take a camera into the john, but here I did in order to show you what candle light will be like for a quiet leak. I am a bit ashamed to show it, but it was a nice stop after the horrible beers we had. I understand that the lady's room was even better with a throne.

We chatted with the young couple who had been on the raised platform yelling and joking trying to attract more customers. They were interested in talking to us as well and smiled broadly when Sharon told them about the movie 'The Singing Revolution' that we had seen in San Francisco. It is a documentary about how the Estonians had endured the wrath of the Nazis and Russians and regained their independence not by force but by singing their national songs. They still gather every year in Tallinn by the hundreds of thousands to sing, and these youngsters told us all about that. It was amazing to hear them speak enthusiastically in almost perfect English.

From here we walked back to the harbor and our ship. Next port of call: Stockholm.