Tallinn
Sunday, August 2nd. After an early lunch onboard, we bought round trip shuttle tickets to Tallinn, Estonia.
Tallinn is one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval cities, with its Old Town reflecting centuries of Danish, German, Swedish, and Russian influence and its importance as a Hanseatic trading center. The medieval Viru Gate, dating from the 14th century, once formed part of a much larger fortified entrance; today its two remaining round towers have become one of Tallinn’s most recognizable symbols. Nearby, the Stolting Tower, also dating to the 14th century, is one of the city wall’s oldest surviving towers. At the heart of the Old Town, Town Hall Square has served as a marketplace and gathering place since the Middle Ages, dominated by the Gothic Town Hall completed in 1404. On Toompea Hill, the ornate Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in 1894–1900 during the Russian Empire, reflects a later chapter of Tallinn’s history, while the Maiden’s Tower, a 14th-century defensive tower, forms part of the old city fortifications overlooking the Danish King’s Garden. Among Tallinn’s more unusual sights are the relief sculpture honoring theater director Voldemar Panso, whose portrait emerges from the wall of the theater school he founded, and the haunting, faceless bronze monk sculptures in the Danish King’s Garden, which evoke the city’s medieval religious past and legends.
After touring around, we returned to the ship to relax then enjoyed the buffet dinner. Except Lisa and Stan who returned to a part of town they had been to before where they again climbed 250 steps.
The theater production was entertaining as usual, and afterward it was back to Deck 14 for more ice cream from Esma! Lisa also found some pineapple flambe to enjoy with her ice cream while we all discussed the next day’s plans for Helsinki, Finland.
