Tallinn day 1

Breakfast in Estonia is dark bread, sliced meat, cucumbers, and cheese...another Sõle design of course!

Juust means cheese

JC had a dentist appointment in this very modern area

and Eda and I went to Stockmann for  food. Here are some very Estonian food items at the supermarket  section...this is Kama jahu which is just delicious in yogurt...perfect breakfast food.

They also have Mulgi kapsad ready to heat in a jar! The sign on the wall behind says "sunny summer cooking!" We are hoping for lots of sunshine in the days to come.

This is a very yummy winter meal that takes several hours to prepare...combines sauerkraut, pearl barley and pork...it is a sort of casserole and I make it at home on occasion. That went right into our cart. By the way...we had some last night for supper...it was just like home made!!

We also went over to the open air market to buy some freshly baked and still warm Georgian cheese bread and  fresh red cherries.

We were off to lunch at Ebe's new home. She lives in an area which is going through much renovation at the foot of Vana Linn and near the harbor. The old wooden Estonian houses are being restored one by one and new cafes, restaurants and shops have started to fill the area.

They are close to everything and there is a tram that runs near by to get you anywhere. Also the new railway system is in place here.

New orange trains ready to roll

Her home is in a new apartment building and she has the prettiest terrace! See the flowers up there?

Our direction for the afternoon was to walk up to Toompea and through the Vana Linn streets which are just beautiful. This is at the bottom of the hill

...and our goal is up there...that is the Estonian Parliament building.

Why don't you follow us up the steps to Toompea....
first view of towers which are part of the fortifications that wrapped around the city

Higher still

A little more

Now look down...see that tiny person? We began the walk there.

More towers and churches

Nice view down to the street

Another street view

Here we are...you will see some very pretty colors of buildings. The parliament building is actually rose colored.

Also some interesting gates of wrought iron

The streets up here are cobblestone

my shoes are in the corner!!

Around the corner from the souvenir shop we see the Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox cathedral and of course many cafés and restaurants in every possible space. There is Robert with his bike too!

This particular building is the Neitsitorn (Maiden Tower) which was first metionned around 1373. It was a guard fortress, then a prison and then later used for artists studios (I would love to felt in this place!!!!)
It has been renovated and houses a museum and a cafe/restaurant that has three stories with a great view of Tallinn.

Next to this is the Kiek in de Kök (Peek in the kitchen) tower which was also part of the fortifications.

This downspout for rain is on the edge of Pikk Jalg street  (Long Leg ):

from which you can look down here.

We walked down the other side of the hill past the Tallinn archery school and left the towers behind

archery lessons going on

 heading towards Vabadus Valjak (Freedom Square) with Jaani Kirik in the background. My father liked this church.

Our destination was the City Hall square and a cup of coffee outside...the sun was peeking out! Also, a craftsman's market was in full swing there.

What I particularly like about old town Tallinn are the great colors of the building which make a dark winter cheerful I think and also the building shapes with cut outs that look lacey and windows of varied sizes. It does not look austere and even if it is not sunny it feels cheerful somehow like the buildings are smiling maybe.

We ended our walk for the day in front of the high school my father attended...it is the pale yellow building in the background.

I hope you enjoyed this first walk around Tallinn...can you tell how happy I am to be here??!!