Tallinn nearing the end of the line…

After my brief walk back in time to Soviet era Minsk I was glad to return back to the future in Tallinn, Estonia.  This beautiful old port city on the Gulf of Finland has been dominated at different times by Medieval German Knights, Swedes and Russians.  And each conquerer left their mark on both the Old City’s architecture and culture.  And just like Estonia’s neighbor Latvia this country is a tourist’s dream.

The city has a beautiful and well preserved Walled Old City, quaint cobblestone streets and lanes lined by majestic old four and five story buildings in a variety of architectural styles and old beautiful church steeples poking up over the slate roof tops in any direction you cast your eyes.

What more could I ask for – great sites, great food, good beer and wine, interesting shopping for amber and traditional Estonian goods – you might ask?  Well I was fortunate enough to have the friends I made in Moonshine’s in Old Town Riga join me for my visit to Tallinn.  Nelda’s god son lives in Tallinn and owns a restaurant on the Gulf of Finland so they joined me for my visit.

Kaylana, Nelda and I enjoyed wandering thru the cobblestone lanes, touring the Kiek In de Kok, exploring the underground tunnels below the fortress walls, admiring the artwork in church after church, sampling the food /wine/beer in cafe after Old Town cafe, and downing a few drinks at the Sigmund Freud Pub.

But the highlight of the visit was dinner at Nelda’s god son’s beachside Cafe Velvet.  Being with the God Mother allowed us to score the best table in the house.  In Addition to being treated to a gourmet meal we were fortunate to enjoy quite a show as a dozen or more wind and kite surfers criss crossed the surf in front of our table performing incredible feats of  athleticism and fantastic acrobatic tricks in the stiff winds coming off the Gulf.   If you ever get to Tallinn make sure. you make time for Cafe Velvet – you will not be disappointed.

A couple of amusing items about Tallinn.  First the oddly named Kiek In de Kok Tower.  My juvenile male mind immediately went to it was Estonian for Kick in the Groin.  You will not be surprised to learn my translation was slightly off.  The real translation is “a peak into the kitchen”.  It seems that after the five story Kiek In de Kok Tower was constructed the guards realized they could see into the windows of all the houses facing the Tower. So of course they had to name the tower a peak into the kitchen or the Peeping Tom Tower.  The naming was a no brainer.

Second amusing historical point of interest is the Short Leg Gate Tower.  This tower next to the Danish King’s Garden was designed to keep the lower town of Tallinn separate from Toompea Hill.  Each night the Short Leg Gate would be locked to keep the unwashed masses of commoners from the lower town from bothering the nobles.  But even more important the gate was also supposed to keep out the ghosts from the Danish King’s Garden.

Supposedly the Short Leg Gate Tower is one of the most haunted places in Tallinn.  There have been sitings of an infamous executed black monk, a lion, and a ghostly galleon floating through the tower walls with its transparent sails flowing.

The third oddly named tower is the Maiden – ironic since the tower was once used as a prison for prostitutes.

But like the old saying goes – Eventually all good things must come to and end!  So I’m off to Stockholm to have a final dinner with my new Swedish friends Erik and Inger before my flight back to New York.

Photos of Tallinn attached…

The Short Leg Gate Tower – the most haunted place in Tallinn

Old Town Tallinn Gates

Gates to Old Town Tallinn

Nelda and Kaylana always ready to pose for one more photo

Wind surfers providing plenty of entertainment

Kaylana’s dinner choice. notice there is no photo of Nelda’s Seaweed Crap!

My tasty steak at Cafe Velvet

View from Cafe Velvet

Kaylana enjoying a front row seat to an incredible Kite Surfing demonstration

A fat dumb and happy ugly American after a great meal at Cafe Velvet

Riga’s Moonshine Girls – Kaylana and Nelda