Tallinn
ESTONIA | Thursday, 21 June 2012 | Views [475]
Reluctantly I left Finland by taking the ferry from Helsinki
to Tallinn. The Journey was shrouded in fog and rain but enlivened by a very
camp Swiss American artist who insisted in crabbing my arm and insisting that I
visit him soon! Yes, like that’s going to happen! Tallinn was a wonderful
surprise, the Old Town, restored or at least in the process of being restored
and the new parts all glass and concrete. The weather might also have helped
but I felt happy and at ease here straight away. The people have been friendly
and very helpful and seem genuinely happy to see tourists, even the German who
today complained very loudly and seriously, both to the waiter and to the
manager of the café, that I had got more Spaghetti than him. I kid you not! I’ll
not bore you with all the history which is long and complex, but I will say
that since 1989 when Estonia won independence from the Soviet Union, Not only have they
done a grand job of tarting up the city! they have done a fantastic job of The Summer Palace (Kadriorg)of Peter 1 and his 2nd wife Catherine (he didn't divorce or anull his first marrage) We in Britain have helped as
everywhere you go the "EU" has financed much of the work. One or 2 of the new
buildings are to say the least worth looking at including the Botanical gardens
and Kumu the art gallery. When you look at the “Up
the Down Stair” piece, maybe you can answer me, Is it art? I’ve been here for 4 days
now and I can honestly say to you all, it’s definitely worth a visit!
