Tom and Tallinn

Tom visited this week but had to leave on Saturday so that's a bummer; we had such a great time during his visit! I took him on a tour of Old Town, and we also got a private sauna with pool for a few hours and climbed Vana Toomas (that means 'Old Thomas'...ha ha!) which was ok on the way up but down was a little scary because the steps were really steep and dark...I can't imagine them rushing up those stairs in the old days. We also went to the Tallinn Zoo (last group of pictures), Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Niguliste Church, then we went to the Kadriorg area of Tallinn where we went to the palace of Peter the Great, the Kumu art museum, Kadriog park and the Russalka Monument. We discovered a great Mexican restaurant (Cantina Carramba) in the area near the park...who would think you would find very good Mexican food in Estonia of all places? After lunch, we went for a walk on the beach...there were some swans down by the water (gulf of Finland) and these were the biggest swans I have ever seen...they had to be half my height when they stood up! Tom's final night we went to dinner at Olde Hansa...a totally tourist place but you have to do it...it is a big old building in Old Town that is done up like a merchant's home. The food was better than I had expected but the place is more about the atmosphere.

Kumu art museum was a little boring because there were alot of pictures of people I've never heard of by artists I have never heard of. However, there were a few pieces we really liked...and one that proves that art is subjective. I am offering a prize to the best caption for this piece of art (last one above with the dolls' heads)...winner gets a box of Kalev chocolates. So post a comment with your best caption for this piece of 'art'.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms (especially mine!)

Tallinn is waking up from her winter rest. All around there is a flurry of activity...the umbrellas are going up on the cafes, new activities and stands are getting set up in anticipation of the tourists, flowers are starting to bloom. The weather has been very nice this week and today I didn't even need a coat!

I had a really great opportunity to go to the Parliament this week. Estonia was celebrating its 90th Parliamentary anniversary. I had a chance to tour the building and see the Prime Minister debating an issue (they kept ringing the bell when he went over allotted time) as well as to see the parliamentary offices for the six political parties. I even had a a chance to meet some of the candidates for the upcoming elections. (That is me with Anto Liivat, one of the candidates to the EU. He was very nice...he asked several questions about where I am from and what I think of Estonia so far. I think he would be a very good representative for this country and I hope he does well in the election...of course, I don't get a vote!)

I also went on a walking tour of Old Town and the 'secret tunnels' tour, which is neat. They tell you about how these old tunnels under the city have been used throughout the various wars and occupations and you get to walk down through them, at least the part that is open. They don't really know where the tunnels end because there is deep water and part of the tunnels are walled off so until they get the water out and take down the wall, they won't know. My tour guide for the Old Town tour was great...no one else showed up so he just took me around, which was great cause I got to ask all the questions I wanted. Afterwards, I went for a look at the Kalev marzipan room (can you believe all those figures of the monkeys, rabbits and penguins are candy?) with all their pretty handcrafted treats. They are all too pretty to eat!

I also got to try the African Kitchen which was a really cool restaurant with african/caribbean food that plays african music and reggae (you know me, I find reggae wherever in the world I go). The food was pretty good but the atmosphere was awesome! I will definitely have to go there again.

So this was my time spent in Tallinn this week, at least the highlights. I am going to dinner with Merit at Elevant tonight...I am looking forward to trying it as a bunch of people have recommended it (it is one of Merit's favorites).