"Welcome to Tallinn, Estonia" Estonia by 807Wheaton

To me, one of the Baltic's great surprises is the beautiful city of Tallinn. The oldest parts visible today are the corner towers, including the one nicknamed Pikk Hermann. Within its stoutly build wall, Tallinn grew to reflect the very diverse character of its population. The oak leaf is the national symbol of Estonia, and the official Coat of Arms is 3 blue lions or cats surrounded by gold oakleaves. Their flag is blue, black and white.
There are over 200 VT members that live in Tallinn and I feel most inadequate writing a few words about such a lovely place, and I'm sure a lovely country. It was hard to keep every detail about the churches straight and the tour guide told so many lively tales that I'm sure I have a few things mixed up - but any corrections are welcome.

Toompea Hill

Even though it was rainy and drizzly the day we stopped in Tallinn, we were able to get a very nice view of the city from Toompea Hill. Rising dramatically above its port, Tallinn is proud of being one of Northern Europe's best preserved medieval towns. The native Estonians built their first stronghold on Toopea Hill. Defended by steep slopes on three sides, it was the perfect place for a citadel.
If you look out into the blue horizon, two cruise ships are visible.

Stoutly built walls in Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn is tucked inside its stout wall. There are two defined parts to the city: The Upper Town which is quiet and dignified and the Lower Town which is full of life and bustle. Even though we were only in Tallinn a half a day, we enjoyed the well preserved architecture and cobblestone streets, especially near Town Hall Square, home to cafes, restaurants and boutiques. There is a lot of amber here in the shops. In fact, amber is one of the main things to purchase in many of the Baltic ports.

• Pros:Reminders of a thousand-year culture are everywhere
• Cons:Often Rainy and Cold
• In a nutshell:Modern and friendly people