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A Weekend in Tallinn

The bathroom is spinning and I'm on my knees with my head in the toilet of my hotel room. This isn't where I expected to be when I landed in Tallinn just five hours earlier. The problem began when we decided to head to the bar across from the hotel to sample some traditional Estonian food and drinks.
 
The capital of Estonia sits on the Baltic Sea. Tallinn has existed since the medieval period and it's Old Town is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There's much more to Tallinn than it's medieval past, like much of Eastern Europe it was shaped during the 20th Century by war and Soviet Rule.
 
Our hotel is situated on the edge of the old town near to the towering Toompea Castle, it's walls seemingly impenetrable. Once inside the walls though, the Old Town is full of charm and character. It's winding and sometimes steep cobbled streets are full of sweet little shops, cafes and restaurants. The main square feels a little touristy with its themed restaurants but this doesn't detract from the ancient buildings. It's winter and while workers begin erecting the stalls for the Christmas Markets, locals wander through in thick coats and woolen hats.
 
Making our way toward the other side of the Old Town, we pass a stunning row of stalls selling roses. Arranged uniformly in every imaginable colour, the perfect petals look magnificent despite the dull overcast sky. Crossing back through the city wall, ahead lies the tall Viru Hotel. During Estonia's Soviet past, this was an official stopping place for foreign visitors. Apparently every room was spied on by KGB agents housed in the building. It now houses a KGB museum and small shopping mall.
 
The Rotermann Quarter sits between the Old Town and the port. This is the industrial part of the city which is slowly being regenerated. New bars and shops are popping up here and it's definitely worth exploring. Once we had wondered through this area, we continued to the port and the Seaplane Harbour. This museum is housed in a huge domed hanger built during the beginning of the 20th Century. It contains military aircraft, guns and a submarine built in England for the Estonian Navy in the 1930's.
 
There's plenty to fill a weekend in Tallinn and I would definitely recommend it as an affordable break. Try the local food but beware the Estonian Vodka and especially the moonshine. It's all great until you have to see it again! Terviseks! (Estonian for Cheers!)

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Stairs climb the walls of the Old Town
A tourist takes a selfie in the centre of Tallinn
A cobbled street in the medieval Old Town
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