TELLIN’ about TALLINN

Hopping from a Nordic Country to a Baltic Country with least hassle could not have been this easier. Here I am penning down the exciting visit we made to Estonia from Finland. A three-hour cruise ride across the Baltic sea brought us to a different world all together. Before embarking on to Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, much needs to be said about the sailing experience. The ship we rode was a ‘Star’ cruise, nothing short of a star hotel. A luxury ship comprising of several restaurants, superior cabins, relaxing decks, huge compartments for drive- onboard cars and trucks. A small floating town, to be precise!

Disembarking from the ship, we waded through a typical European city dotted with ancient magnificent structures, towering Cathedral, well-defined sidewalks, a cute fishing harbor, vast greenery of well-kept gardens, crisscrossing of trams, noiseless vehicles zooming past, a downtown with those skyscrapers, specialty  foods and of course the omnipresent Starbucks!!

With the all- friendly map guiding us, we kept walking to our destination “Old Town of Tallinn”. From a distance, at an unassuming place, we could see the rough stoned ancient Watch Tower. We had reached the entrance to the old town. Even from the outside, I could see cobblestoned huge old mansions, hoofed-tiled lanes.

I could feel the child in me was awakened-I was getting transported in the time machine to my younger days when author Goscinny and artist Uderzo dominated me with their creation of the evergreen characters Asterix and Obelix. Somehow, I identified the place as a Gaul village. Believe me, the first souvenir shop I encountered in the later part of the visit of the place had many varieties of artefacts of various Gaul warriors –what a coincidence it was!!

One cannot help but be in awe the way the Estonians have preserved these Medieval period super structures in Tallinn town. The thirteenth century Town Hall built in Gothic style, the historic St.Nicholas Church, the magnificent rustic  clock tower are places that cannot miss our wondering eyes. The old town-the cultural hub of Estonia, was {and still is} the ‘much happening place’. The whole atmosphere is charged up with high voltage joy and festivity. It is expressed by way of thematic Music, Dance, Songs. There is an expectation in the air for the excitement that gets unfurling in front of our eyes. The whole community is involved in spreading this fun.

The sound and music show –a spectacular show of dramatic music fills our ears, the multicolor lights are beamed in huge wall of the Cathedral which doubles as the screen with the narrators mesmerizing voice, chiming bells synchronized in a unique way to depict the tumultuous history of Estonia, draws big crowds. To add it to all, the chill breeze that is all prevalent, takes one to a different level.

It took quite a while for us to return to the present. It was time for me to take off the imaginary Viking hat of Asterix that was adorning my head.

Till such time I visited Estonia, little did I know that Tallinn boasts a global Smart city status and considered to be in the top ten ‘digital cities’ in the world. In fact, Tallinn was the first “all digital city” in the whole of Europe about a decade and half back. I came across many Indian crowd, not just tourists, but ones who are living there. No wonder there are many Indian Restaurants in the old town.

Already we treaded more than ten kilometers and we had our late-night ship back to Helsinki.

With our thoughts and minds still embedded with surprises Tallinn had offered us, we were ready to cross the Baltic Sea.

Till I lace up for the next…

J.Ram