July 20, Tallinn, Estonia

Estonians were dominated first by Sweden, then Russia 1720-1918 finally independent after WW I. In 1940 they were taken over by the soviet and sank into 50 years of communism. In 2004 Estonia joined the European Union. Estonia's population is 25% ethnically Russian.  Only 50 miles separate Helsinki, and Tallin; Stockholm is an overnight boat ride away. Tallinn's strengths are electronics and telecommunications. Skype originated in Tallinn. The country's nick name is E-stonia.

The Estonian's were under siege during the Soviet era and were not allowed to sing patriotic songs or wave their flag. On Aug 23, 1989, the people of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia held hands to make a Baltic human chain that stretched 360 miles from Tallinn to Vilnius in Lithuania. The Estonians kept singing and won their Independence in 1991. Today life is good for  Estonians. They are singing nation and a cultural loving nation that supports the arts, drama, and choral music with many notable conductors coming from Estonia.

We visited the beautiful old town of Tallinn.The only Russian Othodox Cathedral in Tallinn,  "The Alexaner Nevsky Cathedral".

Kohtuotsa Viewpoint.  Hotel Viru in the background was built from new Soviet wonder material called "micro-concrete" (60% concrete, 40% microphones)!!

Below is Pikk street, Tallinn's historic main drag.

Popularly called the Dome Church (Toomkirik) but officially the cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin. Once the church of Tallinn's wealthy German speaking aristocracy. Inside the church the walls are covered with more than 100 coats of arms. The earliest dates from the 1600s and the latest from around 1900. This collection is the largest in the world.

The town square (Raekoja Plats)

Through Viru Gate are many shops, with local artisans selling items made of wood, glass, and wool. These shops are down the Kateriina Kaik ally.

A wool shop.

A local painter, Antol Triboi

Goodbye old town Tallinn