Day 21: Tallinn - Drunken stupor, Fat Margaret, and Secret Spies
Woke up fairly early this morning as I did not feel comfortable about the sleeping arrangement. Firstly, the back of the bed is a window (curtains blocked out the light), and in sleeping position, the feet points towards the toilet door. And when you open the toilet door, you see a mirror immediately, and from the reflection, you can also see the bed. I had debated whether to leave the toilet door open or close it, but decided to leave it ajar throughout the night with the toilet lights on.
There were absolutely no breakfast options at 8am in the morning. At least not in the Old Town. I walked around the area and the only place that was open was MacDonald. Good old M! As I sat down, a clearly drunk lad from the next table moved to my table immediately and in halting English asked me "How are you doing?". "Err.. fine?" And I resumed my eating. The security guard in the restaurant came over immediately and ordered the lad to leave my table. He was wobbling and couldn't walk straight. He had another friend at his table and if my guess was right, they partied all night through and were at Mac for some food. "Food" was however strewn all over their table. They probably couldn't even eat properly in that drunken state.
I took my time with my breakfast so that I would not leave the restaurant earlier than them. I imagined they might 'follow' me the moment I leave the place. Tourists like me could be a 'target'. Nonetheless, Tallinn is a SAFE place. Eventually, the drunken lad left, and his friend left shortly afterwards. Some 5 minutes after, the friend came back in the restaurant with a stalk of rose and walked around the whole restaurant and seemed to be looking for someone. I supposed he was looking for babes to give away his rose. Oh well :) We are only young once.
The skies were overcast this morning. I decided to wander out of the Old Town towards Kadriorg Park. I went in the direction of the International Bus Station, and the via Vilmsi street. There were alot of charming old wooden buildings. It was nice to see something really local, apart from the very beautiful (but commercially touristy) Old Town.
I meant to make it to the Kadriorg Art Museum at the park but it was decidedly too far to walk. I was rather tired from the walking and went down Narva Maantee back to Viru Gates.
After a quick lunch, my plan was to explore the rest of Old Town. I headed to the Great Coastal Gate via Vaike-Kloostri where the Tallinn City Walls were. These were the defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn and the first wall was built as early as the 13th century. The walls and many of the gates are still around today.
Monastery Gate
Sauna Tower
From Vaike-Kloostri, I went down Aida street, before turning to Lai street towards St. Olav Church.
The Great Coastal Gate is a 16th century arch. It was used to store gunpowder and weapons, and become a prison later on. Besides the Great Coastal Gate is the Fat Margaret Tower.
From here, I went in search of Pikk 59. This was the former chilling KGB Headquarters in Tallinn. Interrogations were carried out here on anyone who refused to comply with the Russian state system. The deflectors were either shot or sent to Siberian labour camps. The basement windows were all bricked up so that no one could see or hear any of the interrogations that were going on. All that is left on the history of this building is a plague that reads: "This building housed the organ of repression of the Soviet occupational power. Here began the road to sufferings for thousands of Estonians." Interestingly, the building now house luxury apartments and they were being put up for sale. Would you live here?
A little further down Lai street is the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads. This was an association of local unmarried merchants from the mid 14th century until 1940 in Livonia (i.e. present day Latvia and Estonia). There is a similar House of Brotherhood of Blackheads in Riga too.
The walk along Lai street ended at Church of the Holy Spirit before turning back to the Town Hall Square.
Located 'Raeapteek' - the oldest pharmacy in Tallinn since the 15th century.
I ended my walk at Freedom Square, with St. John's Church on the east side of the square.
I spent the rest of the afternoon with just tea and book back in the apartment. It was pleasant and for once, there was no wifi distraction.
There were absolutely no breakfast options at 8am in the morning. At least not in the Old Town. I walked around the area and the only place that was open was MacDonald. Good old M! As I sat down, a clearly drunk lad from the next table moved to my table immediately and in halting English asked me "How are you doing?". "Err.. fine?" And I resumed my eating. The security guard in the restaurant came over immediately and ordered the lad to leave my table. He was wobbling and couldn't walk straight. He had another friend at his table and if my guess was right, they partied all night through and were at Mac for some food. "Food" was however strewn all over their table. They probably couldn't even eat properly in that drunken state.
I took my time with my breakfast so that I would not leave the restaurant earlier than them. I imagined they might 'follow' me the moment I leave the place. Tourists like me could be a 'target'. Nonetheless, Tallinn is a SAFE place. Eventually, the drunken lad left, and his friend left shortly afterwards. Some 5 minutes after, the friend came back in the restaurant with a stalk of rose and walked around the whole restaurant and seemed to be looking for someone. I supposed he was looking for babes to give away his rose. Oh well :) We are only young once.
The skies were overcast this morning. I decided to wander out of the Old Town towards Kadriorg Park. I went in the direction of the International Bus Station, and the via Vilmsi street. There were alot of charming old wooden buildings. It was nice to see something really local, apart from the very beautiful (but commercially touristy) Old Town.
I meant to make it to the Kadriorg Art Museum at the park but it was decidedly too far to walk. I was rather tired from the walking and went down Narva Maantee back to Viru Gates.
After a quick lunch, my plan was to explore the rest of Old Town. I headed to the Great Coastal Gate via Vaike-Kloostri where the Tallinn City Walls were. These were the defensive walls constructed around the city of Tallinn and the first wall was built as early as the 13th century. The walls and many of the gates are still around today.
Monastery Gate
Sauna Tower
From Vaike-Kloostri, I went down Aida street, before turning to Lai street towards St. Olav Church.
The Great Coastal Gate is a 16th century arch. It was used to store gunpowder and weapons, and become a prison later on. Besides the Great Coastal Gate is the Fat Margaret Tower.
From here, I went in search of Pikk 59. This was the former chilling KGB Headquarters in Tallinn. Interrogations were carried out here on anyone who refused to comply with the Russian state system. The deflectors were either shot or sent to Siberian labour camps. The basement windows were all bricked up so that no one could see or hear any of the interrogations that were going on. All that is left on the history of this building is a plague that reads: "This building housed the organ of repression of the Soviet occupational power. Here began the road to sufferings for thousands of Estonians." Interestingly, the building now house luxury apartments and they were being put up for sale. Would you live here?
A little further down Lai street is the House of the Brotherhood of Blackheads. This was an association of local unmarried merchants from the mid 14th century until 1940 in Livonia (i.e. present day Latvia and Estonia). There is a similar House of Brotherhood of Blackheads in Riga too.
The walk along Lai street ended at Church of the Holy Spirit before turning back to the Town Hall Square.
Located 'Raeapteek' - the oldest pharmacy in Tallinn since the 15th century.
I ended my walk at Freedom Square, with St. John's Church on the east side of the square.
I spent the rest of the afternoon with just tea and book back in the apartment. It was pleasant and for once, there was no wifi distraction.
posted by Lonoxon at 5:00 am
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home