Day 23 and 24 stay in Tallinn

In the morning, passengers from two cruise ships flock into the city, making it almost impossible to move around the narrow streets of the Old Town. Luckily, we had already visited the impressive Old Town yesterday evening. We are amazed by its large expanse, with the upper town (Toompea), where the rulers resided and where the parliament and government offices are located today, and the lower town, which flourished thanks to the traders and the Hanseatic League.

We take part in a guided tour where the young guide transports us back to the Middle Ages with his humorous stories. In the afternoon, we visit Vabamu, a new museum that explains the times of occupation and liberation through moving stories.

The struggle for independence and the great suffering of the Estonians under Nazi and Soviet terror can be felt almost everywhere. In addition to the Soviet memorial, which is now obviously left to decay, Estonia has set up the new National Museum and a new monument dedicated to all the people in Estonia who suffered under the Soviet regime. The monument consists of two parts: a corridor with name plaques of victims and a garden with apple trees. On the outer wall of the corridor, 22,000 images of bees symbolize the victims who are known by name.

In the evening, we watch the international football match between Germany and Estonia and sympathize with the Estonians a bit.

We have immersed ourselves in the culture and history of Estonia in Tallinn. Now, we hope to get impressions of the nature and landscapes on our onward journey.