One reason why I love blogging is because I can make my own "executive decisions!" As Amy often says, "Mom, it's your blog!"
So, I've decided to jump from Helsinki (4th port) to Tallinn (6th port), leaving St. Petersburg (5th port) for the end, since it was our only 2-day stop (and thus more photos!). Besides, I've been chomping at the bit to get the Tallinn photo album done since it was our favorite stop on the entire cruise.
If you click on my original post from June 4th, you'll see another set of pics, in case you don't want to go through another 200-photo album. I loved the foggy morning when we stood on top of Toompea Hill and overlooked the city--Old Town in the foreground with modern Tallinn behind. Here you see the steeple of the Town Hall from 1404.
You know by now that I'm a total glutton for churches and spires of any sort. You'll see pics from 3 main Old Town churches, as well as the Russian Orthodox church, St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, from 1900. This one here is the St. Nicholas Church, or Niguliste, as it's called locally. My eyes and ears always perk up, of course, with anything Nicholas!
I'm adding this photo of the beggars outside the Russian Orthodox church because Tallinn was the only city on the cruise where we saw them, in several different spots. They somehow know when and where to go for the tourists who might be sympathetic. It reminded me about the fact that the poor we always have with us!
In Catherine's Passage, one of the lovely alleys through Old Town, we saw such fantastic photo ops as this simple window. You can't BUY that kind of age! I'm a glutton for it as well.
This clock on the side of the Holy Ghost Church has been telling the right time to the people of Tallinn since the 17th century. That's a long time! But that's not nearly as old as the rest of this quaint, medieval city, going all the way back to 1154. By 1248 Tallinn was granted city rights and became a full-scale member of Western Europe's Hanseatic League.
I would go back to Tallinn spit-spot, if I could! I'm sure we only scratched the surface. The book we bought calls it "a medieval crossroads." It doesn't get much better than that. St. Petersburg will have an opulent beauty, in my next Redux. But nothing is like the beauty of Age, as far as I'm concerned. (Maybe THAT'S why I don't mind getting old. HA!)
But of course Ginnie; it's your blog and very special becouse your share such lovely thing and with lovely pics. I've never been in Tallinn, so thanks for this lovely trip too!
ReplyDeleteYou know, Renny, after saying Tallinn was our favorite city, I'll have to tell you that your Vigeland Park in Oslo was our favorite attraction by far. I would definitely like to go back and spend an entire day there! Oh, after meeting you, that is :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Ginnie. The beauty of age. That reminds me of a powerpoint presentation that Christiane sent me yesterday. I'll have to translate it into English (if possible) then send it to you. And Yup; clocks, churches and windows (to the soul, if I may add) are definitely you! :)
ReplyDeleteI think that window with the flowers is my favorite picture though you have so many excellent photos. I envy you. :)
ReplyDeleteCS: I think you are really getting to know me well :)
ReplyDeleteTim: Awww. Thanks!
Very nice set of shots. My favourite is also the little window.
ReplyDeleteHi Ginnie, love the shots from your trip. It's like i can be there with you, without having to leave my living room or wothout having the expense that you had :)
ReplyDeleteCheers Neil
KPK: Well, then! I'm glad I chose that "little window" for for my post :) After all that, it's a fake window, I see!
ReplyDeleteNeil: HA. The good news is that Donica set money aside from her annual bonus to pay for the trip, so we paid for it without pain or guilt :) Thanks for your kind remarks.
Tallinn really is a magical place, isn't it? I absolutely loved it when I visited.
ReplyDeleteevery pic is so amazing. Love the vibrant colors. I so want to travel and so have too much to get done! More pics which I need to try printing soon!
ReplyDeleteJ: So glad to hear of someone else who's been there! Yes, "MAGICAL" is a good word to describe it! Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteET: Thank you for your kind words. They mean a lot.
Amazing album. I too love the beauty and character of age...Catherine's Passage was wonderful. In fact this album has way too many wonderful photos for me to even try and select a few as favourites :)
ReplyDeleteAww. You're way to kind, DW. Can you imagine each of us having a "passage" named after us? DreamWalker's Passage. Now that's one that would intrigue me from the git-go. Ginnie's Passage? Hmm. Doesn't sound too magical yet!
ReplyDelete