uwis66 Posted August 11, 2010 #1 Share Posted August 11, 2010 We were in Tallinn for a day and decided not to take our ship's tour of the town. Instead, we followed Rick Steves' walking tour of the town and it was absolutely perfect. We recommend it highly. There is also a link to a map adjacent to the written tour. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/ricksteves/A-Walking-Tour-of-Tallinn.html One note of caution: Be careful of pickpockets!!!!! They operate in pairs -- one distracts you in front and the other grabs your wallet from behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishpastyman1 Posted August 11, 2010 #2 Share Posted August 11, 2010 We were in Tallinn for a day and decided not to take our ship's tour of the town. Instead, we followed Rick Steves' walking tour of the town and it was absolutely perfect. We recommend it highly. There is also a link to a map adjacent to the written tour. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/ricksteves/A-Walking-Tour-of-Tallinn.html One note of caution: Be careful of pickpockets!!!!! They operate in pairs -- one distracts you in front and the other grabs your wallet from behind. I also did that walk. It looks like this Tallinn is a terrific little city and because the dock is so close and within easy walking distance of your ship you can explore it fully without worrying about missing your departure time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travellover3 Posted August 11, 2010 #3 Share Posted August 11, 2010 Cornishpastyman1: I leave for the Baltics next week, and just looked at several of your videos! I LOVE them and love the musical accompaniements. Thanks for the extra excitement they bring to my actually getting there. Nice work and thanks for sharing. Phyllis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NCMtnBoys Posted August 12, 2010 #4 Share Posted August 12, 2010 (edited) We were in Tallinn for a day and decided not to take our ship's tour of the town. Instead, we followed Rick Steves' walking tour of the town and it was absolutely perfect. We recommend it highly. There is also a link to a map adjacent to the written tour. http://www.smithsonianmag.com/specialsections/ricksteves/A-Walking-Tour-of-Tallinn.html One note of caution: Be careful of pickpockets!!!!! They operate in pairs -- one distracts you in front and the other grabs your wallet from behind. Thanks for the thumbs up on Rick Steves' walking tour of Tallinn. This is exactly what I've planned to do when we're there next month, already have his Scandinavian guidebook. Edited August 12, 2010 by NC Mtn Boys Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantfan13 Posted August 12, 2010 #5 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Tallinn is just a wonderful city to walk around in. One of our regular posters put together just a magnificent walking tour of Tallinn, that many, many of us used last year, including myself. I haven't seen Rick Stevens walking tour, but it is probably about the same as this one http://www.*****.com/tallinnwalk.html It will save you money to buy his book or whatever. Just print it out and away you go. But more than that, some of the real fun of walking around this city, is exploring things on your own. yes the walking tour is the outline, and gives you the places to see and visit, but you should take some time and wander around on your own. We did this several times, and found some really quaint little shops where we bought some things that we never saw anywhere else. You simply cannot get lost in this city, as you either go to the top of the hill and see the rest of the town, or follow the wall till you find an entrance or exit. Here are a few more pix of Tallinn and some of the more unusual things to find and explore. IN the summer, many wild flower grow and are in a stark contrast to the stone walls and towers http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe531.jpg Some of the cobblestone, narrow streets, just itching to be explored http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe518.jpg One of the many Russian influences on this city http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe566.jpg Tallinn's main square, a great place to jsut sit and relax, have something to eat and just enjoy the entire experience http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster602.jpg Old Hansa, where so many stop to eat. This IS the place http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europemaster591.jpg All along the outside of the town walls are these vendors selling remarkable stuff. You can get anything woolen, sweaters hats, gloves etc. it is easy to bargain with them and their wares are great. http://i834.photobucket.com/albums/zz267/Giantfan13/baltics/europe622.jpg Cheers Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishpastyman1 Posted August 12, 2010 #6 Share Posted August 12, 2010 Cornishpastyman1:I leave for the Baltics next week, and just looked at several of your videos! I LOVE them and love the musical accompaniements. Thanks for the extra excitement they bring to my actually getting there. Nice work and thanks for sharing. Phyllis Thank you for your kind words Phyllis. We are all so lucky to be able to go to these places but especially on cruises it's so easy to see a lot but remember very little. Unless I do this sort of thing I tend to quicklyforget where I've been and what I've seen. I love that you are excited about you're upcoming cruise. You totally get that we are privileged to have the health and resources to travel and I'm sure you'll have a great time on this trip. I will get round to doing St P but probably not before mid-October as each of Peterhof, Catherine's Palace, Peter & Paul Fortress, St Isaac's Cathedral, Church on the Spilt Blood and the Hermitage need their own little film so I'll have to do a fair bit of research for these. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travellover3 Posted August 13, 2010 #7 Share Posted August 13, 2010 I guess I will enjoy your St. P video in retrospect... If I love it this time, I could return? The video will be a huge, but loving project. Happy future sailing. Phyllis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Webguy Posted August 18, 2010 #8 Share Posted August 18, 2010 Thank you for the good walking Map and commentary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NancyIL Posted August 25, 2010 #9 Share Posted August 25, 2010 I did the same, with the help of Rick Steves' Scandinavia. That book was all we needed in 5 of the 6 ports on our Baltic cruise in 2005. The 6th port was St. Petersburg, and we loved our 2-day private tour with DenRus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted August 25, 2010 #10 Share Posted August 25, 2010 Len and others have made lots of great suggestions on Tallinn. It is one of our favorite cities in the Baltics and has some great shopping options, especially for woolen and linen, etc., items. The historic and charming areas are fairly compact and easy to explore. Below are some of my visual samples on what is there to love and experience. THANKS! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio For more details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle Silver Cloud experiences: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923 From our docked ship, here is the view of Tallinn’s historic church towers, etc.: Shopping is great in Tallinn. Inside a nice linen shop: Inside of Tallinn’s historic St. Mary's Cathedral Lutheran church with parts of the building dating back to the 12th Century. The main church was built in the 14th Century: Outdoor lunch on Tallinn’s main square: Here are outside and inside views of Tallinn’s Alexander Nevsky Cathedral built in the Orthodox style 1894–1900. This church crowns the hill of Toompea. The church has been meticulously restored since Estonia regained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madra2112 Posted September 10, 2010 #11 Share Posted September 10, 2010 I would just add that the church in the centre of Terry's first photo is St Olaf's, and you can climb the tower to the base of the steeple (where the four smaller steeples start), The staircase is a spiral stone climb, moderately difficult in places, but the views from the top are superb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted September 11, 2010 #12 Share Posted September 11, 2010 I would just add that the church in the centre of Terry's first photo is St Olaf's, and you can climb the tower to the base of the steeple (where the four smaller steeples start), The staircase is a spiral stone climb, moderately difficult in places, but the views from the top are superb. THANKS for the added info item on the church viewing location! From the hilltop area overlooking the lower town are some nice views. Here are a few more visuals samples from charming Tallinn. Enjoy! Terry in Ohio For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923 Tallinn’s rooftops in this charming Estonia Capital with docked cruise ships in the background: Dancers marching in Tallinn’s festival parade near the stone towers of the famous Viru Gate: At the top of Tallinn’s Toompea hill, this shows part of the Estonia Parliament building in the historic Pink Baroque Palace and the old Pikk Hermann watchtower with their flag on top: Tallinn street with shops, flowers, church tower, etc.: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madra2112 Posted September 12, 2010 #13 Share Posted September 12, 2010 (edited) Lovely pics as ever Terry, I love the element of culture clash seeing the traditional dancers march through the Viru Gate, past the hsitoric walls and towers, right beside McDonalds! Here's a shot I took from the St Olaf's Church Tower on August 30th Edited September 12, 2010 by madra2112 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madra2112 Posted September 12, 2010 #14 Share Posted September 12, 2010 (edited) Edited September 12, 2010 by madra2112 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishpastyman1 Posted September 17, 2010 #15 Share Posted September 17, 2010 I guess I will enjoy your St. P video in retrospect... If I love it this time, I could return? The video will be a huge, but loving project. Happy future sailing.Phyllis Hi Phyllis I hope you had a great time. I finally got round to doing these : The Fountains of Peterhof The Catherine Palace at Pushkin Peter and Paul Fortress/Cathedral St Isaac's Cathedral Church of Our Saviour on the Spilled Blood The Winter Palace/Hermitage State Museum Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dileep Posted September 17, 2010 #16 Share Posted September 17, 2010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishpastyman1 Posted September 18, 2010 #17 Share Posted September 18, 2010 The link to Peterhof should be Sorry for the error. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JaneBP Posted September 18, 2010 #18 Share Posted September 18, 2010 Tony, Thank you very much for the splendid videos. I doubt I will ever get to St Petersburg, but I feel as if I am there when watching them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Giantfan13 Posted September 21, 2010 #19 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Hey Jane Never say never.:D:D:D:D Cheers Len Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornishpastyman1 Posted September 21, 2010 #20 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Tony, Thank you very much for the splendid videos. I doubt I will ever get to St Petersburg, but I feel as if I am there when watching them. Thanks for your kind words Jane, much appreciated. And I'm with Len on this one, you can never rule anything out for definite, so maybe one day I'll your photos/vids from St P ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare TLCOhio Posted September 21, 2010 #21 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Lovely pics as ever Terry, I love the element of culture clash seeing the traditional dancers march through the Viru Gate, past the hsitoric walls and towers, right beside McDonalds! As many times as I have seen and posted that picture, I had not noticed the McDonald's sign. Great eye and attention to details. THANKS for the nice comments! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio For lots of interesting details, great visuals, etc., from our July 1-16 Norway Coast/Fjords/Arctic Circle cruise experience from Copenhagen on the Silver Cloud, check out this posting. Don’t be shy and feel free to ask any questions of interest. http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=1227923 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennywren46 Posted September 21, 2010 #22 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Thank you for posting the lovely pictures it brings back happy memories, we loved cruising the Baltic , every port was wonderful in its own way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madra2112 Posted September 21, 2010 #23 Share Posted September 21, 2010 As many times as I have seen and posted that picture, I had not noticed the McDonald's sign. Great eye and attention to details. THANKS for the nice comments! Enjoy! Terry in Ohio To be honest, the reason I knew it was there is we walked through the Viru gate into the old town on August 30th, so it's quite fresh in my mind! It's a point worth noting, particularly for Royal Caribbean guests, that the Viru gate is where the shuttle bus stops, so if you're using Lair Bear's walking map, you're starting in the wrong place! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lair Bear Posted September 22, 2010 #24 Share Posted September 22, 2010 It's a point worth noting, particularly for Royal Caribbean guests, that the Viru gate is where the shuttle bus stops, so if you're using Lair Bear's walking map, you're starting in the wrong place! Not necessarily. The map shows the Viru gate at the end. So if you did the walking tour in reverse you would still see everything that I thought worth seeing. However, I also pointed out that the walk from the ship to the old town is really easy to do. Either way, Tallinn is a great port of call. BTW We also found a 'discrete' Big Mac place in Bergen, Norway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhskls Posted October 6, 2010 #25 Share Posted October 6, 2010 Thanks for the insight. This looks like a great walking tour. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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