When looking at the itinerary for our Baltic cruise, the one port we were most unfamiliar with was Tallinn, Estonia. We really had no preconceived ideas upon landing here. To say it exceeded our expectations would be an understatement. What a lovely, lovely town!
Tallinn is one of the most complete walled cities in Europe with a charming, fairytale-like Old Town, complete with medieval market squares, cobblestone streets, small alleyways, and buildings. It’s simply spectacular. Since the break-up of the Soviet Union in the early 90s, Estonia became an independent county for the first time in centuries.
We began our day with a walking tour of key historic sites, including Kadriorg Park, Toompea (the hilltop stronghold from the Middle Ages), and the Raekoja Plats (marketplace) in the heart of Old Town.
We then made our way to Chocolate de Pierre – a local chocolatier that has been in business for 80 years. There, we crafted handmade chocolates with the help of their expert chocolate artisan. She looks so serious and stern in every photo we took of her, but she was delightful! We experimented with rum-flavored dark chocolate, chili caramel dark chocolate, coconut white chocolate, nougat, marzipan, and dozens of fillings and toppings from which to choose. It was a delightful way to spend our morning.
We ventured into a few local shops as we waited for our chocolates to dry and set. Afterward, we strolled back through the streets of Old Town, taking in all the sights and sounds of this great destination.
After returning to the ship, we ventured to the pool deck and relaxed under the warm and breezy Baltic sun!
Dinner that evening was at Pacific Rim, where the tempura fried lobster tail and the duck spring rolls were the highlights of the meal.
Huvästi, armas Estonia!
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