Monday, June 11th

For our first challenge of the day, we walked into the town to find the tourist information office to buy Tallinn Cards. These give free admission to top attractions, free public transport to all Tallinn Card destinations, a free city sightseeing tour and other offers and discounts. At 32 Euros for a 48 hour pass, these proved to be good value.

Once in possesion of our cards, we decided to go on one of the hop–on–hop–off bus tours. The tour buses have head phones which give a commentary in various different languages as they drive along. There are three different routes and we went for the green one first. This took us past the Botanical Gardens where we hopped off for a visit. This was quite interesting and it was evident that they are not fully up and running with the tourist trade but we did manage to get a cup of coffee. Back on the bus, the route took us though the port before ending up back in town.

We jumped off the green route bus to go on the next bus on the blue route, only to find ourselves getting back on the same bus – they had a sign in the window which they just turned over showing the colour of the next route. The blue route also took us through the port area on its way back to town.

Back in the town centre we decided to stop for lunch at a street pizzaria. It seems like it can get a bit chilly during the day this far north, as the restaurant provided blankets to wrap around you to keep warm.

Kathy attracted the attention of the local drunk who came up for a chat. We managed to get rid of him eventually but only after Brian let him borrow his glasses.

After we had about finished our pizzas, it was the turn of a young woman to come begging for some of the left over pizza. We gave her some, and she proceeded to remove some of the topping which she did not like before making off with it – a beggar who’s a fussy eater!!

Also while we were here, a guy asked Chris if he wanted to buy some Viagra – obviously an upstanding member of the community who could spot a soft touch, as it were, when he saw one. Chris asked Sally if she wanted the good news or the bad news. The good news being that he had bought 2 dozen; the bad news being that the expiry date was tomorrow.

For our evening meal we went again to the place that was recommended and had been closed on Sunday, only to find that it was full. So instead, we went into the square to the Kearajaan restaurant where we could get 15% off with our Tallinn Cards. The waitress’s name was Getter and unfortunately it was a case of “Getter, Getter, could do better!”

Still it was an interesting menu, Alan having Elk and Brian the Boar.

When Sally was asked how she would like her steak, she said “Could I have it just as I like it, please?”