08 January 2009

tallinn

I'm back! Tallinn was a nice trip--wide, clean streets and friendly people. 'Most everyone spoke English.

If you've been to other medieval cities in Europe, then this one could be passed. (My pick--Carcassonne in southern France.) But, for a little respite only a six-hour bus ride away ($50--not bad, eh?) this was a nice couple of days.

No, it was not in any way adoption-related. Estonia only does 30 international adoption each year. One US agency is accredited to work there--and it's not mine.

Enjoy the pix! It was cold and clear. The traveling buddies are friends from school--I taught their older daughter my first year here.We spent our time in the old city the first day, and that's where all these pix are taken. There was a Chirstmas market in the square selling hand-knit woolens and wooden...things. I got a lovely hat and a poncho (well, I was cold...it's my only excuse) both in charcoal grey (my fav color). On day 2 we did a little shopping...but didn't find anything worth the hassle of peeling off multiple layers to try them. No pix from that. I did pick up four books in English and a bottle of vanilla extract ($25 for that little bottle!).

Clearing passport control was tricky both ways. They didn't like my multiple visas. And they didn't like my friends' visas at all--and wanted to keep them until they returned! (Not all countries have the visas fixed into the passport like the US does. Theirs were separate documents.) But, we made it there and back and lived to blog about it.

8 comments:

Tami said...

Oh how fun! What a wonderful little vacation. We're hoping to do some long weekend trips ourselves this summer, but somehow I don't think we'll be seeing anything even close to that! :)

Anonymous said...

ooh it looks lovely!

votemom said...

it does look lovely.

but where is the picture of you in your charcoal gray poncho?

Tina in CT said...

I second it. Where are you in your new poncho?

What a picturesque town.

It's fun to get away.

Annie said...

Lovely! What a pretty place!

I know a couple in my parish who are trying to adopt a brother and sister from Estonia....

kate said...

poncho pix are on the other famlily's camera.

Andrea said...

Love the photos! I found the website of that US agency that does the Estonian adoptions about a month ago, actually; there is a brother/sister pair listed that especially made my heart ache. There are times I think I could do with a heart of stone, just to avoid the pain :P

It looks like you had a wonderful time; what a gorgeous place! I do love old cities, there's something so flavourful about them.

Jenni said...

Looks like a beautiful place to take a mini-break!