Tallinn, Estonia

 May 20, 2025

We had very low expectations for this city - were we ever wrong!  The old city is a UNESCO world heritage site being one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe.

People were short back in the day so watch your head!  These houses were falling so were buttressed against an opposing city wall.

  

There’s an apothecary museum with artifacts (some real) from the time.

  A mask for use during the plague,  and components of remedies which were mostly herbs but also hedgehog and dried human hand - that’s the hand lower left.  These remedies likely worked as well as many of our current medications…..

Part of the city wall which is mostly still intact.

There are several of these statures representing Black Death.  There’s no head or face inside that hood.

We climbed up inside the ramparts of the city wall, this part being in the “upper town” where the monied folks lived. Lovely view:

Up in the ramparts - this is the external walkway but inside there are narrow winding stone staircases which take you to small historical installations at every level.

Ed took advantage of the opportunity to don some protective garb.  There was chainmail available to wear but it likely weighed a good 40 lbs so he opted just for the helmet and breastplate.  It’s clear to see that once these men fell off their horses, getting back up was extremely difficult .

 

Many canons of course!

It’s difficult to capture the charm of the city but I would definitely recommend a visit if you are able.

One last pic - this is outside a steak house.  Word has it that her spouse is being served inside - the cow’s, not mine.

Next up: a day at sea then the next day we’re in Gdansk, Poland