Here we all are on the ferry. It was about an hour and a half journey across the Finland Straight and we killed the time by playing card games on our tiny, cramped airplane trays.
We finally made it!
The sunset was the first to greet us. I was happy to see this and enjoy it for a couple seconds before we got caught in a massive downpour.
We reached the place where we were supposed to check in, and it wasn't until AFTER the taxi had left that we realized our apartment in Old Town was still a 15 minute walk away...in the pouring rain. It was actually quite humorous to see all four of us trekking across cobblestone streets with rolling suitcases (not exactly ideal). It would have been funny to see us without the pouring rain - but we all just had to laugh at the wonderful welcome Estonia decided to give us.
Even Spencer's suitcase, who we have now nicknamed Bertha because of the weight she is forced to carry, was so thrilled to be in Estonia, that she literally buckled under all the excitement. The wheel on the left side has decided to bend outward, making it somewhat difficult to roll around, and if that weren't enough, the whole extendable handle ripped completely out. Like SO:
We now have to drag it around by a nylon strap and pray that it all holds together long enough to make it home to the US. LOVE IT!
We LOVED the place my parents rented in Tallin. It was right there in the center of Old Town.
Here is the town square (Rajakoja Plats).
And just up one of the little alleyways was our apartment.
Rataskaevu, in Estonian, means well - and our apartment was just above this well. It was the most perfect spot!
Mom and Dad at the well.
Apparently this well is the only one in Old Town, and every 20 minutes or so a massive group of tourists would come through with their guide to see it and take all sorts of pictures. We figured we should probably join in the tourism fad and take a picture of it since we were staying there by it.
Spencer and me
My parents loved the staircase that led up to our apartment. It all just seemed so fitting being in such a "fairytale land" (as my mom said) to walk up a wooden, spiral staircase like this. Spencer especially loved heaving Bertha and the other suitcases up these shallow stairs.
So our adventures in Estonia began. I never lived in Tallinn while I was a missionary here, so seeing everything was almost as new for me as it was for Spencer and my parents. I loved Tallinn, and I will always be struck by the beauty of Old Town there. I couldn't get enough of it.
Here's a picture of the city from one of the upper walls - It really does feel like you've walked into a fairytale. So in order for us to give a full accounting of this beautiful city, we are going to finish our adventures in Tallinn in another post with LOTS of pictures. I love pictures, so it's going to be fun!
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