Tag Archives: Baltic Sea

Jun30

The Reid road promenade of Tallinn

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Thursday, 06-June-2024


On my first afternoon in Tallinn, I wandered.

I was feeling a bit stiff legged, and after fortifying myself with some food I headed off on a walk around the harbor promenade at the suggestion of one of the baristas that had helped with that initial fortification. It was nearby, had a neat view of the harbor, and felt like the right spot to just take the chance for a simple stretch of the legs.

I did get the chance to stretch my legs, but I also got so much more.

I got…

Placards.




That’s right, dear readers – Estonia provided me with my one true love from this trip. Information on, and insights into, the world of the Reid Promenade… and a bit of oceangoing history to boot. In both Estonian and English, no less!

I walked, read, and learned.

I enjoyed the sun on my skin and the pavement under my shoes – I found a beach, and traded pavement and shoes for sand and toes. I wandered, lingered, and enjoyed myself.

I came upon a statue, appreciated it, and moved on.

It was a good stretch, and a great introduction to the Baltics!

Jun29

The ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn

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Thursday, 06-June-2024


Unlike my cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki, my cruise from Helsinki onward to Tallinn was just a single day – No fancy cabin or overnight stay for me, this time… though a fancy buffet was still in store for your favorite globe-trotting adventurer.

It went simple and easy, I’m very thankful to report – I’d already scouted out the ferry terminal, by simple fact that I’d arrived in Helsinki there, so I knew approximately how long it’d take to get there, the route to pull it off, and approximately where I should go once I arrived. I had a reasonably-early departure too, which meant that I wouldn’t have to store my bags between check-out and check-in, which just made life that much simpler on top of the already clean and easy route.

Thankfully, nothing happened to change that shroud of simplicity throughout the trip. It was, in every sense, simple and easy.



I boarded, stowed my bags, and sat up on the top deck reviewing some photos. I ended up chatting with a lovely lady from Austria named Magdalina, learned a bit about Austria and Vienna, and appreciated having the company before my brunch kicked off.

I went belowdecks for food, enjoyed a glorious selection of hot bits from the buffet, and appreciated past-Ben’s foresight in ordering tickets for the buffet.



I gorged to my hearts content, appreciated past-Ben’s foresight in packing Dramamine, and then headed back up above-deck to be social a bit more before we made land in Estonia.

Then, we made land in Estonia. I disembarked, and headed to my hotel. Simple-simple.