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Family trip to Estonia
We recently went to Estonia for a few days with a whole bunch of Robin’s family. It was a very enjoyable experience!
Here are some photos. Feel free to contact us if you would like a larger image.
The beach with Jenny, Heather, Kevin, and Matthew. This was a ten-minute walk from the Altmõsia guesthouse where we were staying. There is no tide, and no waves, so there is no real beach: the marshy ground just becomes sea.
We weren’t expecting Estonia to be so flat. Apparently in the east of the country there are rolling hills, but here on the west coast it was very similar to the Netherlands – except with smaller trees: mostly birch and juniper.
The area around the guesthouse is a National Park for its birdlife. It’s a very marshy area where a lot of birds come to breed. We were here at the wrong time of year to see many birds. But this is quite a pretty tansy field.
We did see some wildlife, however. Here’s a cute fuzzy caterpillar. We also picked some delicious blackberries.
At Altmõisa with Jenny, Matthew, and Kevin. Altmõisa was a lovely guesthouse – we took over the whole of it – with a large kitchen garden whence much of our meals came, including delicious eggs from chickens with trousers on.
We took a day trip to Haapsalu, a few minutes’ drive up the coast – all 22 of us piled into four cars. Here’s Robin and Patrick in Haapsalu.
Haapsalu is best known for its episcopal castle. These bishops seem to have been quite a warlike bunch. The castle is huge and, although now part-ruined, was obviously heavily fortified. The presentation today, however, is very much on the sensationalist end, with mannequins representing the ‘ghost’ that is supposed to haunt it.
We don’t know why the episcopal castle had a boat. I suspect re-enactment games. With Jenny, Rhiannon, Iain, Amy, Heather, Emma, and Agnes.
View from the bell tower in the episcopal castle in Haapsalu.
Nick looking at the view.
Matthew, Rhiannon, Kevin, Heather, and Jenny in the castle grounds.
A cygnet in Haapsalu bay. Again, the sea was very flat here.
Rowing boats were available for hire. Here’s Lembit and Merily in a rowing boat.
Heather, Jenny, Amy, and Kevin in a rowing boat, with polar bear.
Heather, Jenny, Amy, and Kevin escape the polar bear.
Kevin and Jenny in Haapsalu old town.
After a couple of days in Altmõisa, we moved on to Tallinn, which is a marvellous old town. This is the Town Hall Square, with a market of traditional crafts and tourist tat.
Patrick, Liina, Emma, Tiiu, Kevin, Jenny, Agnes, Ella, Iain, Robin, Urve, Ene, and Christa in Tallin Town Hall Square.
Matthew, Agnes, Kevin, Heather, and a little bit of Robin, in Tallinn.
Ella in Tallinn Town Hall Square.
Jenny in Tallinn Town Hall Square.
Helgi in Tallinn square
Emma at the Cat Well in Tallinn.
Steep street in Tallinn. Much of the central town maintains its original mediæval streets.
Emma, Tiiu, Amy, and Agnes on the Toompea.
Kevin, Urve, Peter, Ella, and Christa, with Alexander Nevsky church in the background.
Tallinn skyline with weathervane of city wall tower and city hall spire, from a viewpoint on Toompea.
Window of Uncle Oskar’s last residence in Tallinn.
Estonian history pavement, with optimism!
City wall tower, with random cyclist. Since Tallinn was never invaded (merely sold or surrendered), it retains almost a complete set of mediæval city walls and towers.
Spire of St Nicholas Church (now museum). This had a very Soviet underground entrance, and some historic artworks inside. Most were rather so-so, but there was a very good Death of Christ and a fascinating Danse Macabre.
St Olaf’s spire, with roadworks. This view matches a painting famous in the family. Except for the roadworks.
St Olaf’s tower. It was for a long time the tallest building in Europe. Unfortunately it kept getting struck by lightning.
Tallinn skyline south from St Olaf’s tower. We climbed the tower, which had a lot of very steep steps, for a view which was totally worth it.
Tallinn rooves and harbour, north from St Olaf’s tower. This shows the building style common in Tallinn Old Town.
Tallinn city wall – very mediæval-looking.
Tallinn city wall, with St Olaf’s spire.
Street from Tallinn city wall.
Finial on Tallinn city hall, with sunshine.
I know there are a couple of display issues with this gallery. I’ll work on these when I have a moment.
