Right after Riga, we took at 4-hour bus ride (from Lux Express) to Tallinn. We took a 40-min walk pass Kadrioru Park and then finally to our accommodation - Aquamarine Pirita Hostel.
Aquamarine Pirita Hostel
(A-Hoone), Pirita tee 20, Tallinn, Estonia
Kadrioru Park
A. Weizenbergi 26, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia
Russalka Memorial
Pirita tee 1, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia
Right across our hostel is a half-frozen ocean and taking pictures there in winter seems really cool - I finally managed to take a picture with the snow! The coastal walkway here reminds me of Singapore's East Coast Park too; there were people flying kites even though it's winter!
Arrived at our hostel to see that it resembles more of a hotel??? Except that the toilet is shared but omg everything just looks exactly like a hotel! And we only paid 32 Euros a night for three people holy moly.
Because it was Independence Day (public holiday), many of the eateries were closed and luckily right beside our accoms was a restaurant called Lounge Hall and omg their food is awesome! I was regretting a little when I didn't order their sushi platter.
Lounge Hall
Pirita tee 20p, 10127 Tallinn, Estonia
Charcoal Beef Burger (15 Euros), Chicken Burger (10 Euros), Honey Green Tea, Flat White
Headed to Old Town right after lunch and we were greeted by castles and colourful buildings!
Hanged around till evening!
Had dinner at Lido which is on the highest level of Solaris; it functions like IKEA - you take your food on a tray and pay at the cashier! I took fried potatoes, pork pancake and tomato cheese stew (THE STEW WAS SO GOOD HOLY MOLY). My meal cost only about 5 Euros?
By the way, there are cheap and nice post cards in Solaris - it's a gift shop near the other entrance!
By the way, there are cheap and nice post cards in Solaris - it's a gift shop near the other entrance!
Lido
Estonia puiestee 9, 10143 Tallinn, Estonia
We actually board the bus back to our hostel but right after we did, we saw a huge line of people along the streets holding torches and marching to Freedom Square. We immediately alighted and joined the crowd to see that it was part of the celebration for Independence Day (100 years of Independence). Thank god transport was free for that day otherwise we would have wasted 1 Euro. But anything for the gram keke. As usual, Donovan borrowed flags from the locals for the photo.
Freedom Square
Vabaduse väljak 9, 10142 Tallinn, Estonia
Stole some used torches for our photos - typical Asians hahahaha.
Googled for cheap food and found this cafe called F-Hoone located in Telliskivi Square - a super hispter place!
F-Hoone
Telliskivi 60, 10412 Tallinn, Estonia
By the way, they only serve breakfast till 11:30 AM and lunch only starts after that!
Omelette (brunch menu, 3.50 Euros), Pumpkin soup, Truffle chicken pasta (6.50 Euros)
Walked around this place called DEPOO where a Russian market can be spotted in the middle.
DEPOO
Telliskivi 62, 10412 Tallinn, Estonia
After that, we headed towards Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour and had to walk past this Kalamaja Cemetery Park - we can't see any graves so we suspected that they were all covered by the thick snow.
Kalamaja Cemetery Park
10411 Tallinn, Estonia
The amazing thing about graves or cemetery parks in Europe (I realised) is that they are not scary or eerie in the day (I haven't been to one at night) at all, unlike Chinese cemeteries. People actually chill on their benches, take a stroll, or play with their sleds in winter there!
Lennusadam Seaplane Harbour
Vesilennuki 6, 10415 Tallinn, Estonia
We checked out this really cool seaplane harbour museum; initially I was a little reluctant to pay for entry (because I don't really fancy paying for museums), but little did I know that it was really interesting and a huge eye-opener!
So we paid 7 Euros for both indoor and outdoor exhibition (3 Euros for only the outdoor exhibitions). There were so many interesting exhibitions such as shooting, flight simulation, submarine experience, dress-up and navy photo shoots, entering the ships, etc.
Here are some of the exhibitions outside, and of all we could only enter two!
It was really cool to see how the ship functions from the inside, as if I have time-traveled to the past!
Decided to check this abandoned concert hall before heading back to Old Town and calling it a day. I would highly recommend you to NOT climb up this hall in winter because it was really slippery and Donovan slipped and fell several times while climbing up and down the "stairs". Though Desmond and I took a less steep route, it was still hard for us to travel up. However, the view from above was really amazing... except that it was freezing cold.
Linnahall
Mere puiestee 20B, 10111 Tallinn, Estonia
Along the way, we walked past this abandoned prison and I personally didn't really like it here - it seems really eerie, and when I googled, it was listed as one of Tallinn's creepiest attractions. Eew.
Patarei Sea Fortress
Kalaranna Suur-Patarei 28, 10415 Tallinn, Estonia
Finally went back to Old Town and had our last meal in Tallinn at this super good pancakes restaurant. I swear to god these were the best pancakes I have ever tasted and it's only 5 Euros. It's super huge though, like two times my already huge face and it's double layered - we almost died trying to finish it.
Kompressor Pancakes
Rataskaevu 3, 10123 Tallinn, Estonia
I personally liked Desmond's pancakes (Creamy Shrimps Pancake) the most as it tasted like Lobster Salad, although it got a little too creamy for him. Donovan got the Grilled Chicken Pancakes and IT CAME WITH PEACH SLICES HOLY MOLY thank god Donovan detests peaches and he gave them to me. Mine was Smoked Salmon Pancakes.
Creamy Shrimps, Smoked Salmon, Grilled Chicken.
With that, we ended our trip to the Baltic States and finally headed back home for a well-deserved rest. I really loved Latvia and Estonia and peeps on exchange, do visit them!!!
Here's my vlog by the way:
