As we eat breakfast in Constellation's Seaside Cafe, we catch our first glimpse of the beautiful walled city of Old Tallinn. After a short bus ride into the old city, we climb Toompea Hill to Palace Square. Opposite the baroque Toompea Castle, now used as the seat of the Estonian Parliament, we admire the lovely Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevski Cathedral. After touring Nevski Cathedral, we walk along Upper Tallinn's cobbled streets to tour a second church, the Gothic St. Mary's Cathedral. The walls of St. Mary's are decorated with coats of arms of noble families.
Before descending into Lower Old Town, we look over this amazing walled city. Our first stop in Lower Town is St. Nicholas Church, where we are invited to take a seat for a short classical music concert featuring a talented stringed quartet. We then continue along the narrow medieval streets to view the homes of merchants from the Hanseatic League. Our tour disbands in Town Hall Square, a vibrant medieval marketplace, which has always been the heart of this city. Tallinn's Town Hall is one of a select few in Northern Europe to be preserved in such completeness.
We enjoy shopping and eating lunch in Lower Old Town before returning by shuttle to the cruise port. We are very impressed with this lovely city.
