Tallinn

I continued on to Tallinn on Sunday despite the late

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night. Back on mainland Estonia I followed the quieter

road to Kiela rather than the main road. A gentle tail

wind made up for any lack of energy I may have felt

due to the previous night.

I counted down the kilometres to the last capital city

of the trip and felt really elated when I reached the

sign proclaiming Tallinn. It was a strange feeling. I

was glad to have made all ten countries, yet disbelief

that the trip is essentially finished.

Tallinn is a beautiful bustling city. Its old part is

beautifully preserved and maintained. Medieval

buildings still in use. The old quarter winds up a low

hill towards the castle. Tour groups are led around by

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their guides and there are cafes, bars and souvenir

sellers all the way. Tallinn is more expensive than

either Riga or Vilnius.

Many old people, mainly women stand along the streets

selling little posies of flowers to earn a few bob. It

is sad to see old people, many well over 70, passing

their day like this, obviously poor, but not resorting

to begging. This was also the practice in Riga.

The hostel here in Tallinn saw another reunion as many

of the same travelers turned up over a couple of days.

The hostel is incredibly friendly and small, so its a

big advantage that people already know each other.

This will be the last such time this happens as from

10 out 0f 10

Tallinn everyone heads in all directions.

Yesterday I cycled out to Vosu in the Lahemaa National

Park with Ralf and Jents. They are doing a tour around

the Baltic Sea and currently going towards St

Petersburg. It was a great pleasure to cycle with

others even if only for one day. Ena and the Estonia

girl who runs the hostel drove out to join us. We

camped out on the beach and had a beer as the sun set

at about 11.30pm. The red sunset sky never actually

disappeared, it simply moved eastwards were at some

point it turns into a red sunrise sky.

Today I cycled back to Tallinn, on my own again. I was

a little jealous of the pair continuing on, they have

Midnight sunset.

another three months of their trip left and will get

up to North Cape in Norway.

This is my last days cycling for now and the weather

did a little cabaret act of sunshine, rain and wind

for me. The last few kilometres into Tallinn from

this direction were characterised by kilometre after

kilometre of packed apartment blocks. So many people

in such a small area.

The trip really is over now, tonight I organise my

gear for tomorrows flight to Copenhagen and then onto

Newcastle. I am returning home via Scotland and will

visit friends and family before getting back to Derry.

It will be a while before it all sinks in, but I have

learned a lot in the last few months, a little about

Start of Laheema National Park.

the countries and the EU and a lot about myself. Now

when I hear countries such as Estonia being mentioned

I will certainly pay much more attention.

I think in general most people are glad to be in the

EU and many have high but mostly realistic

expectations.They want to improve the standards of

living in their country, but feel that they are doing

it for their children. Quite a few people mentioned

Ireland as an example of what they would like to

achieve.

I have enjoyed both the trip and writing these pieces

for the Journal. I hope you have enjoyed reading them,

now I,m looking forward to getting home and a bowl of

my father,s Irish Stew.

Tallin

The drinking gang.