Excellent Adventure 2012 day 4 - Oddball Country Day

August 1, 2012

This year’s oddball country – Estonia!

So this year’s cabin is on the main deck alllllll the way forward. Originally hoping for a last minute upgrade to a veranda cabin like last year, now we’re kinda glad we are where we are. All the way forward means we are right by the elevator that goes straight to the internet café. Yes. This. Is. Important.

AND it’s right by the ship’s theater, where we go every night for the “show”. AND it’s also the primary meeting spot for all the excursions. So when you’re running late from breakfast and of course all the food is located alllll the way at the other end of the ship, you can still just stop off at the room to pick up the jacket, the daypack and walking stick. But this would never happen. Just saying, hypothetically.

Anyway, we made it to the theater just as they were calling our excursion – a walk in Old Town. Which meant of course that we boarded a bus.

Have no fear, we did indeed walk. Endlessly on cobbled streets. Like this one:

We started in the Upper Town at the Alexander Niefsky Russian Orthodox church:

We were not allowed to take photos, so take my word for it – nice church. Plus they were having a service as they have been twice a day, every day for of years. Can’t say I’ve ever seen a Russian Orthodox priest in action before?

This church was immediately followed by St Mary’s church – this one was Lutheran. Instead of the glittering gold leaf on the walls and the icons of saints, there were coats-of-arms of the wealthy people buried in the church.

We also got a close up view of a medieval city wall. If fences make good neighbors, this wall must make GREAT neighbors:

In yet another church (already I don’t remember the name), we were treated to a concert of medieval choral music.

Though apparently I was allergic to the mustiness in the church (sneezing and wheezing are the obvious signs), I did enjoy the concert. Other people found it to be a great time to take a nap.

When we came out of the church, we noticed that it had rained – great timing! It can rain all it wants when I’m indoors.

The town hall has these great dragon water spouts:

We wandered around the market in the town square. Apparently woolen clothing is a popular local craft. Which is great, but I don’t wear wool – too itchy. Nothing really caught our eye.

When the tour was over, we did not go back to the boat with the bus. We stayed behind and had lunch in an outdoor café. With added sound effects, when it suddenly started to thunder and pour buckets as we were finishing up.

A little rain never stops us. We wandered around trying to retrace our steps and find some of those back streets that the tour guide had mentioned had nice shops. The map that the ship had distributed was pretty useless. Eventually we gave up and just started walking towards the ship.

And just to prove that we are indeed on a ship, here it is:

Tonight is formal night.

Tomorrow – St Petersburg!