To finish off last night. We did go out for dinner to a lovely restaurant outside the city walls. One of many advantages of having an ‘insider’ on your team is eating at the best restaurants where tourists just don’t go. We both had roast pork which was utterly delicious.
This morning there was little time to do anything other than finish off packing and going for a morning coffee, walking to the taxi rank, saying goodbye and being transported out to the airport. Ciampino this time, a much smaller, dinkier airport. RyanAir to Tallinn. I was trying to objectively assess RyanAir and it’s true that it is much leaner and meaner. You take on one bag only and it has to go under the seat in front so there is absolutely nowhere for your feet to go, so you are scrunched up all the way. The seatbelts are also mean and lean which doesn’t suit me. But you survive these things. You are lined up on the tarmac in the blazing heat waiting for the plane to accept you. Up the stairs you go. But I must say they are efficient, left on time and arrived ahead of schedule. And, of course, they are cheap. Would I use them again? Yep, the cheap flights will get me every time!
Arrived Tallinn in one piece. Taxi driver very informative along the way. Everyone is anti Russia and supporting Ukraine…I asked if they were worried about Russia invading the Baltics (a modicum of self interest sneeked out!). Well he said, they have a very good position on the sea, but they have to live their lives and they are ready to fight!! I gave him a good tip!
To the Airbnb…a bit of a disappointment there. Much more rustic than quaint. A very pokey little place but its only for 5 nights and it has everything I need except somewhere comfortable for me to sit. Very basic for sure.
I didn’t stay there for long because I wanted to get a grip on the city. It is a most delicious city. I was expecting cold from what I had heard but it was lovely, balmy weather. I’m right in the middle of the old town and I wandered off to the main square. There are apparently less tourist than pre Covid so that’s a winner for me.
I just completely lost the last half hour of writing so I’ve lost my mojo!!
Anyway to finish off…the city is alive with people walking around in the warm, balmy evening. It is a truly beautiful city full of outdoor tables for all the bars and restaurants. There are enough art and craft shops to keep me happy for a lifetime and I sussed out the supermarket to get my wine. Albeit more expensive and more limited than either home or Italy. Then I found a restaurant and settled down to a glass of red and a nice ravioli. The restaurant was fully booked but they had 5 places at the bar where I sat with 2 Germans and 2 Russians and me and reflected on the weirdness of the world. Just outside the restaurant was a street full of protest posters against the Russian intervention in Ukraine. It was far too expensive for a lady traveller spending her kid’s inheritance…. But tonight it was a case of what the fuck…a lame solo traveller needs her rewards.
Its 10pm and still daylight. I’m not sure if it will ever actually get dark. More tomorrow. I miss everyone.