Hello Tallinn

Hello, Tallinn, 22.06.2018 – 24.06.2018
(by Christa)

Our journey lasted 2 days and took us via Travemünde and from there by ferry via Helsinki to Tallinn. On the way it was mostly rainy and very windy, so we did not like to spend too much time on deck. Finally we arrived and took our cozy room in a wooden house in the district Kalamaja in possession. We were tired, but a little stroll through Kalamaja to see where we live plus a few purchases had to be.

On Saturday we then took the first stroll in the old town: A small square with many cafes, a young girl playing the violin – very good and clean! A good, nice atmosphere. A small, old church from the 14th Century attracts us: Beautifully worked pulpit, figures on the side choirs, altar, organ …….. a very intimate atmosphere and good charisma. Including a third world shop with wooden beads necklaces, figures, jewelry. We do not like the Rathausplatz next door very much – too much crowd for our likening.

Then contact with Mihkel Sepp and an appointment for the evening: Invitation to the midsummer night in the country house of his parents and grandparents.

We drove along the coast to the east, first on the highway, then overland. Widely scattered here are wooden houses, partially still from the time of the Russian occupation and beautiful large manors from the time of the Teutonic Orders. Midsummer fires were burning everywhere on the properties.

We were warmly welcomed by all members of the family, and Mihkel showed us the house, which also has a long tradition. There were busy preparations in the kitchen and everything loaded onto a small homemade car and driven to the fireplace. With narration, food, laughter and photography the evening passed by very fast. But still the summer night was far from over. We were surprised with a coffee-cake board in the living room to strengthen for the night walk. At midnight we left, grandfather had proposed a tour along the beach. The sea was incredibly quiet. On the beach and in the sea are large stones / boulders on which birds spent the night and in one case were scared of by us. The sky turned deep red without getting dark. The silence and the devotion of the night enveloped us and did not allow for fatigue. Can we make it until sunrise at 4:00? Exactly there we arrived back at the house, a blood red ball ……… and then we all fell – now dead tired – in the beds! We guests on top of the store on the dormitory, where we had a large selection of matraces to choose from.

The party ended with a sumptuous breakfast, at first rather quiet, until everyone was awake and sharing old stories. The feast of the family, the hospitality and cordiality with which we “strangers” have been received were remarkable.

Thank you, Mihkel, and thanks to your grandparents, parents and siblings and the wonderful house – all this allowed us to experience an/your old tradition.

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The special thing about these Nordic nights is that the sun goes down – but it does not get really dark. At the remaining “sunset” the movement of the sun can be followed until it finally rises again. Of course, Michael had to record that in the following nights from the beach near where we stayed: