Tallinn, Estonia

 

If you like to fantasize about the Middle Ages, there are a handful of European cities that are well equipped to help you relive history. Tallinn is one of the best. Others include Bruges, Siena, Toledo, Colmar, York, Brasov, Delft, Berne, Girona, York, and others that Geographically Yours has not visited. [2003]

Tallinn, Estonia

 

Blue = popular in Estonia, Finland, and Russia. -pank = must be a cognate for bank. Gold = synonymous with wealth. Hansa = Hanseatic League era when Tallinn was at the peak of prosperity. Ship = symbol for the sea trade that put power in the halls of Baltic cities. Hansapank = now Swedbank. So much for local pride 👎. [2003]

Tallinn, Estonia

 

Dominating Estonia's palette of place is the color blue. The Estonian flag is dominated by blue. The national flower is the blue cornflower. (See any on this traditional cloak?) And, the national bird is the barn swallow, which is blue. By the way, don't confuse the palette of place (a place's signature colors) with the palate of place (a place's signature tastes). [2003]

Tallinn, Estonia

Cities of the Hanseatic League were the merchant capitals of northern Europe during the Middle Ages. They were independent, prosperous, and envied by all. When Communist regimes of the Baltic were overthrown in the 1990s, the Hansa provided the perfect symbolic imagery for building new nations. If only we could resurrect the past! [2003]

Tallinn, Estonia

Find the old town of any European city and you might find a castle. That would be true in Tallinn, Estonia. These are the old city walls from Toompea Castle, complete with two dozen guard towers. Tallinn is one of the best walled cities in Europe. [2003]