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I'm a sucker for fortresses, medieval landmarks and vibrant, storied cultures, so I've been wanting to visit Tallinn, capital of Estonia, ever since our writer Shannon Kircher wrote about it a few months ago (see: How to spend a perfect day in Tallinn).
We got the chance during our two-week voyage to Scandinavia and the Baltics aboard the ocean ship Viking Sun. And while we got drenched during a sudden, unexpected rainstorm, the sun finally broke out and we got glorious views of the city's medieval landscapes.
Highlights included stunning Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tall Hermann tower rising above Toompea Castle, a slick amber shop called Symphony of Amber and St. Nicholas Church and Museum.
But the best part to me, besides wandering the streets and enjoying the serendipity of making discoveries in back alleyways, was the Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum, built in 1475. You'll have to pony up 6 Euros but you'll be treated to an hour or two of wandering through the fortifications.
Inside you'll find a really cool second-story room displaying armor helmets from medieval jousts (I assume they're replicas). Climb the narrow stone stairway and you'll come to the 125-foot-high cannon tower, which houses an extensive museum of thetown's fortifications, weaponsand medieval-era life. You'll also get some of the best views of the city from up there.
