2015. Spring. February.
The tour around the Baltic began at Talinn, the capital of Estonia, where approx 32% of Estonia’s total population resides.
From what we saw, Estonia is the most developed in the Baltic. We were couchsurfing with a smart (and very good-looking) engineer and he told us 2 interesting facts I could remember.
#1 All voting or polling are executed online. And the cool shit is, you are able to change your mind and change your vote unlimited time before the deadline! I think that’s amazing. Come to think of it, shouldn’t it be a given right to change your mind anytime before the last second of voting?
#2 Although the trams looked old as shit (but retro and pretty), they encapsulate sweet payment tech. Commuters no longer have to buy day ticket or single trip ticket whatnot (which is still the case in many developed western countries like France), when commuters hop on the tram for prolly 3 times, the system upgrades your ticket to a day-pass which saves money for you.
My dad made a last minute decision and flew all the way from SG to join us!
#Leggo!
First stop, Glehn Castle recommended by handsome engineer.
Our hosts (and a cat) for couchsurfing were really cool, they were a couple of friends just living in a house together, they even had sauna in the house. Estonians speak really great English and they don’t seem to be xenophobic at all, even on the streets.
Inside the castle were some function rooms for banquet and wedding, nothing much to see, just an ‘atas’ ambience. (atas = high maintenance / high class)
Ok it was freaaaakiing cold and the entire area was covered with ice and snow. Vincent fell 10 times because his shoes had no grip.
Palm house and us
Cute old man
that cold meh
Houses in Tallinn were lovely. The designs and architectures are starkly different from Western Europe, but at the same time, they bear contrasts with the their counterparts in other regions of Baltic.
Up the Maritime Museum! Since Tallinn is just by the sea, there was a museum dedicated to rep its navy powers and history.
Panorama @ Maritime Museum
We ended up becoming kids once again.
Here’s a deserted prison, it should be the Patarei Sea Fortress Prison, and click here to see cool abandoned places in Estonia!
This was originally built as a fortress in the 19th century to protect the sailing route to St. Petersburg. After WWI and the Estonian War of Independence, Estonia transformed it into a big prison as others were burnt down during revolution 1917. Only in 2000s it was officially closed down.
Note: Only able to tour by your own in summer for €3 (adults)/€2 (students). However, for Winter, you have to join a tour to visit.
P.S. You can buy the whole complex for €3 million.
The main plaza of Tallinn
What do you see when you see a red Porsche? You pretend like it’s yours.
And a grey one? No diff.
Wall shot.
Beautiful flags.(haha, sorry Chloe if you’re seeing this.)
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – super beautiful on the outside and inside
Colourful terracotta warriors in Tallinn – super weird.
jenelljalans 
