Tallinn is a curious place. The old town sits demurely behind its town walls and is circled by swaths of green. Centred on the town square, Raekoja plats, it manages to be both charming and fashionably shabby, with Pikk Jalg winding it way up to Tompea, a collection of embassies and smart restaurants and on its edge, a superb view back over the town and across the harbour towards Finland.
A city of contrasts: within minutes you go from the old town with its designer shops, churches, and shabby chic, to the mundane rail station with bus and tram interchange alongside, and then to the indoor and outdoor market - a glimpse of Tallinn off the tourist trail, with its stalls selling all manner of foods, clothing and household goods.
The cost of living was cheap and the people were friendly. Though we only had a couple of days there and didn't manage to travel outside the centre, save for walking to the ferry terminal to catch the boat to Helsinki. That city's the subject of the next post.
This is a blog about my photographic journey: about how taking pictures helps me understand the world and understand myself. It's a learning process. It will allow me to write about places I have seen and how and where I have chosen to take photographs. This process is still in its infancy and will evolve in unpredictable ways.
