Having grown up just across the baltic sea from this cute old town, I'm a bit ashamed to admit this was my first visit there. Old Tallinn is lovely with a beautiful medieval city wall and lot's of old buildings. And churches! Everywhere!
Lunch at a great coffeshop by the main square. (They had real tea and a barrista machine for coffee. Way above the norm in Tallinn!)
A courtyard with many craft shops connected to it.
The main square by night. I was pleasantly surprised the annual Christmas market was still there, as we arrived just a few days before New Years Eve.
One of the many gorgeous churches we saw had an exhibition of art. Magnificent medieval altar pieces, like this one:
It can be displayed in three different ways, as it has two pairs of doors. It was huge, and done with such amazing details!
This I just loved. It's a 14th century painting of the dance macabre. This is just the small fragment that's left of this painting, originally they believe it had over 40 figures. Ordered just after the Black plague had swept through Europe, it's a reminder of how we are all equal before death.
The first figure is the Preacher, then Death, who leads the dance. Everyone then follows by place in society (the pope, the emperor, the empress, etc) and the dance ended with a beggar, a fool or a child. (Click on it for clearer details)
The history nerd in me loved how the artist used the painting to discuss mortality, rather than just send a message. Every other figure is Death, and what's really going on is a discussion, a conversation, between Death and the mortals.
Hmm, this just got lively and fun, right? ; )
Let's add some more pictures of the lovely city of Tallinn!
I also visited the Seaplane harbour and "Titanic, the artifact exhibition".
But that's a post of it's own =)
Love, Erika
