The Saturday City: Tallinn

The Saturday City: Tallinn -

I have always seen the Baltic states as a kind of the external border of the European trip, a place well off the beaten Euro trip route that the most travelers follow. I could not tell where the origin of this idea came from, but probably from the fact I can count on one hand, the number of people I know who have gone there or even thought about going. I hear the rarely mentioned by anyone Baltics.

So I was excited to go to Tallinn, Estonia, to see an amazing city free of large tour groups tacky souvenirs and overpriced restaurants. I have nothing against tourism, but I like to be my medieval towns empty and quiet. It helps me personally, appreciate more. People have always told me that Tallinn was without the crowds you see these quiet, medieval town in places like Prague or Bruges.

But it was not like that.

It is true that the city is beautiful. Visit here is like stepping back a few centuries - and they have done a good job in preserving its history and medieval structures. The cobbled streets are lined with medieval houses and old churches. Small lanes lead to tiny streets where you find cloistered meters. The city is still ringed by much of its original stone wall and many watchtowers. It's breathtaking.

But with Tallinn to be

as "European Capital of Culture" This year, part of the Schengen Treaty zone, and a very cheap country, the crowds are here and here en masse , I saw lots of tours with the signature umbrella accounts. I had to push my way through the city and was never a quiet moment in one of the churches.

With many cheap flights from the UK (and a lot of cheap alcohol in Estonia), see also see many deer (Bachelor) and hen (bachelorette) nights. At night, the city Rowdy fill as the bars with drunk tourists. One of my favorite moments in Tallinn was when I saw say an English guy to his friend: "Hey, it's only 2 euros for a pint Let get drunk" (It was about 13.00), and this Estonian children went through and in a mocking tone, said to one another: "It is only 2 €, let get drunk F $% # ing English!." I could not help but laugh.

It was this mass tourism, leaving me of Tallinn with mixed feelings. I hate between the tourist aspect of the city and to love the sheer beauty of it drawn. It's pretty hard to find a place to love, which looks like this:

See? Magnificent!

I think I came at the wrong time of the year just. I find nothing wrong with places or crowds (I love Paris and I live in New York), but there are only so many people that can be crammed into such a small place like Tallinn before it just too much to handle. It's annoying trying to push through narrow streets, while tour groups collide in you.

In addition, there are many kitschy medieval restaurants, retailers, archery, and tours around. The city has a strong medieval history (it dates back to the 13th century), and, while fascinating, sometimes it feels a little too Disney World.

My favorite time in Tallinn was when I woke me up on a Sunday morning at 7am to wander the town before the crowds arrived. Walking around in the fresh morning air, I saw the magic of Tallinn that everyone talked about. The streets where still, open up to the sounds of birds and shops. The cobbled streets were free of crowds. The little old ladies walked into the church. It was easier to appreciate the town without the crowds. You could just sit and admire the architecture alone, as you represented hundreds of years ago life here. It was aired the medieval capital of history and fascination during this peaceful walk, and I saw why everyone wants to come here.

And so this walk has to love me Tallin much more than I had previously. I no longer saw the crowds and mass tourism, which had spoiled my vision as before

Overall, Tallinn is a beautiful place -. Is there no denying. I still feel it is too touristy for such a small place. I think the best time to visit Tallinn to be out of season, when the crowds are gone. In this way, you would have to not wake up so early only city to have. I want to finally do the entire Baltic region, and if I do that, it will be during the off-season to avoid the horde of summer travelers.

Medieval towns are much better when they are empty and peaceful.

Or maybe I'm just a grumpy man who hates crowds.

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