First stop Tallinn - what a fantastic city. The central Old Town offers narrow alleys, city walls and gates, defensive towers rows of merchants houses and many churches. The only downside is the huge number of visitors, six cruise ships had docked the day we visited, so numerous tour guides with their tail of tourists. Returning in the evening once the cruises had departed was a completely different experience. Outside the centre there are reminders of the soviet occupation and it can be hard to remember that they only gained freedom from communist rule 25 years ago. A few days of relaxation on Saareemaa gave a completely different perspective on Estonia. A much slower pace, more rural with a very low population density.
We have just spent today in Riga in Latvia - a completely different experience. Not so crowded with more everyday activity in the city centre. A huge amount of regeneration is going on with a lot of very flash cars, seemingly owned by the large Russian population. Latvia seemes to have had a tougher time during the war and subsequently under communist rule, and has a very different feel. The biggest surprise was the number and range of Art Deco buildings, many now being restored, apparently over 750.
We progress south tomorrow for a few days on the Curoniasn Spit in Lithuania before heading to Vilnius.
We have just spent today in Riga in Latvia - a completely different experience. Not so crowded with more everyday activity in the city centre. A huge amount of regeneration is going on with a lot of very flash cars, seemingly owned by the large Russian population. Latvia seemes to have had a tougher time during the war and subsequently under communist rule, and has a very different feel. The biggest surprise was the number and range of Art Deco buildings, many now being restored, apparently over 750.
We progress south tomorrow for a few days on the Curoniasn Spit in Lithuania before heading to Vilnius.
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