Tallinn in Estonia is a medieval city founded in 1145AD it is situated on a hilltop and is a UNESCO World Heritage site for well preserved gothic structures.
It is an easy walk to the town but again it is raining but the purchase of a clear plastic raincoat for 2euro is a great investment, umbrellas only protect the top half of you when it is raining heavily. The streets are narrow and winding and with the cobblestones being quite slippery as we enter the city through the gate called "Fat Margaret" ha ha.
There are lots of tourists enjoying the coloured buildings and the doorways are very decorative. The shops have adult sized dolls dressed in colourful costumes at the door. All competing for the tourist dollar. Onion shaped domes are evident in many buildings evidence of the Soviet influence.
Estonia gained its independence from the Soviet Union only in 1991 and became a member of the European Union in 2004 so have euros as the currency. At last the rain stops as we come into the city square where there is a market. It is interesting to see the furry hats with ear flaps on so many stalls a must have for their winters and warm woolly jumpers and ponchos. There is a stage set up and we are entertained by a groups of folk dancers ranging from old to teenagers and some six year olds. They are all dressed in their colourful costumes and look to be enjoying the dances which are bright and cheery and sound like polkas. Before they finish up they go our into the crowd and choose a tourist to come and dance. Cutest of all is the little boy who chooses a small elderly Japanese lady who shuffles around with him, very entertaining. Trivial fact Skype was invented in Estonia by Jaan Tallin