I was sitting in my Tallinn Estonia Hestia Hotel Europa booking a ferry from Holland to the Uk when up popped my old Estonian phone number so I was "back home again".

For many years while travelling I have used a mobile number based here in Estonia with the international dialing prefix +372. However many people trying to contact me either didnt believe that my number was based here in Estonia or figured high calling charges so I eventually changed it to an Australian number, Pity because as now I am staying in Estonia my number for a brief period of time would have a local number.

The trip from Finland was undertaken by a Viking 2hr ferry from Helsinki to Tallin in misberable3 weather as many of the photos show. The trip however was smooth and contained only 5 motorcycles but a large full capacity load of cars,campervans and trucks. For once the motorcycle loading had a us at the rear and so where the last to leave at Tallinn. Also no straps were provided for the journey only rubber wheel chocks with the bikes parked sideways and no none fell over but it would be risky in heavy swells.

The ticket said Terminal B however on arrival at that location I was told trucks only and redirected to Terminal C.

the ferry trip while short in duration allowed an investigation of the vessel. It turned out to be similiar to the Viking Grace that I came from Sweden on in that it had a formal restaurant, a bufet and imformal dining area as well as food at the bars. A large Duty Free shop didnt tempt me but most passengers had a trolley load of liquor,sweets,cosmetics and toys.Entertainment in the form of a kids disco and adults Bingo soon had the "locals"fully participating to an extent that Bingo antics and celebrations were akin to a major lottery win.

While my hotel was only some 150m from the dock it was on the otherside of the Port so took a ride of some 2.4kms to arrive. Whie the lobby was spacious and the hotel a 4 star one service was slow as check in was undertaken by one staff member and when a second did arrive he was engaged in a lengthy telephone conversation and didnt reduce the que waiting.

With plenty of day light we decided to undertake a self guided tour by foot of the Old Town of Vanalinn. As we made our way we found a mega shopping centre next to our hotel along with a number 6 in total skyscrapers. That's all Estonian law allow in Tallinn as no building must exceed the height of St Olaf's church.

The old town reflects the close ties,like Finland, that Estonia had with Russia as infact it was part of the old USSR until the break up in very recent times,1991.

Even as late at 1980 the Russians built a large concrete wall to protect itself from attack by sea from a "threat"such as Finland. The old Soviet Olympic village is now a hotel. it is still possible,actually promoted as a tourist attraction, to visit the old KGB torture basement.

Vanalinn is well known for the Town Hall Square where the Town Hall is often mistaken for a Church. The square and St Catherine's passage resemble an Italian food square in design and decor infact were it not for the goods in the surrounding souvenior shops the difference would be indertermiable. Infact the name Master's Courtyard is often used to decribe the nearby Artesian area. Here it is possible to buy handmade wooden items, woollen garmets,jewerelly,hand blown glassware,paintings and ironwork.

However as a motorcyclist Tallinn has a special place. It was during a lightweight 125cc race on July 2, 2000 that Joey Dunlop MBE & OBE ,a man whose record 26 wins at the Isle of Man still stands today, was killed. Incidentally he had on the same day already won the 600cc & 750cc races. At the Isle of Man I have visited the Joey Statue on The Mountain , I have also been to the memorial Park for both Joey & Robert his younger brother at Ballymoney twice, so this visit will complete the trilogy of memorials. So at day's end I have loaded Rummu tee 7 at Tallinn Estonia into the Tom Tom for that visit tomorrow.