Setting Sail in the Baltic Sea

Holland-America's Eurodam in port at Tallinn, Estonia

This particular European vacation was centered around a cruise on the Baltic Sea with our good friends Tom and Melinda Blum. Tom, Fayne, and I all met at the Health and Medical Sciences graduate program in Berkeley, 1973 where we formed an ad hoc Student Advisory Committee. Tom Married Melinda in 1983 and live in Mystic, Connecticut. While visiting there last fall this idea was hatched. (If you do the math, it corresponds with their 30th wedding anniversary, and also an Important Birthday for one of them.). They had never been on a cruise before, and we had never traveled together, so I was feeling a bit nervous and responsible for things going well (Spoiler Alert: they did!) because I have seen the stress of travel challenge many long-term relationships.
We met up in Copenhagen, Denmark Sunday morning June 30 and boarded the beautiful Eurodam  that afternoon. (I will blog about Copenhagen at the end of the cruise.) After a day at sea, the first port of call was Tallinn, Estonia.

First View of Tallinn

Tallinn is most famous for its medieval walled Old Town. It was the nothernmost member of the Hanseatic League, the 13-17th century commercial and defensive trading network that spread throughout the Baltic and North Seas. (Bergen, Norway was its northernmost port). Much of the allure in visiting the city is to visit the ancient city walls and wander the narrow streets.

View from the city walls

The skyline is pierced by many church spires.

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Cathedral of Saint Mary the Virgin (Dome Church)

The most intriguing to me is St. Olav's Church. Once upon a time, from 1549 to 1625 to be precise, this 14th century Gothic church may have been the tallest building in the World. This is a matter of some debate. The spire was once159-meters tall (522'), and after a storm knocked the top off of the tower of Lincoln Cathedral in England, Olav ascended to the top. Alas, what goes around comes around. The Babelesque spire was struck down on three occasions by lightning. The current tower, although still impressive at 124 meters (403'), is not nearly as imposing.

St. Olav's today

It was time for a brief lunch at a small cafe in an alley. Wraps were provided when it got a bit breezy.

Tom and Melinda enjoying the local fare

Time for more wandering around town, leading down to the main plaza at the Town Hall.

The town center is full of street-side cafes and various shops.

Toy shop window

Tallinn was selected as a European Capital of Culture for 2011, and prides itself in the arts.

Poster announcing an Estonian production of Uncle Vanya

But the high-light had to be a visit to the courtyard Chocolats de Pierre cafe and in all honesty one of the five best chocolate desserts I have ever had (see arrow).

Tom Blum chairing a meeting of the student Advisory Committee

Next stop.....Saint Petersburg, Russia!!