Where in Europe Photo Quiz
Can you match the picture to where in Europe it was taken? Comment below with how many you got correct and which ones you didn’t know. All photos were taken by me and can be read about in my blog posts 🙂
Tag: estonia
9-Day Scandinavia Russia and Baltic Cruise Travel Blog
My third cruise was with Norwegian Cruise Line again and this time was to visit cities on the Baltic Sea. I set sail on the Norwegian Getaway from Copenhagen on an exciting vacation that was filled with history, art, and culture. Click on the linked headings to read more about each city. St. Petersburg, Russia After 2 days at sea, we reached St. Petersburg, Russia. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, it was the imperial capital for 2 centuries. It remains the country’s cultural center with venues like the historic Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet. Also the Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to abstract works by Kandinsky. St. Petersburg is also home to numerous parks and gardens. While in St. Petersburg, I witnessed the amazing Swan Lake ballet and also took a guided tour of the most iconic cathedrals of the city. Helsinki, Finland The next port was Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital that sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central artery, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum (tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present), imposing Parliament House and Kiasma contemporary art museum. On busy Senate Square, you’ll find the neoclassical Helsinki Cathedral which stands in contrast with the Uspenski Cathedral and its cupolas. Tallinn, Estonia Tallinn, Estonia was my favorite port of call and is now my favorite Eastern European city. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital on the Baltic Sea is the country’s cultural hub. It retains its walled, cobblestoned Old Town, home to cafes and shops, as well as Kiek in de Kok, a 15th-century defensive tower. Its Estonian History Museum is dedicated to the country’s 20th-century history and its Gothic, towering Town Hall is among the Baltic region’s oldest. Stockholm, Sweden The only city that I had previously been to was Stockholm, Sweden. Laced by an ingenious network of waterways and bridges strung between a freshwater lake and the sea, Stockholm is easily seen on foot or by waterway cruise. Its gabled old townhouses peer over cobblestone streets, while its magnificent 17th-century palace sits watching over the harbor. The city is spread across a total of 17 islands and was founded in 1252 by a Swedish statesman Birger Jarl. Visby, Sweden The last stop on the cruise was Visby, Sweden. I had never heard of Visby before so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. The first thing that catches your eye when arriving at the Port of Visby, is the impressive cathedral and all the rooftops of the stone buildings in the town, surrounded by the mighty medieval town wall with its towers. Centrally placed, Visby was for a long time the natural meeting point for sailors and merchants from all over the Baltic region. Still today, you can enjoy the majestic merchants’ houses from 17th and 18th century along with almost 200 stone buildings – some of them dating back from the 12th century. Copenhagen, Denmark After one more day at sea, we arrived back at Copenhagen where I spent two days before heading back home. It is one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and is also one of Europe’s busiest hubs. On just about every street you will spot something beautiful.
Tallinn, Estonia Travel Blog
Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia that is extremely photogenic with wonderful sights that include ancient churches, medieval streetscapes, and noble merchants’ houses. I really loved how walkable the Old Town is. On every single street, there was something beautiful to see. Tallinn definitely ranks very high on my list of European cities and is probably my favorite in Eastern Europe. St. Olaf’s Church is the closest attraction to the cruise port. It is only a 15-minute walk from the ship. The church is believed to have been built in the 12th century and to have been the center for old Tallinn’s Scandinavian community before Denmark conquered Tallinn in 1219. Its dedication relates to King Olaf II of Norway. The first known written records referring to the church date back to 1267, and it was extensively rebuilt during the 14th century. The City Wall that surrounds the Old Town has several towers. The first that I stopped at was Koismae Torn. The next was Loewenschede Torn, which was completed in 1373. A little further is Nun’s Tower, in which you can go up and walk along the wall. I then took a stroll through Toompark. It is the largest park in the bastion zone and is formed on the former earth forticifaction ground around the Shnelli Pond. The pond is the only remaining part of the moat that once surrounded the city. Taking a walk up the steep Toompea Hill from the park, I came to St. Mary’s Cathedral. It was originally established by Danes in the 13th century and is the oldest church in Tallinn and mainland Estonia. It is also the only building in Toompea which survived a 17th-century fire. Originally a Roman Catholic cathedral, it became Lutheran in 1561 and now belongs to the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church. A very short distance from the Cathedral is Toompea Castle. It has been in use since at least the 9th century and today it houses the Parliament of Estonia. You cannot enter the castle but can walk around the exterior in Governor’s Garden. Directly across from the castle is the beautiful Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. This orthodox cathedral was built to a design by Mikhail Preobrazhensky in a typical Russian Revival style between 1894 and 1900, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire. The Cathedral is Tallinn’s largest and grandest orthodox cathedral. It is dedicated to Saint Alexander Nevsky who in 1242 won the Battle of the Ice on Lake Peipus, in the territorial waters of present-day Estonia. Opposite of the cathedral is Danish King’s Garden, which is one of the most beautiful parks in Tallinn and serves as a remnant of the centennial Danish rule over the city. I then headed towards Freedom Square, which is a plaza on the southern end of the Old Town, where military parades and various concerts often take place. It is bounded on the east by St. John’s Church, on the south by Kaarli Boulevard, and an underground shopping center, and on the west by a Victory Column commemorating the Estonian War of Independence 1918-1920. Down the street is St. Nicholas Church, which was originally built in the 13th century. It was partially destroyed in the Soviet bombing of Tallinn in World War II. It has since been restored and today houses a branch of the Art Museum of Estonia, focusing mainly on ecclesiastical art from the Middle Ages onward. It is also used as a concert hall. There are lovely cafes across the street in which I had a few drinks while I enjoyed watching people walk by. On the next corner is Raekoja Plats, or better known as Town Hall Square. It is a venue for numerous small festivals or concerts like Tallinn Old Town Days, and several bars and restaurants are located in the vicinity. The square also hosts a market regularly, with many stalls selling traditional Estonian items and souvenirs. This is a fabulous place to eat lunch. Within the square is the ancient gothic Tallinn Town Hall. It is the only one of its kind in Northern Europe. Also in the square is the Town Hall Pharmacy (Raeapteek), which is the oldest in Europe that has continually operated in the same premises. It was first mentioned in town records in 1422. You can go and take a look at the small museum inside. Walk a little further and you will come to St. Catherine’s Passage. A charming example of medieval architecture, this narrow street is full of craftsmen’s workshops and artists displaying their beautiful work. At night, the passage is lit up nicely. After you pass through the passage, you will come back to the Tallinn Town Wall. Here you can take the stairs up and walk along the medieval defensive walls. There is a small entrance fee. If you follow the path of the walls and walk through the street market, you will come to Viru Gate. It is positioned on a trendy shopping street. The last church that I visited was Holy Spirit Church. Also called Church of the Holy Ghost, it is a medieval Lutheran church located behind Raekoja Plats, and lies opposite the Great Guild and Maiasmokk, Tallinn’s oldest cafe. I ended my day by walking down Pikk Street, Tallinn’s busiest and most picturesque street in the historic center of the city. It was perfect for an afternoon stroll and I found a nice spot to have a drink before heading back to the cruise ship.