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Estonia is probably the most successful former republic of the USSR. They have opened their doors to tourism and are actively building a stong economy based heavily on e-commerce. Tallinn is the principal city and showplace of Estonia. We didn't see much outside of the old walled city of Tallin to distinguish it from any other eastern European city but within the walls it's a real gem. The people of Tallinn have taken great care in preserving/restoring the character of the old city and it's like a window into the past. The old town is small enough to be very walkable but big enough to have a nice variety of shops, hotels and restaurants to choose from. It is an archetecturally interesting town with buildings dating from the 13th. century or earlier to the present. The people are outgoing, friendly and very proud of their heritage. English is widely spoken throughout the old town.
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| Favourite spots: |
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Any of the small cafes surrounding the old town square. It's a great people watching spot and there are frequent free concerts and other entertainment.
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| What's really great: |
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The old town was a pleasant surprise for us. Unlike a lot of old towns we've seen in Europe, this one has real feel to it. Estonia is a relative unknown to most of us Americans but based on what we experienced, that will soon change.
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| Sights: |
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The entirety of the old town is a sight in itself. There are a series of towers along the wall, each different and each worth seeing. The old town hall and all of the building surrounding the town square are a phtographers delight.
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| Accommodations: |
The Domina City Hotel is a really nice 3-star hotel occupying the former KGB headquarters. The price was reasonable and it's located in one of the most perfect spots in the old town. (http://www.dominahotels.com/442)
There are plenty of others but during the summer you should book well in advance especially if you're there over a weekend. (http://www.tourism.tallinn.ee/?page=54)
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| Nightlife: |
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We didn't participate in the club scene but a couple of places came highly recommended. The Venus club appeals mostly to the younger (20's) set and has a variety of different venues ranging from disco to erotic shows. The in-your-pocket guide has a comprehensive list of clubs (http://www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/tallinn/en/category?cid=1051)
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| Hangouts: |
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My favorite watering holes were some of the outdoor cafes around the town square but there's no shortage of good places to drink in Tallin. Once again I refer to the in-your-pocket guide (http://www.inyourpocket.com/estonia/tallinn/en/category?cid=1046)
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| Restaurants: |
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Like many tourists, Eeslitall (Donkey's Stable) was my favorite. We found no shortage of other good places to eat as well.
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| Other recommendations: |
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Unfortunately we were so engrossed with Tallin's old town we scarcly got outside the walls. Hopefully we'll get another opportunity to visit more of Tallin and more of Estonia.
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Published on Friday July 12th, 2002
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