Today we leave Riga and move to Tallinn, Estonia
. The following day we visit the town of Rummu with its unique attraction of a former flooded Soviet prison.
Rummu
We are in no hurry to get up again. The bus to Tallinn doesn't leave until 11:30. This gives us enough time to pack and buy some desserts for coffee and cocoa on the bus. However, the problem of returning the backed-up PET bottles and cans that we would like to get rid of gets us into a time crunch. The problem in the Baltics, and especially in Riga, is that hardly any shops have a bottle return machine and if they do, it's hidden somewhere. For example, there are two Maxims in the market and neither has one. We had to run back to Rimmi to return everything in such a hurry.
Riga - Abava Marketplace
However, we managed to buy the desserts and the Lux Express bus, so we had a long journey of four and a half hours ahead of us. We arrived in Tallinn at four in the afternoon. The train station is located outside, downtown, and we had to walk another 2 km to our new accommodation, which was located just outside the city center a short walk from the American Embassy.
Tallinn - Bus station
Tallinn - Bus station
The owner of the apartment was waiting for us there, she handed us the keys and explained what and how. By the time we unpacked it was already six o'clock, so we took a quick tour of the city. The first point was the Estonian Theatre building. It was about nothing, but there is a mall across the street and a big Lido logo shining on it. So the location of our dinner was clear. The joy subsided a bit when I saw the price level, with it being about a third more expensive here compared to Riga. On the other hand, they had far more choice here. After dinner, we still popped into the supermarket to buy something for the evening, breakfast and snacks.
Tallinn - Estonian Theatre Building
Tallinn - Lido Restaurant
Then we continue further into the centre to Independence Square, dominated by St. John's Church. A short walk from the square is the St. Nicholas Church.
Tallinn - Náměstí nezávislosti
Tallinn - Kostel sv. Jana
Tallinn - St. Nicholas Church
We walk a few more surrounding streets and come across the nice Soprus cinema building, which will be the last place we visit today. After that, we go back. Then in the evening we sit down with a vodka and go to bed. Tomorrow we will go to the town of Rummu.
Tallinn - The Soprus cinema building
2.7.2022
Our bus leaves Independence Square around 10:00. The bus is a little late. I try in vain to pay at the driver's terminal with my card, only to be told gruffly on the second attempt, "Nerabotajet". And you would think that Estonia, such a technological benchmark, would already have something as primitive as payment terminals on its buses. Unfortunately. The ride took about an hour. Don't expect something like information panels or stop announcements, so we relied on navigation. The bus dropped us off right next to the former prison. Arrows then directed us to the entrance where you pay an entrance fee. They already had terminals here so you could pay by card. The whole area is a former Soviet prison, which is partially flooded with water. The water here is clear and the many flooded buildings make this a popular place for diving. We go to the beach first, take a sunbed there and then go with Janet to a nearby mound, which has a nice view of the lake. The ascent is very steep and you can't really do it in flip flops. Even me with hiking sandals had to work to climb it.
Rummu - Entrance to the complex
Rummu
As soon as we finish our tour of the heap, we finally go for a swim. Since there is a NATO air base nearby, we have fighter jets flying overhead for variety. We bathe until about 3:30, then we go to see the abandoned buildings of the prison, which are outside the main area. The prison itself is not accessible from the lake.
Rummu
At the end we have a beer in the buffet by the lake and then we go back to the bus. On the way to our accommodation we take the Rimmi route and come across autonomous vehicles delivering mail and food around Tallinn, driving freely on the sidewalk and across the road. In Rimmi we buy dinner of pelmeni and chinkali. We have some beers and vodka and go to our room. We don't do anything big anymore. Tomorrow we have to wake up early because we're taking a boat to Helsinki.
Useful links:
Lux Express
Liivalaia Apartment
More hotels near Tallinn
Connection finder for Tallinn and surroundings
Rummu
