My Kind of Town - Old Town Estonia Tour

Since this tour began at 8:15am, Stacy woke up and decided to skip this tour.  So he sent me off with the camera and a pat on the head.  Unfortunately, he forgot to put the camera memory card inside - and that thing gets heavy just hanging off your neck for hours while on a walking tour!

Fortunately, I had my backup (iPhone) which took all the pictures you will see in this blog post - and is much lighter to carry I might add.  Our tour guides had been very busy with many activities all week.  Allen, for example, had been one of the MCs during the evening gathering, he performed in one of the dances, he had a talk on the convention and also intrepreted some talks into English as well.  And he was still bright-eyed and very enthusiastic to be hosting us for his 7th tour of Old Town.   What an amazing example of hospitality and self-sacrificing spirit!

  Allen attended MTS in Michigan - used to live in Canada - now in Estonia!

Simon and Kadja also helped us to learn about Tallinn Old Town.  She made her skirt and matching bow ties for the guys.  Each area of Estonia has a unique color/design for its region.

The above picture of Allen shows one of the few remaining doors to the city which divided the upper town (clery) from the lower town (merchants).  It was called the wall of distrust.  Allen made the application that we have no such divisions in our congregations - no doors or borders.  Truly international brotherhood.

Tallin, Estonia was first mentioned in the World Atlas in 1154 - which is before Wycliffe translated the bible into English and before Columbus discovered America.  This medieval city had walls 5 stories high but given its strategic location on the Baltic Sea, was an important trading post.  Despite the fact that there was no electricity, no potatoes, and no forks!  There is a spot in the middle of the town square where you can see all 5 of the towers of Tallinn!

Inside joke alert: Can you see the glimpse into the future from this perspective?

We saw many interesting things that related to our theocratic history in Estonia:

RaeAntiik: Oldest pharmacy still operating from original location was also a popular spot for public witnessing.  During the initial conversation, only first names exchanged.  To visit again, made an appointment to meet again at the same place.

 

Kommunaal Project: Location for the first pioneer service school held in 1992.

St. Mary's Cathedral 1779: Jehovah's name in Hebrew (YHWH) can be found in 2 places inside this church (now a museum).  Years ago, able to start informal conversations using these features to introduce tourists to Jehovah.  Assumed to be tour guides - guiding ones to bible truth!

Towards the end of our tour, we reached this amazing panoramic view of the city:

Samone and I made a few new local friends while hanging out after the tour!

Not on the tour: Guess what we found in Estonia - Chicago!  Enjoyed a nice dinner with friends at a Chicago themed restaurant while listening to some jazz music.  Beginning to feel like home.