Slippin' and slidin' in Tallinn

The view across Tallinn
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So we whizzed around Ireland visiting friends and family - Dublin, Co. Cork, Co. Tipperary and Co. Down in 5 days.  This after a panic packing - I was still packing as the man was carrying the boxes out. We ended up having to carry some home to Ireland - thank you Ryanair for seeing the opportunity to charge us 220 quid in excess luggage. Although we did have 55 excess kilos and the man did leave us off with 50 quid. It was sad saying goodbye to friends and family but I didn't cry. Very brave of me I thought. The last day was spent dashing around Dublin (hungover) trying to buy Cathal a new rucksack, yes he finally admitted that his wasn't big enough. (sorry, Cathal).  Now he's got a HUGE one! Well we then made it to Stansted and tried (and failed) to sleep.  Not a lastminute merchant at all I was paying bills and trying to sort banking out in the early hours of the 31st. Insomina rocks. It all came back to get us anyway when we arrived in Tallinn, wired from coffee and got lost finding our hostel. Which wouldn't have been so bad except for the weighty packs and non adjustment when loaded. Rookie mistake.That won't happen again, since now I'm going to ensure all the guide books go into Cathal's pack.

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Tallinn is gorgeous. Really, really lovely medieval old town and 40 museums (one is about marzipan). We've been to 8 already - not hit my chilled out traveller groove yet, still hyper. There's a garlic restaurant (we didn't go in, since it's kinda about the meat).  It's been snowing since we got here and about -3 but it's gorgeous. Proper snowflakes like you seen in pictures which fascinated me for hours (well a long time anyway).  Much to the amusement of the locals who clearly thought we were mad and have never seen snow before. Well my jacket is Mr Blobby pink - I was never going to blend in.  The whole city resembles an ice-rink from the thawing and refreezing. You can see yesterdays grit through the ice. I've fallen over 3 times, Cathal nearly has but not hit dirt yet. If he doesn't soon I'm gonna push him- we should both ache really. Only fair.

yes he finally admitted that his wasn't big enough.

Short-Leg Street
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Met some interesting people, one Danish guy staying in our hostel does sound effects for Disney - well that just started Cathal off, you'd think Tallinn would be safe from tecchie babble, but no. Also me a Dubliner, yay! 2 bona fide irish pubs in Tallinn - predicatably one is called Molly Malone's. We Irish like a sure thing! Going to quality control the black stuff soon.

We head skiing the day after tomorrow, we think. And then who knows - maybe Helsinki, Tartu or Riga. 

Highly recommend Tallinn though - get here before everyone else does, it's cheap, friendly and very pretty.  Gorgeous wooden houses, old walls and loads to do.