Pssst…! Hey you, come with me! It’s just around the corner..!
There’s a cool candy store with an old-time vibe! A flower market and mysterious red doors!
Let’s take an idle walk on the cobbled streets of Tallinn… where time has stopped and then jumped forward again.
Let’s look in through the windows and eavesdrop on conversations.

First, we explore the Kalev chocolate parlor, where I imagine myself as a 1950’s kid, giving my teacher a sweet gift upon entering the freedom of summer holidays – ah, sweet freedom and summer scents.
And then, too soon, we turn a corner and a magic carpet of a time machine swoops us up and flies us over to futuristic, industrial chic Kristinaplats.
Filled with hipster terraces and tasty little eateries. Beef and quesadillas, sushi and pastries.We are whisked into a moment in time when smoking is still allowed in restaurant areas, giving me a bit of a surprise.
And then we u-turn back again towards the Middle Ages…
I hop off the time machine carpet and camouflage myself amongst the locals. As I wander up this street…I think of my colleague, who has just told me about her visit to a Klimt-Monet-Van Gogh light show type of art exhibition in a damp-smelling little room with the tiniest of tiny doors, inconspicuous, undemanding, and hard to spot… a secret entrance. An enjoyable show according to her: the paintings came to life.
I doubt I’ll find her little door in this town of many doors, maybe if I have time later, I’ll look it up. But… hang on – there it is! Just like that! I found the door! Now I feel like I must enter.
An hour later, knowing more than I wanted to about three famous painters’ darkest thoughts, I wander some more, looking for something bright to make me forget, and I find a glimpse into the tropics.
And I wander ever further… into a patch of red doors, growing almost side by side, competing in redness.
Even without it, we seem to have taken a time loop backwards.
Where are we? And where are we going? We stroll past a rare bike predating the free-city-bike era.
The sun shines and I’m looking for a post box. Do they even exist in this time and place?Sometimes different centuries come together in a nice way, harmoniously, looking like they belong.
Maybe I’ll stay here, wrap up my mat and use it for yoga. You’re welcome to stay.
***
Inspired by the great storyteller Equinoxio’s blogging style. The pictures are from two trips to Tallinn during summer 2019, explaining the color variations in the sky: one of the days was sunny, the other grey.
44 replies on “Tallinn’s Time Zones and Warps”
Ah! The Tallinn doors! Wonderful city that is within its Medieval walls, and a strange mixture of brand new and run-down outside. With a compelling art museum a bit further on. I envy your vincinity to Tallinn, just a ferry crossing away. I love the pictures and the story! (And yes, while reading Equinoxio did come to mind. 🙂 )
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Thanks, Peter! 😊 I’ve only ever been to the old town area (very touristy) but I hear there’s much more to see if you have time to look around the city’s outskirts. Maybe one day!
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Great post😀
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Thanks!
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You are indeed fortunate as Petergrey mentions to have Talliin at your doorstep. It was a highlight for me to visit there and I recognize some of the vistas. I so enjoy the step back in time that one feels in this city. I just have to add snow to your photos and imagine the smell of roasting chestnuts. A magical city it is. Was the art show a little depressing?
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Hello Amanda! 😊 Yes, the art show was a little depressing for my taste! And the room so mouldy that they couldn’t even disguise it. Anyway, if you ever go back to Tallinn, pop over to Suvi’s blog mrssuvi.com for some tips because she knows the city inside out! I’ve been there dozens of times but I always visit the same old area 🤨
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I follow Suvi and was delighted to read some of her posts. We seem to be very much alike in terms of our preferences.
Why do you get drawn to the same areas?
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Mostly because of time restrictions (and laziness!)
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When you have more energy and time, there is much more to explore. A reason to go back.
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You have found that post box 😁
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😁 Yes, I did! Just one card I wanted to send ❤️
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😍
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Wonderful. It’s your style, no matter how I love him too. 😉 And these three doors are just what I need to take into dreamland with me. Thank you, they are beautiful. ❤
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Thanks, Manja! I was thinking of you when taking those door snaps 😁
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This is really nice to hear. 🙂 They did a great job in my dreams keeping any horrors away.
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😊
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What a magical place Snow. I do love when cities like these just stop in their tracks of time. Takes you back to a completely different world. Who needs a time travel machine right?
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Hahah, exactly! Thanks Lorelle for reading! 😊
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Great way to present Tallinn! We very much enjoyed that cute little city with its foot in many time periods!
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Thanks, Lexi! Cute and offers good cakes, what more do you need on a day trip?! 😁 (I always have cake when I visit Tallinn!)
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Oh, Tallin… Such a beautiful city!!! I loved “exploring” the city through your eyes!! You’re great at looking for details! And these photos bring me so beautiful memories of my years in Stockholm, exploring the Baltic cities…
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Thanks, Mercedes! Yes, I too think Tallinn’s old town resembles Stockholm’s, quite a lot actually. Helsinki doesn’t have an Old Town so it’s always interesting to visit these two on both sides of us 😊
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What an incredible adventure! I really enjoyed travelling through this city with you 🙂
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Thanks, I’m happy you hopped onboard the time machine with me! 😊
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I always enjoy a visit to Tallinn whatever the time of year. Thanks for taking me along with you.
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Very happy to have you along, Marion! 🤗 Thanks for reading!!
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Love it. And I’m very honoured for the mention. 🙂 thank you for taking us through this sunny Tallinn… As you know it’s only a matter of pushing the right door…
Kiitos Lumi.
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A different thing behind each door -thanks for your always inspiring posts, Brieuc 🙂 A plus!
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A + Lumi.
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I was in Tallinn about 6 years ago, and some of this looks familiar. We spent most of our time in the old town area, and didn’t see many modern chrome and glass structures, These beautiful doors ring a bell, and the narrow cobblestone streets. Tallinn is such a beautiful place, with a very interesting history. Love the magic carpet ride!
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The modern area is new, it might not have been around 6 years ago. Just next to Old Town! Thanks for joining the ride 😊
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Tallinn seems to be a oases of nostalgia and modernism. I’d love to explore that art museum. Must be a hidden gem of the city. A very insightful introduction to Tallinn, snow. 🎈😊The photos are stunning, especially the narrow street where you spotted the art museum 🎭
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Thanks, Isabelle! It was a tiny art room, but come to think of it, I’ve never visited a proper art museum in Tallinn – should do that one day!! 😘
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What a fun tour. Looks like a city the bears repeated visits, discovering that kind of history and color (including the red doors).
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Thanks, Graham! Yes, I’ve been there dozens of times (literally) and it’s always fun to go back for another short visit. What I failed to mention though are the cakes and pastries – yum! Worth going back for! 😁
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Oooo, cakes and pastries. I’m in.
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I nearly booked a weekend there recently.. will definitely go..
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Do go, Lisa, if you get the chance! Great for a weekend, not too overwhelming in size 😊
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a lovely recount of a charming town!
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Thanks, Andy, appreciated!
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I was there too last year in autumn, even though it was only for around 24 hours in total. It is such a lovely place! I wish to go again and see some more things than what I could squeeze in the little time I had :-)..
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Hope you get to visit again! 😀 Most my visits are less than 24h! (By ferry)
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you had me at “there’s a candy store” 😀 wonderful pictures, full of color and sunlight… ♥
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Thanks, dear! ❤️
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