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Tallinn

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Favourable first impressions of Tallinn are confirmed as we get to know it better.

The weather is just about perfect – sunny but low 20s (compared to the 30+ back home). Tallinn is very walkable, with lots to see and very friendly locals.

The usual walking tour started us off, leaving us to then explore leisurely.

In the photo above, the white tower block in the centre was the only hotel in the So jet era, built and bugged by the KGB. Apparently it’s still a hotel.

And Tallin is also right on the coast.

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Tallinn

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We changed our usual criteria for travel:

  1. It’s the summer holidays when everyone else is on holiday
  2. We deliberately chose somewhere that might be cooler after 6 weeks of heatwave

If I say that we arrived in Tallinn at 08.30 UK time, that indicates that we had a very early start – which we did.

It meant we were in our apartment with almost a day to explore, albeit gently because, surprise surprise, we were a bit tired.

But first impressions are extremely good. A beautiful city to wander around.

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St Just and Home

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Final visit to the church

Getting out of Cornwall was tough, but expected. Getting past Reading was tough, but unexpected. So it took 8 hours to get home, but definitely worth it.

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Just Desserts

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On a holiday consisting mainly of views and food, it’s apt that I get my come uppance. Sneaked into a cake shop in the afternoon without telling Eileen. But a couple of bites later it was ripped from my hand with laser precision by a seagull which then seemed to proceed to share it with its mates and laugh at me at the same time.

The Hidden Hut

Stunning location, probably crazy busy in summer, and fantastic food (the less said about the coffee, though …).

And just enjoying the house.

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Moving a bit

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We’ve probably seen the best of the weather, so it’s time to move around a bit.

We remember the King Harry ferry from 2009 – just after the financial crisis and so many unused cargo ships were being stored up this creek.

It’s also the place where I had my great idea for a TV series about boring jobs in amazing places (the title probably still needs some work). As it’s a chain ferry, the captain doesn’t even need to steer, and yet the views are stunning.

Trelissick

We’d been before, although I didn’t remember it.

And a lovely place to have coffee

Tuesday was a little trip around the Roseland peninsula (including picking up hitchhikers which we haven’t done for decades, but with no buses or taxis they were desperate.

It was actually more ethereal than the photo makes it look.

And back to St Mawes to enjoy our panoramic views.

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As Good as it Gets (2)

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Weather for the weekend is just about perfect – sunny but not too hot. Forecast for the rest of the week isn’t as good, so we’re not moving far at all.

It’s nearly 20 years ago that we stayed near St Just with Jo, and at least 2 of her friends in successive years. So for old times sake, and because it’s stunning scenery we walked around the estuary to the church.

And that was that for the day!

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St Mawes

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We had booked to stay in a beautiful house near Lands End. We had made it as far as Bodmin when we got a call to say the house was flooded and uninhabitable. Fortunately for us there were still many vacancies, and we found this house in St Mawes that was available in less than 2 hours.

A quick re-program of the satnav and here we are. We reckon it is about 15 years since we were last here, but it feels familiar.

Here’s the house.

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Friday 22nd – The Real Last Day

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Woke up to a bit of a shock – my flight was cancelled. I was due to fly to Oslo in the morning, negotiate the various obstacles at Oslo airport and be back at Heathrow by late afternoon. The cancellation meant I had an extra day in Tromso, but will be spending the night in an Oslo Airport Hotel. If all goes to plan, though, SAS will not only pay my expenses today, including the hotel, but also compensation which will cover the flight costs as well.

So got the chance to do some low-key sightseeing that I wouldn’t otherwise have been able to.

Arctic Cathedral

Main Cathedral

And enjoyed watching people a bit like they were coming out of hibernation, blinking at the light. And also it was ridiculously warm again.

And the cruise ships arrived, disgorging what appeared to be thousands of passengers who seem to devour the town. Gave an impression of what it might be like when the summer season kicks off and it gets really busy.