THE OLD TOWN DAYS





The Old Town days is the annual festival, held each June for 6 days. So, the heart of the celebration is the old Town Hall Square. It used to be the main square of the city. If something important were happening, then it would take place on the Hall Square. On the front part of the Town Hall you may find something strange - it looks like the yoke. If you think that is was for the horse, then... think again. It was ... a place of shame. Care to take a picture? In winter from the big window of the Town Hall the Christmas Peace is proclaimed by the President of Estonia, on the square the main Christmas tree is erected every year. In summer the square is usually covered with multiple out-door caffes and tourists.


From the Town Hall Square you go up Long Leg road to Toompea - Upper town, where the merchants used to live. More about the Upper and Lower Town you can find on the Legends part of the web page. If you climb (no, you do not need climbing equipment, just good shoes top walk on cobblestone streets) to the Upper Town then you can look down at the roofs of the houses and watch people who would seems like little ants.


You can stop for a while and listen to some melody played by one of the steer musicians (that is if you are lucky and it is not raining). There is a big chance of hearing flute melodies played by one of the 3 (or by all three) brothers with their mother always not far from them. It is really a treat. And if you enjoyed you can put some change as a token of appreciation to the beautifully handmade basket. Or you can walk and imagine that you are in the middle ages. Just stop and listen. Maybe between the mobile phones you can here the voice of the young boy selling rolls? Maybe you'll hear the steps of the city guards? Or maybe you'll hear the carriage? You open you eyes and ...


...you see a horse and a carriage. Take a ride in it or pet it. Usually the coaches do not mind. The horse brings you to the Viru Gates.


Viru gates are one of gates of the citywall. They are still in a very good condition.
Your short trip around the old city of Tallinn is over.
More about Tallinn you can read here:



Tallinn,Estonia
location
Legends Old Town Days Song Festival
July 1999
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