 |  We awaken on the ferry at the Tallinn Port, and head out to find something to do before we can check into our AirBnB at 3pm (spoiler alert, it wouldn't be till 8pm). First up the breakfast buffet a 15-min Uber ride away at a Radisson Hotel. |
Then we purchase a 3-day bus/tram/train pass, after checking our bags in with the Radisson, and head back to another part of the port area. Let's check out the Estonian Maritime Museum!
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 Coastal Patrol boats - most donated by countries like Norway and Germany - helping to strengthen the Estonia Navy after 1991, before retiring to the museum here. |  |
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We're now inside the seaplane hangers - the museum sits in a former seaplane port with a huge concrete hanger complex.
The center piece of the inside portion of the museum is the Lembit.
"EML Lembit is one of two Kalev-class mine-laying submarines built for the Republic of Estonia before World War II. She was launched in 1936 by the English firm Vickers-Armstrongs, and served in the Estonian Navy and the Soviet Navy. Lembit is named for Lembitu, an Estonian ruler who resisted the Livonian Crusades."
"EML Lembit is one of two Kalev-class mine-laying submarines built for the Republic of Estonia before World War II. She was launched in 1936 by the English firm Vickers-Armstrongs, and served in the Estonian Navy and the Soviet Navy. Lembit is named for Lembitu, an Estonian ruler who resisted the Livonian Crusades."
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The tour continues inside the sub - Tim finishes loading the Number One torpedo tube...
...then rushes forward to check the periscope, before launching the torpedo.
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Estonians are well known for their prowess in ice sailing.
A seaplane replica built for the museum.
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Now back outside at the docks, we go aboard a steam-powered icebreaker.
"Suur Tõll was originally built for the Russian Empire in 1914 by AG Vulcan in Stettin, Germany, as Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich. In 1917, she was taken over by the Bolsheviks and renamed Volynets. However, in 1918 she was captured by Finland and served as Wäinämöinen until 1922, when she was handed over to Estonia according to the Treaty of Tartu and renamed Suur Tõll. When Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, the icebreaker rejoined the Soviet fleet and was again named Volynets. She remained in service until 1985.
The Soviet Navy had decided to sell the decommissioned icebreaker for scrap, and she was purchased by the Estonian Maritime Museum in 1987. The ship was given back her original Estonian name and was extensively renovated."
"Suur Tõll was originally built for the Russian Empire in 1914 by AG Vulcan in Stettin, Germany, as Tsar Mikhail Feodorovich. In 1917, she was taken over by the Bolsheviks and renamed Volynets. However, in 1918 she was captured by Finland and served as Wäinämöinen until 1922, when she was handed over to Estonia according to the Treaty of Tartu and renamed Suur Tõll. When Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, the icebreaker rejoined the Soviet fleet and was again named Volynets. She remained in service until 1985.
The Soviet Navy had decided to sell the decommissioned icebreaker for scrap, and she was purchased by the Estonian Maritime Museum in 1987. The ship was given back her original Estonian name and was extensively renovated."
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It's raining over yonder...
A bouy tender donated by the U.S.A...
That's a big bronze propellor...
We head out to see more sights across Tallinn - here's an awesome residential development next to the maritime museum, sitting atop an old ship dry dock pad.
T-Rex tag - you're it!
Until we find a better one, this brewery stands as the best brewery we've seen up North - such variety and quality, and with good bites and atmosphere.
An oldish structure (1700's - 1800's ?) about to get an exterior makeover.
Two more breweries to round out the day...
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