Scandinavia Cruise - Day 5 - Tallinn, Estonia

Tallin, Estonia

Tallinn - The Capital of Estonia, on the Bay of Tallinn (an inlet of the Gulf of Finland). It is a major Baltic port and naval station and an important industrial centre. Manufactures include machinery, electrical equipment, ships, textiles, furniture, and canned fish. The city consists of three sections: an upper town on a steep hill topped by a citadel (13th century to 14th century), a lower walled town built during medieval times (14th century to 16th century), and a new district. Tallinn is the home of the Estonian Academy of Sciences and a polytechnic college. It has several theatres, two symphony orchestras, and an opera company. Dotted with soaring cathedral spires and sentry towers, and linked by a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, most of Tallinn has the appearance of a medieval settlement rather than of a modern capital city.

The first mention of a settlement on the site of Tallinn dates from 1154. In 1219 King Waldemar II of Denmark established a fortress on the site. The name Tallinn comes from the Estonian Taani Linn, meaning “Danish castle.” The castle’s stone walls and sentry towers punctuate the city today. The town joined the Hanseatic League in 1285 and soon attained considerable commercial importance. In 1346 the Danes sold Tallinn to the Teutonic Knights. It was acquired by Sweden in 1561 and was annexed by Russia in 1710. The city then became a naval base for the Russian Baltic fleet. During the 17th and 18th centuries war and disease took heavy human and economic tolls on Tallinn. In the 19th century the city finally reversed its economic decline after the Russians built railroads and developed industries in the region. Tallinn was the capital of independent Estonia from 1919 to 1940, when the republic was annexed by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The city was occupied by German forces in 1941. Retaken by the USSR in 1944, the city then served as the capital of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) until 1991, when Estonia again became an independent republic. Population 397,150

Agriculture - In the 1990s the large collective farms that dominated Estonian agriculture during the Soviet period were broken up and placed in private hands. Farm production fell during this period of restructuring, but stabilized in the mid-1990s. The principal agricultural activity is raising animals for meat and milk production. Leading crops are potatoes and grains such as barley, rye, oats, and wheat.

Industry - Machine building, electronics manufacturing, and electrical engineering dominate Estonia’s industrial sector. The processing of the country’s fish catch and farm products also adds value, and timber is used to make paper and other wood products. Mining is focused on extracting oil shale and peat. Oil shale deposits, which are processed into shale oil, provide more than 90 percent of the country’s energy. The industrial sector employs 33 percent of workers.

Trade and Currency - Estonia experienced a rapid reorientation of its trading relationships after the break-up of the Soviet Union. Trade with Western economies, particularly those in Nordic countries, increased substantially while the flow of goods between Estonia and other former Soviet republics dropped precipitously. Estonia joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1999. Estonia’s chief exports include food and animal products, textiles, and timber products. Imports include machinery and transportation equipment, mineral products, textiles, and foods. Finland is Estonia’s principal trading partner for both imports and exports. Other leading buyers of Estonian exports are Russia, Sweden, Germany, and Latvia. Chief sources for imports in addition to Finland are Russia, Germany, and Sweden.

In 1992 Estonia became the first former Soviet republic to issue its own currency, the kroon. In June 2004 Estonia fixed the value of the kroon to the EU’s common currency, the €uro.

Independence Regained - Estonia became the first Soviet republic to declare independence, on August 20, 1991. The declaration came amid a political crisis in Moscow as hard line communists attempted a coup against Gorbachev. The attempt failed, and the USSR began to break apart. The Soviet government formally recognized the independence of Estonia in September.

Foreign Relations - Following independence, the continued presence of former Soviet troops (under Russia’s jurisdiction) on Estonian territory was a point of contention. In July 1994 Russia agreed to remove remaining troops by the end of August, and in return Estonia agreed to guarantee the civil rights of all retired Russian military personnel living in Estonia. All of the troops departed as scheduled. Estonian-Russian relations remained strained over a border dispute in which Estonia demanded the return of a segment of Estonian territory that the Soviet government had transferred to Russia in 1944. In 1996, however, Estonia dropped the demand, and in 1999 the two countries initialled a border treaty.

In other foreign relations, the Estonian government sought to strengthen political and economic ties with its Baltic neighbours, Latvia and Lithuania. In September 1993 the countries signed a free-trade agreement that removes duties on imports and standardizes visa and customs regulations. However, in early 1995 Estonia’s relations with Latvia became heated over the demarcation of their maritime border. After extensive negotiations, the two countries reached a final sea border agreement in 1997. Also that year, a Baltic free-trade area was established.

Estonia also sought closer ties with the Western powers. In 1994 the country joined the Partnership for Peace program, which allowed for limited military cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In November 2002 Estonia was invited to become a full member of NATO, along with Latvia and Lithuania and four other nations. The three Baltic States were the first former Soviet republics invited to join NATO. Estonia became a full member of NATO in 2004. Meanwhile, in 1995 Estonia became an associate member of the European Union (EU), the world’s largest trading bloc, with the goal of eventually attaining full membership. To realize this goal, Estonia implemented comprehensive economic reforms to establish a functioning market economy. Estonia’s gross domestic product (GDP) consistently increased beginning in 1995 as inefficient state enterprises were privatized, with only a minor decline in 1999 due to an economic crisis in Russia. The reforms helped secure Estonia’s entry to the EU as a full member in 2004.

Where You’re Docked - Cruise ships dock at the commercial port which is about a 10 minute taxi to the heart of Tallinn’s Old Centre. Walking will take approx 20-30 minutes.

Watch Out For - Wear comfortable shoes because the streets are mainly cobbled and quite uneven, there are a lot of steep hills.

Language - Estonian. English is widely used and understood.

Currency - Most shops will take Euros, so no real need to get Estonian Kroon, US$ may be accepted in some stores, but check before making any purchases. EKK 16 = 1 GBP

Best Souvenirs - Handmade wool sweaters and sophisticated glass art, amber is also popular.

Don’t Miss - History seekers should check out the main sights here, which include the Toompea Castle which dates to the 13^th century. The castle, which has undergone a major reconstruction, is fronted by a pink parliament house built in 1773 and home to the Estonian government. Alexander Nevski Cathedral was built in the late 19^th century in the style of Russia’s 17^th century Orthodox Church. Toomkirk is the oldest church in Tallinn and boasts an unusual baroque altar and tombs. Kiek en de Kok “Peep into the Kitchen”, is the tallest cannon tower in Old Town and offers excellent views of kitchens and more.

Shopping - Viru Street has the city’s best collection of pricy boutiques, just inside the city wall (Viru Street entrance) you will find a small market offering many souvenirs and hand made cloth items. As you walk from the port you will pass a shopping mall “Sada Market” where you will find a selection of goods, and souvenirs.