May 19 Tallinn

 We continued our exhausting if not exhaustive exploration of the city, walking to the highest point of the city, Toompea Hill. Apart from a panoramic view over the city from the Patkuli Viewing Platform, the Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is there, as well as the Catholic, St Mary’s Cathedral.

View from Patkuli Viewing Platform, Toompea Hill

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

St Mary’s Cathedral

    

Baronial coats of arms are displayed around the church

Our final visit was to Kiek in de Kök (Peek in the Kitchen) Tower and Bastion tunnels. This set of towers were part of the major defences set up in the 15th century and developed further over the next four centuries to defend the city from attack. 

The towers were equipped with cannon of which this is one of the smaller type.

The city wall is still accessible in places.

The Bastion tunnels were used as bomb shelters during the Second World War. They now contain relics from parts of the city that were bombed.

May 18 Tallinn

 Last night we ate at a Medieval themed restaurant. The building dates back to the 13th century and we were greeted by a courtier dressed in fancy clothes standing in front of a suit of armour.

Peppersack Restaurant

We then went for a walk around the city. At one point we noticed an opening in the wall with a sign that said St Catherine’s monastery so we went in. We struck up a conversation with a man who was sitting in the courtyard and he invited us into what turned out to be his art studio - Ichthus Gallery. His name is Aleksandr Savchenkov. He was a very eccentric individual who showed us his painting as well as various ornaments he had created along religious lines, the fish being one of them. He took our photo sitting in front of his fireplace and assured us that the refracted light in the photo was an angel watching over us.

Today we followed a tour directory we found on line, walking around the city looking at various sights as well as stopping in various shops to admire the local crafts. Apparently the latter is compulsory.

A local,protest about the war in Ukraine. The photo is of Alexei Navalny, Russian Opposition leader imprisoned in 2021 and died in 2024 while in prison.

   

St Olav’s Baptist church

Fat Margaret’s Tower (left) and The Great Coastal Gate, designed to deter invaders arriving from the sea.

Inside the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit where we attended a communion Service, today being Sunday.

The Soprus Cinema Centre

May 17 Helsinki to Tallinn

Today we joined a thousand or more passengers sailing to Tallinn, a 2.5 hour trip. Our taxi driver told us that most tourists here are from Finland. 

Helsinki Harbour and bridge 

Helsinki from the port

Tallin’s Old City is well preserved with a city wall and an impressive entrance. 

One of a series of flower shops along the path leading into the old city.

The view from our hotel room

Who could resist eclairs like this? 

City Hall Square

City Hall - 13th century - yes, another of my collection of major buildings covered in scaffolding.

May 16 Helsinki

 Today is considered the first day of summer here and Marimekko were holding a fashion parade in the public Esplanade in the centre of the city. So I just had to be there (if I wanted Di to keep talking to me).

We visited the Helsinki Cathedral (Evangelical Lutheran), which is quite beautiful in its simple unadorned low church style.

The market was operating by the harbour so we walked through there (without buying anything!) on our way to see a short 4D film that took us flying around Helsinki - with 3D glasses, moving seats that mimicked the movement of an aeroplane or a sports car and water spraying over us as we flew too close to the water. Lots of fun.

We also visited a craft shop with lots of local craft on display.

Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral. A new addition to my collection of major buildings covered in scaffolding.

 

Marimekko fashion parade of their new Summer Collection

Local crafts

Nature’s own work of art at the entrance to our Airbnb

P

May 14 Bangkok

 Today we visited Bangkok’s Chinatown, apparently the largest in Asia which we believe after walking for block after block of markets - full of goods made in China of course.

A hat perhaps

It’s a walkway but that’s no problem for motor scooters.

Some bling perhaps

Or dried shrimp for dinner?

One of Bangkok’s many waterways

Europe 2025 - Bangkok

 It’s Monsoon season in Asia so we arrived in Bangkok to steady rain. On our first morning we waited until the rain eased off and took the train to a couple of shopping centres to look for ear buds for Di. We found some AirPods at the huge MBK Centre for a very good price. By the afternoon the rain had stopped and the sun came out for a while - long enough for a swim.

Here are a couple of photos just to pretty up the blog.

Typical traffic below the BTS railway line which crosses much of Bangkok. Trains arrive every 6-8 minutes!

Artificial flowers in one of the multilevel shopping centres 

Nov 5 Busselton & Cape Naturaliste

 US Election day, Guy Fawkes Day (irony noted) and my mother’s birthday. We drove to Busselton to walk along the longest jetty in the southern hemisphere - 1.8 km long in a strong south westerly wind. There’s a train that takes tourists along the jetty but we opted to walk. Then after having a quick lunch nearby we drove to the Cape Naturaliste lighthouse which was one of the last 2 manned lighthouses in Australia. It now operates automatically with led lights providing the beam through a massive set of lenses.

The train and looking back to the shore

Australian Pied Cormorant

 

Cape Naturaliste lighthouse

Nov 3 Margaret River

 Margaret River wine area today to sample some of the local beverages and enjoy the beautiful countryside. The grass trees were in flower and so abundant! The wine was pretty good as well.

Cherubino winery

Clairault winery