The last three days of our trip were spent in Tallinn and Helsinki.  Originally we have planned to spend two days in Tallinn and two days in Helsinki.  However, that did not happen and I’m kind of glad (we decided to spend an extra day in Riga).

First of all, I must say – shopping in Tallinn is so cheap!  A complete night and day price wise from Helsinki.  Helsinki was extremely expensive..but why? My guesses people get paid more there?  If you  know the answer to this, please be kind and enlighten me and others who might be reading this.  Another weird observation from Helsinki is that the stores are kind of boring? I don’t mean the mall, the mall was fun… I meant the grocery type stores.  There was nothing unique… Like in Stockholm, Paris, Riga, and Tallinn we found all kind of candy and little knick knacks particular to that country/city.  Also, the stores in Helsinki seemed modest– the magazine stand had nothing that a child could not see (no Cosmopolitan type magazines).  Interesting! I liked that!

Okay, now going back to Tallinn… Tallinn was the cutest little town with very heel-y and coblestone-y downtown area.  It was rainy (of course) and kind of chilly yet it was so cozy!  We did not explore much but we did get to enjoy running through little shops and the one I particularly liked was OMA ASI.  The little store was filled with well designed Estonian creations– apparel, jewelry, notebooks, frames, and etc.  I just wanted to stay there– it was very cozy and warm inside– kind of like the store here in Boulder, CO called ALPINE MODERN.  I got a cool wool sweater too from one of the Tallinn’s street shops.  Can’t wait for extremely cold weather to wear it!

The next day we were on the ferry to Helsinki.  We did not expect for the ferry to look like a cruise ship! It was a fun two hour ride!

HELLO Helsinki…

Since I already talked about what we partially did in Helsinki, I’m going to straight jump into the most amazing attraction in Helsinki– KAMPPI CHAPEL.  It is a silence chapel.  When you go inside you cannot speak.  Cannot take flash photography.  Just sit down, meditate, relax, sleep?  Definitely worth checking out.

Heads up– going out in Helsinki is expensive! So the pastries and coffee– €27 for two little pastries and a coffee… that’s like 31 dollars!!! Stay away!

Oh! and our hotel in Tallinn was amazing! Stay there– SAVOY BOUTIQUE HOTEL, you won’t regret.

-O