Tallin Estonia

YEA! I am out of Russia!!! I awake in Tallin Estonia, somewhere I have never heard of and know nothing about as I didn't research it for the trip. It is nice knowing I have no schedule today and can go be a tourist.

I go into the city with 2 brothers I have met on board. They are nice young'uns from Cali that someone in my group has nicknamed "the ferrets". I have no idea why.

So, the ferrets and I spend the day touring the old town section of Tallin. It is a gorgeous 16th century town practically preserved in it's original form. Huge stone walls are everywhere with stunning cathedrals, castles complete with turrets and old Estonias in do-rags shuffling about. As we wander through town we encounter the hordes of tourists who have come from what seems like 20 cruise ships in port. It is of course raining on and off and everywhere you turn the scenery is ruined by camera toting folks in blue ponchos. Every few feet I am stopped by all manners of folks who want to know if "I am the one who was involved in the incident in Russia" I have become some sort of sad celebrity aboard my ship. "Hey it is her, come hear her story" they yell to their friends. "She lost everything" they scream at their tour group. It is strange. I feel like saying, yes I did lose everything, maybe you should donate some money to me. But I don't.

We pick a quaint little spot for lunch and try Estonian beer (tasty), cider (tastier), pizza (fabulous), cheese fondue (it is cheese - you can't go wrong) and somethng called pig pocket that burns the inside of your mouth. Overall it is a lovely day in town.

Back on board this is apparently the big night out for the crew. It is formal night #2 and they are allowed to come to the club. Their is going to be kareoke that is apparently going to be the highlight of the nightlife on board. The ferrets are so suprised about everyone's knowledge of what happened in Russia that they decide the kareoke should be a fundraiser for me. They want to MC the thing and get everyone to pay money to sing and have that money go to me.....or at the very least get everyone to buy me a drink.

That plan goes awry when little ferret goes to bed early and big ferret plays blackjack all night and gets too drunk to participate in kareoke. Despite that through I have a great night with all the crew as we sing and dance into the early morning.