Tallinn is the port where we had the most intimate tour booked. It turned out to just the two of us and our tour guide who picked us up from the port terminal. We made 4 stops on what happened to be the 35th Anniversary of Estonia from the Soviets;
First, we went to Maarjamae Palace where the Estonians have preserved about a dozen statues from time when leaders such as Stalin and Lenin were prominent in Russia and had erected these statues throughout Estonia. Our guide shared not only the national story, but her own story as well as the events took place with her and our lifetimes.
Second, we went to the Estonian Memorial to the Victims of Communism (aka 'The Journey and the Garden' ) were the names of more than 22 000 Estonians who were killed in Soviet prisons or exile during World War II are inscribed. It was a moving and impactful memorial.
Third, we went to the Tallinn TV tower where in 1991 the broadcasters and local farmers & citizens protected the tower from the Soviets to maintain their ability to communicate and inform the Estonian population. The views were stunning and apparently it's so close to the border that you can see Russia from where we were on the 21st floor observation deck.
Last, were driven out beyond a small town and hiked for about 1.5km to a Soviet missile bunker. We also made out way to the abandoned control centre behind it and the truck depot, all of this are starting to become overgrown as nature takes back the land.
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