Tallinn is very beautiful in winter, but it is also very cold.

I went three days in Tallinn, Estonia, I did not expect that it is as well. The city is divided into two distinct parts. One is the old town of medieval type and the other in the modern city. The old town is charming, she is listed as a UNESCO heritage.

The day I left, I got up at 6am to catch the train to Helsinki, where I took the boat to Tallinn, the sea was completely frozen, it is impressive. When I arrived in Tallinn, it was not already not warm, but it was bearable, plus the weather was beautiful, the sun and blue sky, it changes the greyness of Tampere. I then took the opportunity to walk around the old town is not big, but there are many things to see and is easily lost in the alleys, especially since there were not many people on this Thursday. For cons, the contrast is striking with the modern city and its commercial center.

The second day, it snowed all day, and temperatures dropped. So I decided for a museum, the Kadriorg Palace which is two kilometers from downtown. I had to take a tram, unfortunately there will not directly and I went the wrong way on foot in the cold with the wind coming from the front. After a while I backed down, even asking my way, I had trouble, people do not speak English. Finally, I found, but I was disappointed, apart from the exterior and some interior parts, nothing to see.

What I do not know is that there is a museum much more interesting a little farther, I am gone the next day. It had stopped snowing, but temperatures were still lower than the previous day (around -18 ° C) but the wind was unbearable, especially when waiting for 20 minutes a tram does not come ... Finally, I I took another tram and I have a contract with the headwind to the museum KUMU it at least worth it. The works are very diverse sculptures, Estonian classical art, modern art, contemporary art.

Return to Tampere has not been easy either, with the boat arrived 40 minutes late, the train was not heated and arrived with 20 minutes delay. So I arrive in Tampere at midnight At ten this makes me miss ten minutes of the last bus at the normal rate, with an outdoor temperature of -20 ° C and a wind chill of -36 ° C (windy) I thought that I would not resist.

In conclusion, Tallinn is very beautiful in winter, but it must be equally beautiful in summer and above all more enjoyable.

Photos:

It was December 6 last, I know it's been a long time. But I want you to share the fireworks that took place on the main square of the town hall, the place Keskustori. About Independence Day in Finland is not a holiday but a day of commemoration of those who died for the independence of the country. This is probably due to the proximity of events, because Finland has been independent only since 1917.

Here is the video of the fireworks, just after a transition cost of the national anthem of Finland.

And now, the snow has fallen in recent days and has covered everything. The temperature also fell below 0 ° C.

So with regard Hervanta is an extension of Tampere located 20 minutes by bus from downtown Tampere, there still over 25,000 people including 4,500 students at the University of Technology (where I am ) Tampere and the Police Academy. The houses are mostly low-income housing, there is a small lake in the center, more where you can swim (in summer) located in the forest that surrounds everything Hervanta. At the shops there a few small shops and a shopping mall with two food supermarkets, there is also a handy little shop on Sunday.

Here are some pictures of snow followed by that of Hervanta and new Tampere (Tampere night with Christmas lights).

Then it was getting long as I did not post messages. But I'm back and will talk about the town where I am now, namely Tampere. I arrived in Finland in late August and I arrived in Helsinki after a full day's journey from Aix-les-Bains and Lyon Airport Saint Exupery and the London Heathrow and finally arrived in Helsinki on a Friday afternoon , I stayed until Sunday evening before going by train to Tampere. I'll tell you this weekend in another post.

I want to say that I do not live truly the center of Tampere, but a quiet corner of Hervanta not where the Tampere University of Technology where I am studying this year in line with the school Engineer Telecom Saint Etienne, where I would end my engineering curriculum next year.

To return to Tampere is an old industrial city, situated between two lakes (Näsijärvi north and south Pyhäjärvi) with a slight difference in elevation, the city has been built on fast Tammerkoski connecting the two lakes for use force water to run the machines of many factories.

The city is quite pretty, I was expecting worse, it is not crowded but quiet, simple and pleasant. I was surprised by the number of shopping malls, there are also many stores, but few restaurants, but bars and fast food are very present.

The center is focused around the square and the street Keskustori Hämeenkatu. Around the center we find many parks, there is the observation tower Näsinneula (with revolving restaurant as the Skylon Tower in Niagara Falls). At the foot of the tower there Särkänniemi amusement park, the main attraction of the city according to Wikipedia. There is also another smaller tower located on a hill, around the park Pyynikki I went and where there is a very nice view of Tampere. The city also has a stage, Tampere Stadium until September it hosted the European championship women's football was held in Finland.

I will also speak about the university and at home that I rent Toase in future notes. In the meantime, here are some pictures of Tampere