For Christmas Markets! Tallinn, Estonia has one of the most magical settings for a Christmas market. But you better watch out….
… because Baby, it’s cold outside! I quickly learned that snow can be as slippery as ice and freshly falling snow can sting your red-nosed face. But there is no denying the beauty of the setting, whether day or night.
To avoid falling on your three layer covered butt and sliding inelegantly down the sidewalk, bring footwear with a good grip, or ice-trackers that you can attach to your shoes or boots. My beloved Sorels have been loved a little too much and for far too many kilometers – now totally tread-less. I ended up hanging onto a very decorative and well place lamp-post while trying to cross a sloped street. I suspect I looked like a cartoon character (think Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man in black puffy wear) with feet flailing and lamp-post bending, only to fling me to the other side. I did make it – albeit gently, slowly and with a wee bit of quiet cursing.
A warm hat and scarf are another must, and there are beautiful handcrafted ones in every color imaginable to be found in this small but picturesque Christmas Market tucked into the central square in Old Town Tallin.
My best score at the market? Red wool mitts with openings for the tips of the fingers and thumb. They are priced between 16 and 20 Euro, hand made and a definitely a must pack for my trip to Antarctica in February. Your hands stay warm, but you can still take those selfies with a backdrop of hot mulled wine stalls. (None of my tries were publishable and quickly deleted)
Speaking of hot mulled wine – pair one with the meat dumplings! I will go back to Tallin just to have that treat again. My enjoyment of this combination must have been very evident as suddenly I had a microphone and camera in my face. I really wish I had considered my appearance before agreeing to be interviewed for local TV. I may have been the comedy spot for the day with my chipmunk cheeks filling up for the winter. Hey, I had to eat them while they were still hot! (Yes, I know – my try and fail at selfies should have clued me in.)
Old Town Tallinn also has a myriad of restaurants and coffee shops to warm up in before heading out to explore further. Peppersack has great reviews, as well as pastry selection. I lucked out and got a tiny table tucked into a white washed corner of the café for a latte and cinnamon pastry. Next time I will try the restaurant.
One of my favorite chocolate shops is also in Old Town Tallinn. Karu Talu Sokolaad makes snickerdoodle bars that made my toes curl in those old boots of mine. I won’t say what affect that the Baileys Brownies had on me.
And I wonder why my snow pants keep shrinking….