City Tales: A poetical journey through Tallinn

Tallinn - The capital city of Estonia. Located on the shore of the Baltic Sea. A city with a long and eventful history. First mentioned in the Chronicle of Latvian Henrik. In 1248, the King of Denmark gave Tallinn the Lübeck Rights, which means city rights. Later, at the end of the 13th century, Tallinn joined the Hanseatic League, and played a very important role as a trade hub, especially with Russian merchants. Today the old town of Tallinn is listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also, Tallinn has the highest number of start-ups per person among European countries, and it is home for many international tech-companies, such as Skype, TransferWise, Bolt, and Pipedrive.

In 2011, Tallinn was the European Capital of Culture. It was the year in which I first reached the holy soils of this beautiful country Estonia.

I’ve always been on the move. Searching for that one special place. And here, I arrived.

In Tallinn, Estonia.

It was September 2011. I still remember the feeling that filled my soul and my heart. It was a feeling of arrival, finding the place that is meant for you, a place you have always been searching for, finding your place called home.

In this moment, in a dark September night, I knew that this was the place where I will always return.

A silent moment
when I entered these holy soils.
Peaceful,
enchanting,
true.
Filling the air with
magic and relief,
cheerfully
awaiting my arrival.
My body filled up with
pleasant confidence,
feeling the trusted
and near connection,
feeling this is the place
I’ve always been searching for.
Mind, heart, body
calmed down,
relaxed,
paused in inner peace.
I feel home.
I arrived.
No need to run no more.

It is the spirit that radiates from Tallinn, and Estonia as a whole. Something you can’t really describe. Something you can’t really find words for. Something you have to feel and experience by yourself.

Estonia isn’t a big country. Tallinn isn’t a big city. But it‘s cosy. Tallinn has got this medieval charm but is on the brink of the future at the same time. It bethinks of its traditions but is in touch with the modern era.

It seems as if a touch of magic exceeds this city. Timeless but characterised by the times. Modern and classic. Open-minded about new things and adherent to traditions.

A touch of magic
flows through this city.
The Impatient - that's how she’s called.
Fast and furious, and yet homey.
Restless, and yet at peace with herself.
Splendid and magnificent.
Unadorned and simple.
Royal and bourgeois.
Timeless.
Characterised by time.
Modern and classic.
Open to the new but holding on to tradition.
Winding alleys take me to magical places.
The view over the sea makes me dream.
Of a better world.
Here it seems possible.
The city arouses longings.
And can fulfil them.
A comfortable feeling enters my body.
I have lost my heart to this wonderful place.
I don't want to go no more.
I will stay.
Maybe forever.
You Beauty of the East.

One of the most touching and moving moments for me is the Song and Dance Festival. In these moments you understand what it means to be Estonian. These moments when you find yourself in a sea of blue-black-white flags, in the middle of a proud crowd singing their national anthem and traditional national songs, and you’re also singing along with the greatest patriotic passion as if you were one of them. In this moment, you are one of them. You feel it, you breathe it, you sing it. In this moment, you understand the deeply rooted culture of Estonians, even though, you still don’t find words to describe it.

Overwhelmed by emotions.
Happy and proud.
Tears run
cause happiness lives
in my heart.
I feel home.
I arrived.
No need to run,
to travel anymore.
I arrived home.
Soul calms down,
heart feels safe,
mind relaxes.
I am home.

I’ve never felt as free and unworried as when going for a run along the seaside, watching the sun set into the sea, seeing the town’s silhouette in the distance, breathing the salt-breeze. The view across the bay makes me dream. Dreaming of a better world. Here, it seems to be possible. The city arouses longings and can fulfil them.

I’m standing here
looking into the endless expanse.
On the horizon the ferry.
Connecting two countries.
The sound of the waves sounds
like the music of the Northern souls.
The sun reflects its light
on the deep blue coloured sea.
A light breeze is dancing around me
and fills me with bliss.
It’s a beautiful moment.
Stunning and pure.
Magical
like the mystic tales
of Estonian forefathers.
A piece of eternity.

Reflecting all these memories makes me happy, even though not all of the memories have been on the positive side. But that’s life. Estonia has offered me a lot - experience, personal growth, bliss, home. I’m deeply connected with this country, it’s where my heart and soul feel home.

Estonia is probably not the country where you imagine yourself staying for a long time. But then suddenly, the country fascinates you and you prolong your stay. Only a little bit longer. And again, a little bit longer.

It was August 2015 when I moved to Tallinn. Now it’s 2020, I am still here, and I don’t really see myself leaving.

I found myself in this country, the northernmost of the Baltic states. Far away from my home. Fascinated by its beauty, culture, food, music, people, and language.

There is no doubt: I’ve lost my heart to this wonderful place. I’ve found my Estonian soul.

This is my Estonian story.