A Weekend in Tallinn - Day 2

We decided to spend this day with a walk by the sea, which was just one block from the hotel where we were staying; a spot of shopping; and a visit to one more museum.

Mikkel Museum - the Estonian Art Museum

Heading to the museum we had picked out on the city map turned into a wonderful walk through an autumnal park. The park of Kadriorg encompasses a sizeable, well-maintained area not far from the sea in the northern part of Tallinn. There is an old palace building, a garden, a gazebo, a swan pond. It seems this is a place where one can find refreshment in a peaceful stroll, in watching nature, or in reading a book at any time of year. Indeed - it was here that we spotted a squirrel darting nimbly across the pedestrian path.

At the Mikkel Museum (Weizenbergi 28, entry ticket 2.50 EUR) two exhibitions could be viewed. On the first floor a temporary exhibition - antique clocks; on the second floor the permanent exhibition with crockery, porcelain figurines, antique furniture, and paintings. The clock exhibition also featured timepieces whose faces are divided into 24 numerals. The items on the second floor, as the museum attendant explained, were bequeathed by an antique dealer. The collection consists primarily of porcelain pieces, which is why the museum is also referred to in guidebooks as the porcelain museum.

Park Cafe

Having pocketed a few acorns that had fallen onto the footpath, we went to have a coffee at the Park Cafe right on the edge of the park (Weizenbergi 22). A thoroughly cosy spot in an old building, where downstairs there is a counter with home-baked pastries, cakes, tarts, marzipan rolls, and many other treats. Upstairs there are only tables. The dark brown furniture and beige tones of the interior leave no doubt that this is a place for those who appreciate the finer things.

We then stopped in at the shopping centre Norde Centrum, which turned out to be considerably smaller than its footprint on the map suggested. Our attention was caught by the shop Winestore, where drinkable wines could be had for reasonable sums. For example, Moselland Kabinett Riesling (3 l) was available for 15 EUR. And then - the road home.