TALLInn - In Your Pocket

70 What to see What to see 71
Fun for the whole family
Doll Museum (Lastemuuseum) A-1, Kotzebue
16, tel. (+372) 641 34 91, laste@linnamuuseum.
ee, www.linnamuuseum.ee/lastemuuseum. Just
as the name implies, this museum is a treasure trove of
dolls, antique and modern. Small and geared toward kids,
the museum proudly presents its permanent exhibition,
Old Beloved Toys. QOpen 10:30 - 18:00. Closed Mon,
Tue. In November open 10:00 - 17:30, closed Mon - Tue.
Admission €2.
Estonian Children’s Literature Centre A-3, Pikk
73, tel. (+372) 617 72 30, eltk@eltk.ee, www.
eltk.ee. This literature centre predominately features
children’s books in the Estonian language, but also has a
good selection of books in other languages as well. The
centre also has a few permanent and special exhibitions,
including the Edgar Valter gallery, which is dedicated to the
loved children’s author and illustrator. Many of the displays
are interesting for young and old alike, no matter what your
Estonian language skills. Groups should book in advance
by calling (+372) 617 72 35. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00, Sat
11:00 - 16:00. Closed Sun. J
Estonian Puppet Theatre
(Eesti Nuku- ja Noorsooteater)
C-2, Lai 1, tel. (+372) 667
95 55, info@nuku.ee, www.
nuku.ee. The elaborate Puppet
Theatre has been a staple of
local entertainment since 1952.
It also houses an extensive, hightech
museum that deals with
puppet theatre history and pretty
much anything else related to the
‘puppet-verse’. Performances are
in Estonian, but small children of any language can still be
wowed by the fun characters. They’ve also got something
called ‘steampunk’, which can be viewed from Nunne street
8 (C-2) every half an hour. This bit of animated madness,
created by the brilliant Keith Newstead, is guaranteed to
take the viewer to another world- “Puff, the Magic Dragon”
anybody? QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Museum open 10:00 -
19:00. Admission €5 or €14 for a family ticket. J
Miia-Milla-Manda G-5, Koidula 21A, tel. (+372)
601 70 57, mmmm@linnamuuseum.ee, www.
linnamuuseum.ee/miiamillamanda. This hands-on
museum just for kids is located in the beautiful Kadriorg
Park and is especially geared towards children between
the ages of 3 and 11. The playful exhibits are constantly
changing and with active themes the little ones are
sure to be stimulated to the point of exhaustion - or so
we hope. QOpen 12.00 - 18:00. Closed Mon. Family
ticket €5.20.
Seaplane Harbour & Museum (Lennusadam) F-2, Küti
17, tel. (+372) 641 14 08/(+372) 57 87 58 15 (groups),
info@lennusadam.eu, www.lennusadam.eu. The freshly
opened and highly interactive Seaplane Harbour and Museum
will certainly fill in a lot of the blanks when it comes to Estonia's
maritime history. This ultra-cool and modern museum is housed in
architecturally unique seaplane hangers, which include structures
that were part of the Peter the Great Naval Fortress between
1916-1917. The Submarine Lembit, the Suur Tõll steam icebreaker
(Toell the Great, in English), the Short Type 184 seaplane,
and many other large exhibits are on display here. You'll get a
chance to take part in maritime history, as well participate in the
many hands-on exhibits that will allow you to learn more about
the sea and the role various seafaring vessels played in Estonian
and world history. A great experience for the whole family, you can
also take an around-the-world journey in the Yellow Submarine. But
don't let us ruin the surprise, check the museum out for yourself.
Certainly worth the entry price and houses a great café as well.
QOpen 11:00 - 19:00. Closed Mon. Admission €10, only hangars
€8, only museum ship Suur Tõll €4.
The Marzipan Museum C-3, Pikk 40, tel. (+372) 646
06 26. The room of this little shop/museum has a few more
creations than the Kalev Marzipan Room, but is not quite steeped
in as much history. Visitors do however get the chance to build
their own marzipan figurines and even receive a gift-box to house
the sweet creation. The marzipan sculpturing experience will set
you back €3. QOpen 10:00 - 18:00. Admission free. Marzipan
history tour for groups from 10-30 people costs €4 per person.
Call for details. J
TV Tower Kloostrimetsa 58a, tel. (+372) 686 30 00, info@
teletorn.ee, www.teletorn.ee. Officially opened on November
7th (Soviet Revolution Day) in 1980, the 314m tower was, and is,
an imposing example of Soviet engineering. From its observation
deck at the 170m level, you can see Finland on a clear day. The
newly renovated tower features an interactive Estonian Hall-of-
Fame exhibition, a museum and a new restaurant. One of the most
exciting new features include some pretty freaky floor-windows
that you are encouraged to jump on and you can take the full enjoyment
of 'streaking' skyward in their ultra-fast new elevators. Take
bus N°34A or 38 from the Viru Keskus bus terminal to Teletorn
stop. QOpen 11:00 - 18:00. Closed Tue. Admission €7 per person,
family ticket €15. A joint ticket for the Tallinn Botanical Garden
and TV Tower is €9. After 18:00, restaurant admisssion €3. See
website for further admission info. PHKXW
Vana Toomas
One of Tallinn’s most recognised and
legendary figures, the weathervane
Vana Toomas (Old Thomas), can be
seen guarding over Old Town from the
top of the Town hall tower, rain or shine.
Toomas wasn’t always as old as his
current name suggests - you see, as
a wee peasant lad he won an annual
archery contest that was only reserved
for the nobility. He expected to get into
a fair amount of trouble for winning, as it had never been
done by someone of his lowly stature, but his win would not
be in ‘vain’ as he was invited to become an apprentice guard.
The next few years would see much adventure for our young
hero as he performed numerous heroic deeds during the
Livonian war and went on to serve Tallinn well past the usual
retirement age. At some point later the townsfolk noticed
a similarity between the weathervane and their favorite
soldier and decided to honor him by giving his name to the
vane. He has since become a symbol of the city.
Great outdoors
Estonian Open Air Museum Vabaőhumuuseumi tee
12, tel. (+372) 654 91 00/(+372) 654 91 01, info@
evm.ee, www.evm.ee. Nearly 100 farm buildings nestle on
80ha of forest in Rocca al Mare, on the shore of the Kopli Gulf.
Informative signs in Estonian, Russian, English and German
guide you through 150 years of farming history. Sample the
pea soup and other traditional foods at Kolu Tavern (Kolu
Kőrts). Take bus N°21 or 21b from the train station to Rocca
al Mare stop. QOpen 10:00 - 17:00. Admission €3. A joint
family ticket for the Tallinn Zoo and Open Air Museum is €10.
Tallinn Botanical Garden (Tallinna Botaanikaaed)
Kloostrimetsa tee 52, tel. (+372) 606 26 66, aed@
botaanikaaed.ee, www.botaanikaaed.ee. With the richest
collection of live plants in Estonia, the gardens are a well-kept
secret. Around 8,000 species are arranged on 123ha of land,
with large modern greenhouses where you can find displays of
tropical, subtropical and desert plants. Take bus N°34A or 38
to the Kloostrimetsa stop.October 13 - 21: Cactuses, Our
Prickly Friends. November 10 - 18: Plants in Old Scriptures.
QOpen 09:00 - 17:00. Greenhouses open 11:00 - 16:00.
Call 606 26 66 for tours. Admission €3.50. A joint ticket for
the Tallinn Botanical Garden and TV Tower is €9. See website
for further admission info.
Tallinn Zoo (Loomaaed) Paldiski mnt. 145, tel. (+372)
694 33 00, zoo@tallinnzoo.ee, www.tallinnzoo.ee. Although
not an overly large zoo, Tallinn's animal garden boasts
one of the most impressive collections of exotic species in
Northern Europe. Birds of prey are to the left, Siberian tigers,
Amur leopards and polar bears are straight ahead as you
pass the indoor viewing areas. You can check out the newly
reopened Elephant House or duck into the steamy, crocodile
and chimp-filled Tropical House. Of course you should also
take the time to check out the various examples of wildlife native
to Estonia as well. You also won't want to miss the Tallinn
In Your Pocket sponsored Bennett's Wallabies, located just
next to the elephants. Take bus N°22 or trolleybus N°6 from
the Vabaduse väljak to the Zoo stop.QOpen 09:00 - 17:00.
Indoor expositions (Tropical house, Elephant house) open
10:00 - 18:00, closed Mon. You are allowed to wander the
zoo 2 hours after the ticket office closes. In November zoo
open 09:00 - 15:00, indoor expositions open 10:00 - 16:00,
closed Mon. Admission €3.20. Family and children's prices
available too. A joint family ticket for the Tallinn Zoo and Open
Air Museum is €10.
NB! Efforts are under way to improve the living quarters
of all the larger animals. Your paid visit, sponsors and
funding from the local and European governments will
make this dream a reality. We urge everyone who visits
the zoo to also make a donation for this worthwhile
cause.
Tribute to freedom
D-2, Vabaduse Väljak. After many
delays and not without a certain amount
of controversy, the freedom monument
was officially unveiled to much fanfare at
midnight on June 22, 2009. The 26m
structure built from imported Czech glass
was modelled after the 'Cross of Liberty',
an honour bestowed upon individuals who
helped Estonia gain her independence back in 1920. It's
quite a spectacular monument, but to see it in all its glory
you should check it out at night when it's all lit up.
Tallinn In Your Pocket tallinn.inyourpocket.com tallinn.inyourpocket.com
October - November 2012