Estonia - Old Town

We took the Upper walk with our guide Hili. There are 1.3 million people in Estonia, 450,000 in the capital of Tallinn. Their Language similar to Finnish. Estonia hosted the sailing competition of the 1980 Olympics.

The town has some old, but much has been restored. Estonia has a difficult history. Everyone wants to control their country. A few hundred years ago The Swedish Empire controlled their country and then in 1710 the Russians ruled them. In the aftermath of WWI, Estonians declared their freedom. In 1939 Stalin Communist from Russia marched in and took complete control only to be chased out by the Germans in 1941 with WWII. Once WWII ended, the Russians again controlled Estonia. The Russian control starting in 1939 caused a loss of 1/5 of Estonians. The German control caused a loss of 1/4 of Estonians. When the Russians took back the country they knocked on doors of all former statesmen and anyone with influence in Estonia and those people simply disappeared. Estonians were not allowed to even put a toe into their beloved sea. Many new rules had to be followed. Statues not Russian were destroyed. So much was destroyed.

In 1989 Estonia fought for their freedom alongside Lithuania and Latvia. They formed a human chain
600 kilometers throughout all three countries to keep out the Russian forces. Iceland was the first country to support their fight for freedom. By 1991 they could see that freedom was theirs. In 1994, Gorbachev from The Soviet Union signed over their freedom. My heart went out to the Estonians for the great difficulties they endured. But in 1994 they were given back their family properties and they once again were allowed to own land.

St. Olaf's has the tallest spire in Tallinn. Estonia was Catholic for many years but later became Lutheran. Religion was not allowed during Communist ruling.