So what does a Swede do in Tallinn without family or friends or any of the traditional christmas foods or tv programs?
Well this one started the day with a lovely vanilla/lavender bath. Then I had breakfast, toasted bread with butter and Nutella (sshhh don't tell anyone! :D) and browsed some forums.
About half an hour before one of the most important TV events of the year in Sweden, Kalle Ankas Jul I decided to go for a walk. I wanted to go to Toompea, a beautiful place part of Old town, where you find old buildings, churches and Alexander Nevskij cathedral, The place is great for a view over Tallinn. When I got up, I noticed people moving in to an old church, Tallinna Piiskoplik Toomkirik, This church was built in the early 13th century.
It turned out I was just in time for a Christmas concert! It was a beautiful concert with a very good choir and a sopran giving me goosebumps all over. The songs were all in Estonian, of course, and I loved it! :)
As I was sitting there, I looked at the interior, it was all very different from the churches I've seen in Sweden. And I also thought that they really need to renovate this church. On the way out after the concert, there was a wooden box where you could donate money for the renovating of the church. Awesome, just the perfect christmas gift for them and also as a "thank you" for the beautiful concert.
There was going to be a service after the concert, but I decided to leave. Maybe some other time, when I understand more of the language, I'll attend a service too. Now I wanted to go home, but through Oldtown with the Raekoja plats (town square) too. There were actually quite many people out, I didn't expect that! Pople of all ages. But it was nice of course.
I found some favourites among Estonian christmas songs and I kept thinking during the concert, how lucky I am to be here. It was my dream and now I am here. I honestly thought that I would miss the swedish christmas terribly. Maybe I will miss it next year or in five years, if I'm still not back in Sweden! But this year, I'm still enjoying Estonia.
Have a wonderful Christmas time!
