Lux Express

Time only for a couple of last minute things in Riga before we left. We went back to St Peters and went up to the viewing platform to look over the city. The viewing area is 4 stories up, but instead of climbing the stairs, they had a lift. Hmm, we thought, the cathedral must have been restored, and so it had after being destroyed in 1942 when the Nazis and the Soviets fought for control. Anyway, the view was good, and we were able to pick out most of the landmarks we had visited.

A last visit to our friendly bakery for morning tea of cappuccinos and black forest cakes - try getting all that for AU$5 in Melbourne.

After a wander through the market, at lunchtime we boarded our Lux Express Coach to Tallinn. Rather a spiffy bus. We had business class tickets in reclining leather seats, a table, a power point for the computer, free wi-fi (how they do that in the middle of nowhere is a bit of a mystery), entertainment, free coffee - all for AU$20 per person! Made a short stop at the border for passport formalities - they came to our seats - and sat back and enjoyed our 5 hour trip in luxury. Seems that most people on the bus are using it to get places that planes are not yet flying to, like the guy opposite us who flew from Finland to Croatia in 5 hours for the weekend, and is now almost home after 100 hours on buses, trains and ferries.

Arrived safely at the central bus station, got some cash out of the wall, and found the trolley bus (tram) to take us to the old city. Alighted after the required 5 stops, and walked through the cobblestone alleys in the old town to our hostel. Were welcomed with a big smile by the same hostel receptionist we had in St Petersburg. She's awaiting her Russian student visa, and her Russian tourist visa expired, so she's temporarily in Tallinn working at the hostel in return for a room while the wheels turn slowly in Russia.

Went out for tea to an Estonian restaurant with 'genuine Estonian food' the guy on the footpath assured us. I had Wiener Schnitzel, and there was Chicken Kiev on the menu too! Then next door to McCafe for a dessert of profiteroles - genuine Estonian I'm sure. Prices are still cheap, but nowhere near the ridiculously low Riga prices.