Last time, I talked about the autumn and winter in the rural areas of Estonia. Now, shifting the lens to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, it’s just as fascinating. The city is mainly divided into the Toompea Hill area and the Lower Town, home to magnificent churches, the medieval Town Hall, and many buildings with Estonian rural charm—truly a crystallization of art and culture.
I remember when I came to Tallinn last year, the sky was covered in snow, and it was bitterly cold. This year, when I returned, there was a touch of autumn in the air. Times have changed, and this year’s Estonia is serene and mild. Under the same sky, reflecting on the path I’ve walked this year, it really brings a unique feeling to my heart.
I remember around this time last year, I was still committed to the Traveler Stores project. Back then, I had just finalized a major partnership and was overjoyed. I said at the time:
Me: “I’m confident that the coffee from Timor-Leste will sell this time.”
Friend: “What if it doesn’t sell?”
Me: “If even this product doesn’t sell, then maybe this little shop should just close down. Perhaps the direction was wrong from the start.”
Friend: “Would that make you sad?”
Me: “Not really. Maybe in the end, it’ll be another project that succeeds, or I’ll realize that I’m just not cut out for entrepreneurship or taking on so much. Choosing to work steadily might be a kind of learning and experience too.”
Yes, after a year of reflection, Traveler Stores has indeed been put on hold. I’ve also come to realize that I’m really not suited for entrepreneurship, nor for being a so-called leader—because I’m just too lazy, haha. But no worries, tides rise and fall, and until the very end, we never really know how the path ahead will unfold.
This time, when I came back to Tallinn, I spent more time exploring the city and chose a nicer place to stay. So I picked Hotell St. Barbara, a hotel located near the Old Town of Tallinn. Much like the character of Estonia itself, the hotel isn’t particularly luxurious, but it offers a comfortable and cozy vibe. In fact, I’m wary of hotels that are decorated like artworks—great to look at, but not always the most comfortable to live in.
Being able to walk through Tallinn again and clink glasses with a group of newly made friends is a kind of fate and a source of joy. I hope that next time I have the chance to visit Estonia, I can experience yet another kind of happiness.
Text and photos: Dan @ Half a Travel Journalist’s Story