• The renovated and charming hotel in Tallinn city center

    *pr-trip in blog collaboration with Tallink Suomi

    I had the pleasure of visiting and staying at the renovated Tallink City Hotel on the other side of the sea, in Tallinn, the other week. Renovated in 2021, this 4-star hotel was located about one kilometer from the port of Tallinn, opposite the large Viru Keskus shopping center. See the attached music video I made from my visit to Tallink City Hotel here –

    Video duration 6:31

    Tallink city hotel

    The days of September had already cooled down in Finland, but it was still hot in Tallinn when we arrived at the hotel. However, the air conditioning kept my room on the 7th floor comfortable and cool.

    In less than a year, the Tallink City Hotel had undergone a complete transformation, as all of its 324 rooms had been renovated from floor to the ceiling, and the hotel’s restaurants, bar, conference center and other public areas had been completely refurbished. My hotel room smelled of novelty and freshness, as in a newly built house, and all surfaces shone spotless. The simple and elegant decoration of the room in earthy colors made the soul rest.

    Brand new Tallink city Hotel room
    Brand new Tallink city Hotel room
    Bed and pillows in Tallink city Hotel
    Bed and pillows in Tallink city Hotel

    The room did not have a balcony, and neither did the other hotel rooms, but the 10th floor suites had even a bathroom with a sauna and lavish views over the rooftops of Tallinn, with the ability to order the meals in the room.

    The hotel thus had a total of 324 hotel rooms, of which e.g. 154 double rooms, 76 connecting rooms, 22 rooms with extra bed possible, 15 de luxe rooms, 39 family rooms, 7 one-room cityside suites, 7 two-room suites, 3 two-room suites with saunas and 1 two-room children’s suite.

    One of the rooms was suitable for the disabled and all rooms were suitable for allergic people. The rooms were equipped with A / C, telephone, TV, mini bar, safe, shower or bath, hairdryer, free WiFi and blackout curtains.

    The bathroom and the bath tub in Tallink city Hotel
    The bathroom and the bath tub in Tallink city Hotel

    In the video attached you can see exactly what the bathroom and taking a bubble bath in the tub looked like.

    De luxe rooms and suites also included bathrobes and slippers, the machine to make tea or other hot drinks, capsule coffee machine, bottled water, iron, ironing board and yoga mat.

    There was a space on the 10th floor for events with two connecting rooms and seating for up to 40 people and with the latest conferencing technology, wireless connectivity and 86-inch Clevertouch 4K screens.

    The 1st floor, in turn, had 3 private workspaces, the use of which was included in the family room, de luxe -room and suites.

    In the video attached you will see stunning views from the 10th floor as well as the private soundproof workspace on the 1st floor with a glass door decorated with letters.

    An interesting detail in the hotel was the Tallink Fitness indoor track, which was open 24/7 and ran through 10 floors. The stair walk that replaced the gym went nicely on the hotel’s wide stairs while admiring the scenery from the large windows. See those stairs in the video as well!

    View from the room entrance
    View from the room entrance

    The relaxation area on the 0th floor of the hotel had 3 different saunas: an aroma and steam sauna and a Finnish sauna. In addition to saunas there were e.g. water mattresses and a hot-cold foot bath, which you can see in the video. The beauty salon enabled classic and individual beauty and wellness treatments.

    The 1st floor of the large shopping center Viru Keskus, which was located opposite the hotel, was just under renovation, but there were many shops and cafés open. Even stamps to Finland were found in the shopping centre’s kiosk, but the mailbox was missing from the mall. I was, however, able to leave my cards to the hotel to be mailed, and within two weeks the post cards arrived in Finland. There was also a pharmacy near the hotel and even an Indian food store around the corner, which unfortunately I did not have time to visit this time.

    Dinner at the City Grill House

    City Grill House restaurant

    The hotel’s restaurant City Grill House was located on two floors and had 228 seats and an open kitchen. I made another video of the dinner in that City Grill House restaurant –

    As a starter the video features a delicious grilled beetroot salad with caramelized goat cheese, apple, hazelnuts and pesto. The main course is vegetarian beetroot-chickpea steak with hummus, grilled marinated peppers and fresh salad. You can see several dessert options in this video and the coconut ice cream was very good in the mint pineapple carpaccio.

    Appetizers in City Grill Restaurant
    Appetizers in City Grill Restaurant
    Goat cheese hazelnut salad
    Goat cheese hazelnut salad

    A buffet breakfast was also served at this City Grill House restaurant, and the breakfast was commendably rich and varied. You can see the hotel’s breakfast at the end of my first Tallink City Hotel -video. I think a breakfast buffet is best to enjoy following the street life and this hotel made it possible too!

    My hotel room was facing the street but on the 7th floor and I was not disturbed by street noise. If you want to stay in the same room you see in my video attached, check the hotel room number 706.

    Tallink City Hotel and Viru Keskus

    Read other ways to pamper yourself at this hotel and learn more about it from from the Tallink City Hotel‘s website. You might also be interested in seeing my other video which I made of the other Tallink hotel in Tallinn. You will find it also on my web work INDIVUE – Trip to Europe. And you can read this post also in Finnish.

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  • This is how Goan fishermen work

    Here’s my video telling about fishing in Goa, India. The video shows what it is like to work as a fisherman on the beautiful beaches of Goa. This video comes without music or speak so be ready to listen to the actual seawaves for a whole 5 minutes and enjoy the ASMR experience.

    But if you have only one minute, check the fishermen trailer!

    Video about the Goan fishermen, a living sight

    In the video you can see and hear how a Goan fishing boat sails off the coast at sunset and how the waves of the Arabian Sea are bubbling, sometimes calmer, sometimes more intense.

    You see fishermen lowering their nets into the sea and you see how many men are needed to pull the nets back up from the Arabian Sea. You will also see and hear scurrying Indian prey fish as well as hungry birds flocking around a fishing boat.

    After the fishing operation the fishing nets are spread on the beach to dry on the sand, after which the nets are cleared and stacked and possibly also patched. More than twenty men are needed to complete this task.

    Also a few tourists, who are roaming around the fishing nets on the beach with their cameras, like me, are seen in this video. One of the tourists even offers to help and pull those nets back on the beach. And another one just makes a video. See it here now –

    Goan fishermen at work

    The Life and Work of Goan Fishermen: A Journey Beyond the Nets

    Beyond the touristy facade of Goa lies a community deeply rooted in its traditional ways of life. At the heart of this cultural tapestry are the Goan fishermen, an integral part of Goa’s socio-economic and cultural landscape. Read more about the day-to-day lives of these fishermen, their traditional techniques, and the challenges they face in modern times –

    Historical Context of fishing in Goa

    Fishing in Goa dates back to ancient times when simple tools were used to catch fish for sustenance. Over the centuries, the community has refined its methods, adapting to the changing tides of technology and modernization. Yet, a significant portion still relies on traditional fishing methods that have been passed down through generations.

    Techniques and Tools

    Fishing in Goa is typically done using a range of methods, each unique to the types of fish they target and the conditions of the sea. The most common techniques include:

    Net Fishing

    This is the most widespread method and involves the use of various kinds of nets like dragnets, gillnets, and trawl nets. Dragnets are often deployed from the shore or from a stationary boat, and are especially useful for shallow-water fishing.

    Line Fishing

    Line fishing involves using a long fishing line with multiple hooks attached. It’s a method often used in deeper waters and usually requires a boat.

    Pole and Line Fishing

    This is the most traditional form of fishing, where a single line is attached to a pole. It is labor-intensive and often requires considerable skill.

    Community and Culture

    The fishermen usually go out to sea in groups, forming a close-knit community bound by mutual respect and dependence. The catch is often shared among the community and also sold at local markets. Festivals like the Feast of St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, are celebrated with much enthusiasm, involving boat races, dances, and communal meals.

    Economic Importance

    Fishing is not just a traditional activity; it’s an economic lifeline for many families in Goa. The fish caught contribute to local markets and are also exported to other states and countries. In addition, fishing indirectly supports other sectors like tourism, where seafood is a major attraction.

    Modern Challenges for fishing in Goa

    Despite the importance of fishing to the Goan community, it faces several challenges:

    Overfishing

    The increasing demand for seafood leeds to overfishing, depleting fish stocks and making it harder for local fishermen to maintain their livelihoods.

    Environmental Pollution

    Water pollution due to tourism and industrial activities affects the quality of the catch and, subsequently, the health of consumers.

    Government Regulations

    Strict regulations sometimes limit the areas where fishing is allowed, affecting the income of local fishermen.

    The life and work of Goan fishermen offer a fascinating glimpse into a community where tradition and modernity coexist. As they navigate the waters, literally and metaphorically, their resilience and adaptability serve as a lesson for all of us. Their practices are not merely about catching fish; they are symbolic of a deeper connection to nature and a way of life that values community and sustainability. While modern challenges pose threats, they also offer opportunities for sustainable development, bringing hope that the legacy of the Goan fishermen will continue to thrive for generations to come.

    You can read this post also in Finnish.

    Read more about Goa as a travel destination from INDIVUE – Trip to Goa!

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  • This video tells you a short story of a Sunday morning at the Café Esplanad in Helsinki. It is a place where tens of thousands of foreign tourists must have certainly had time to visit and enjoy their cafes on the terrace before me. This, even though I had lived in Helsinki for more than 20 years.

    The elderly and famous Café Esplanad gathered customers in a queue even on a Sunday morning, when the streets of Helsinki were otherwise looking empty as well as the café terrace.

    The café’s bakery selection included stuffed sandwiches and delicious-looking pastries, cakes, pies and plush croissants. The meringues were looking like straight from a storybook. In addition to meringue, a sweet chocolate-coated dry cake was found as a gluten-free alternative. And even though I had not been a fan of dry cakes, the tasty dry cake shown in the video made me want to learn how to bake a dry cake myself.

    The café’s comprehensive tea selection and the lactose-free and gluten-free products clearly labeled will surely make me visit this café again.

    Watch more wonderful cafe and restaurant videos on my YouTube channel and subscribe to see all the new videos!

    Read more about travel in Finland and Europe from INDIVUE – Trip to Europe or read this post also in Finnish!

    Have you been to Café Esplanad in Helsinki, Finland? What was your favourite dish?

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