Crocs drop 3rd straight

View from atop St. Olaf's Church looking out towards the Baltic

More views from high above Old Town--Tallinn

Kamryn on top of the world

Kamryn and Mikey emerge from the 258 step climb

Old Town-- Tallinn, Estonia

Town hall-- we also climbed to top of this tower

More of Old Town

Reminds me of my visit to Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic

Outside the Olde Hansa Restaurant

The Olde Hansa served Wild Boar and Bear among other things

Inside the Olde Hansa

wienerschnitzel with some salad and german noodles-- reminiscient of good times in Bavaria

Polar Bear at the Tallinn Zoo

Kids love a good schnitzel too washed down with a good $5 small coke

Chillin out in Old Town

Seals from the Baltic Region

This rhino looked old-- probably had been around since the Stalin era

On the Tallink Star Ferry-- Tell that guy to get a haircut!

One of the many islands as you leave the harbor in Helsinki

Crocs vs. Wolverines game action

Some pre-game time with the Oline

Mikey and Kamryn hangin out on the sundeck

Kodie having some fun at the local park-- these are free for the kids to use

Kamryn driving the famous #3 Rosso go cart

Kaylin's first steering lesson

Our team dropped its third game in a row on Sunday evening 43-27. The game was defined by a tale of two halves. We trailed 7-3 at the half as both teams struggled to move the ball effectively. In the second half, the game shifted into a higher gear. Both offenses came to life and traded scores. We trailed 31-27 with just under 5 minutes to go. We kicked off and the Wolverines fumbled the ball near their sideline. We recovered the ball and advanced the recovery, but the play was overturned. The Wolverines scored quickly on their next two possessions and the score ended up as a more lopsided affair. We absolutely got owned on special teams as the Wolverines return game scored on returns and gave their offense great field position all day long. We did answer with a kick off return of our own, but our special teams play was generally poor. We dropped a punt snap deep in our own territory and also had a field goal blocked. Frustration was running high after the game. My biggest challenge will be to keep things from unraveling as we are 0-3 and the finger pointing is well under way. On top of this, our next game will be against the best team in our league. The one positive right now is that we don't play for 3 weeks. I am hoping we can get healthy during this time and come back strong from the bye weeks.

The game put me in a rough mood Sunday night and I finally got to bed around 1 am. We awoke at 5am on Monday morning to get ready for our 7:30 am trip over to Estonia. We boarded the ferry around 7:10 and arrived in Tallinn around 9:30. The weather was great and we were able to sit outside on the sundeck for much of the trip. We passed the rest of our time exploring around the ship and browsing through the shops on board. We figured we had about 7 hours to explore in Tallinn, so we purchased a 6 hour city card which offered free city transportation and admission to many attractions and most museums. We did find out that most museums are closed in the city on Mondays, so we decided to head out to the city zoo. Kamryn and Mikey enjoyed this experience even though many of the animals that were advertised to be there were nowhere to be found. The highlight of the zoo for the three of us was probably the playful polar bear that we watched swim and basically try and figure a way out of his cage.
We spent the rest of the day visiting the many churches and cathedrals that lie within the old town and checking out some of the local shops. We did climb the 258 steps to the top of St. Olaf's Cathedral and the view was well worth the effort. Both Mikey and I were mesmerized by the feel of the city. The cobblestone streets and architecture in the town square area conjured up images of medieval times and a deep and rich history. The choice of restaurants in the city is extensive. Mikey had a great meal at the Old Hansa medieval restaurant, while Kamryn and I opted for the schnitzel haus just around the corner. There were no regrets with either choice. The food was fresh and tasty and there were generous portions. Kamryn was delighted with her schnitzel and ice cream with hot raspberries for dessert. The day continued with our return trip on the ferry back to Helsinki and the trip out to drop Mikey off at the airport. We were sad to see Mikey go. His time here went very fast. After saying goodbye to Mikey, Kamryn and I drove the 4 and a half hours back to Seinajoki. It was a very memorable day. It was really special to have this kind of an experience with my oldest daughter Kamryn. She was exhausted at the end of the day, but it brought a smile to my face to see her enjoy herself and have some fun. Four more days until we depart for Sweden!!
Lights out.