Tour of Estonia, Tallinn

We arrived in Tallinn on the first day of civil violence since independence from the Soviet. The riots were over a Red Army statue that stands in the city centre. The Russians want it back, and the Estonians didn't want to let go of it. Shop's were being looted and smashed up. Riot police cordened off any hot-spots. We found one bar that would let us in but turfed us out on hearing gun shots outside. We walked a country-mile around the whole city to get back to the hotel and drowned our sorrows in the safety of our hotel bar. Better luck with Day 2.

Awoke at around 2pm. Walked into town and found a traditionally Estonian bar, Beer House, which we drank 3 or 4 double pint jugs each before being politely asked to move on. We inquired about a bar that might be showing English football, a query met with expressionless shrugs from the ever-so-helpful staff at the Beer House. I rang my friend who works in Tallinn for Skype and he directed me to a place calld 'The Bar with No Name, which he assured me would welcome us with open arms. Sure enough this was a great place to relax in an 'English pub' atmosphere with football on tv, pool tables, dart boards and good food. Why we travelled across Europe to find an 'English pub' i've still to work out. Our penultimate venue was the karaoke bar just across the street. 'I Guess that's Why they Call it the Blues' by Elton John seemed to be a favourite amongst our boys, and the Estonians lapped it up. After several hours we decided to let someone else have a go and left the Karaoke bar to find a nightclub. With BonBon and Rock Cafe closed due to the rioting, we settled on the club above the Stereo Bar, which was heaving with locals due to the other clubs closing.

Day 3 we had a look at Tallinn old town and took in some sights. We took in lots of old buildings, bridges and forts and saw the famed statue that yesterday's rioting had been over. After 10 minutes we headed back to the town centre to find a casino. City Casino was our destination, but to be fair, we could have chosen any one of about 30. Tallinn is a city of casinos it seems. They are all extremely quick to ask for identification though, and we struggled to blag the u-21's of the team into the windowless venues. Even the receding manager and old-boys got the ID treatment, which was the highlight of their tour. We found an Irish bar called O'Malleys next to McDonalds, and we stayed here until hunger struck, and dinner was, obviously, a quick McDonalds and back to the bar. Today was meant to be the day we played a team from Tallinn, but through principle, we pulled out of the game as they wanted to charge us another £200 for hiring of their own stadium. It would have only worked out £10 each, but through principle....