TALLINN, ESTONIA More sightseeing in Tallinn but I won't bore you with the details. You can easily go online and find out what Tallinn has to offer - it's a pretty nifty city. It's been six days and the pleasure of making this trip on my own is grabbing hold. Before I left, and as I occasionally meet people, I hear, in an astonished, upraised voice, "Your traveling alone?" This is usually followed by the raised eyebrow and, "Is there anything wrong?" I assume, referring to my marriage. In the short time it's been, it's been pretty much all positive. Not that I haven't enjoyed vacationing with Debra, Josh, and Rach, I love and miss them dearly, but here's the difference: no more negotiating over likes and dislikes. I'm free to go when and where I like. "But doesn't it get lonely?" someone will ask. Not so far, If I stay open, have a positive outlook, there seems to be someone around wanting to tell me about his country or another traveler eager to share his experiences. The bad news is, that without a companion, it's easier to make a bad decision.
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| Detectives at the Front Desk |
I made one of those bad decisions when I brought $1,500 in cash only to come back to my room to find that it, along with two credit cards and some IDs, had been stolen. Although there's a video camera in the hallway, it didn't show anyone entering while I was out; but oddly the recording on the lock did show someone entering. The hotel called the police; a detective, translator, and two forensic specialists showed up and did a fare job of investigating the circumstances. Their conclusion was that I had left the door open. It needed to be squeezed shut, which is something the hotel management doesn't tell you. The detective told me thieves are accustomed to roaming the hallways checking doors to see if some one's stupid enough to leave theirs open. In my case, the thieves were at least kind enough to leave my computer, headphones, passport, and International Driver's License. They had zipped up my bags to make it appear as though nothing was amiss. The picture is of the investigator and translator talking to the hotel clerks.
