TALLINN - Tallinn's storybook Old Town has become even more picture-perfect with the opening of a new outdoor skating rink. Every great city in cold climates celebrates its civic center by adorning it with an outdoor rink'sNew York's Rockefeller Center rink being among the most famous.
Skaters can also be seen gliding across Moscow's Red Square, through the yard of the Tower of London, and on an elevated platform 57 meters up the legs of the Eiffel Tower.
Such rinks are more than just a place to skate, they are a statement about public enjoyment of town squares, a celebration of the beauty of a city, an injection of life into a city's heart.
Tallinn's new outdoor rink is located on Harju Street in the Old Town, and uses the ancient St Nicholas' Church as its backdrop.
The rink is the first completed stage of a major renovation of the precinct. When completed, the previously vacant site will also include newly landscaped gardens and lawns. This particular block of the city has been vacant since it was bombed during the Soviet air raids in World War II, and until now has been used as a park.
The ice of the rink is the only visible evidence of the season, given the unusually warm weather plaguing the region. It's a treat to see a patch of white, even if it is artificially created and cooled.
The rink opened just after Christmas and has become a hit with locals and visitors alike. On its first nights of operation, long queues formed down Harju Street as people crammed for a circuit.
A small cafe offering mulled wine entertains those who just come to observe.
Hardcore skating enthusiasts might stay away, though. The rink isn't as large as Tallinn's other indoor facilities, and its kidney shape might be a hindrance to those attempting triple axles.
Rather, the new outdoor rink is perfect for first timers and those wishing for nothing more than a leisurely spin. It has become a popular spot for romantics out on a date, and it won't be long before the rink witnesses its first marriage proposal on the ice.
Old Town outdoor rink
Harju Street
10 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Tel: +372 610 1035
Linnahall Ice Hall
Mere Pst
Tel: +372 641 2266
Jeti Ice Hall
Suur Sojamae 14b
Tel: +372 610 1035
Premia Ice Hall
Haabersti 3
Tel: +372 660 0500
