How much is the Cow on the Window?

Photo by Vahur in Varnja, 27 June.

Non Existent T-shirts

Non existent T-shirts of Estonian punk bands (of Soviet era). Voronja Galerii (https://et-ee.facebook.com/voronjagalerii) in an Old Believer village by Lake Peipus (Peipsi). Photos by Vahur, 27 June 2014

Matti and Kiwa

Legendary art collector Matti Milius and artist/musician/curator Kiwa, a legend in making. Opening of Voronja Galerii (https://et-ee.facebook.com/voronjagalerii) in an Old Believer village by Lake Peipus (Peipsi). Photos by Vahur, 27 June 2014

Rubber, Anybody?

Rubberland on Raadi Military Airfield. Notice the formula 1 tyres:) About the now abandoned airfield: strategic bombers carrying nuclear warheads used to take off and land every 10 minutes - used to watch them land through kitchen windows in 1980ies. Maybe next time I'll show the runway too, this time it was a bit dark for my shitty camera. Photo by Vahur, June 2014

Poet Marko

Poet Marko Mägi performing with Chungin and Kiwa. Opening of Voronja Galerii (https://et-ee.facebook.com/voronjagalerii) in an Old Believer village by Lake Peipus (Peipsi). Photos by Vahur, 27 June 2014

Newsfeed

Albert is a legendary artist. He likes to eat old newspapers. Photo by Vahur, Voronja Galerii, Varnja village by Lake Peipsi, 27 June 2014

Vacuum Microphone

A girl's got to sing when a girl's got to sing.

Photo by Vahur in the backyard of Tartu Write's House, 12 June 2014

Nail File

In South Estonia, people like it big. For example, we build huge nail files that foreigners mistake for houses.

Photo by Vahur 12 June 2014,  in the back of the Writers' House in Tartu

Holy Smoke

Estonian youth has a tradition to celebrate our Independence War (1918-1920) by smoking holy herb behind the Liberty Cross in Tallinn. Photo by Vahur, 1 June 2014

Brother of Mercy

Poet is sexy. Sisters of Mercy are sexy. Hat is sexy.

Photo by Vahur, 30 May 2014 Von Krahl club.

Literature festivals are sexy

Literature festivals are sexy.

Photo by Vahur 31 May / 1 June 2014, afterparty of Headread festival in Kuku club.

Yachting

Estonia is practically an island - Baltic sea in North and West, Lake Peipsi in East. During Soviet occupation the sea was inaccessible to most of people. You had to get a permit to go to island Saaremaa or Hiiumaa, and even there it wasn't about yachting or boating a bit - only fishing boats allowed, boarder guards everywhere. (Don't ever bullshit me about equal and happy life in Soviet Union, I get agitated...).

Ok, after 1991 the sea is for people again. Thanks to European Union you can head out from Tallinn in your yacht and sail to Sweden and back, without any paperwork. By the way, Estonia still is pretty uptight with boating, too much paperwork, regular inspections etc on larger boats and yachts, so many Estonians register their vessel in Sweden, Denmark or Malta.

And finally, to come to what I really wanted to speak about: what is more beautiful than a yacht? It's a wooden yacht. Toomas bought this supreme vessel last year, has been repairing it with care. Now is only needs a new engine for manoeuvring in harbour. Made in Sweden in 1964. Enjoy and envy!

Photos by Vahur, 25 May 2014 Tallinn Lennusadam (old Seaplane Harbour).

Punk Power

Punk and beer, it's like surf music and joints or transce and eeez. Punk legend, a hero of many generations - Villu Tamme! Photo by Vahur 3 May 2014, biker's thing just behing the 16 kannu pub in Tartu Tammelinn.

Proto Hipster

Impossible to deny that hipsters stole their style from hobos. Got one sleeping in front of my laboratory/Tallinn home. Photo by Vahur, 3 May 2014, Tallinn.

Dallas Style

Newer mess with a poet. Model: Kaur. Photo and accessories: Vahur.
Den Pobedy!
9 May 2014, Tartu

Khrushchyovka

Death of Stalin (1953) put the end to shared apartments (one kitchen, one toilet, several families) and neoclassical, even neobaroque housing. Much lighter, modern buildings started to pop up. Prefabricated concrete panels (patented French technology, I've heard) or bricks were used. What's most important, green light was given to private space. Of course you could hear your neighbours well, but still the tiny flat with symbolic kitchen was at the disposable of your own family and nobody else. I wonder what did that Jeanneret guy think? Actually, I've seen similar housing in Basel, Berlin and Brussels, so I suppose he'd be eligible to comment on that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khrushchyovka

Photo by Vahur, April 2014, Tallinn, Toonela tee.

Estonian Ranger

 ...or just playing Cowboy Superhero? Who cares, it looks cool & steampunk anyway. Photo by Kaili, Räpina, South-Estonia, april 2014.

Through the looking glass

Genetically speaking Estonian double helixes have a nice pinch of Asian to them. Many Estonians observe our planet and its inhabitants through camera lens. Looking through the camera is also considered more polite and distanced way, especially when it comes down to asses, girls or both. Baudrillard, Bourdieu, Deleuze and other froggymen probably would have on say on that...

Photos by Vahur Afanasjev 19 April 2014

My Hole

Thousands of people, mostly in their sporting outfit, have crawled through this hole in years. Still the gate on that side is firmly locked. Sometimes the administration put barbed wire over the hole. People cut it off and keep on crawling. It's OK, as it's also a kind of sport to get to the stadium.

I never us the main gate on the other side of the stadium.

Photos by Vahur Afanasjev, 24 April, Tallinn

Guts of a Cute Wooden House

A cute wooden house is being renovated in Tallinn Magasini street. It's a typical Estonian 19th and beginning of 20th century city/town dwelling. WWII destroyed thousands of those but there are still large areas intact.

You see that time has taken its share of the wood, insects have eaten their ways into logs, but this can be overcome just shaving off damaged parts. Usually the building as a whole can be saved, if the roof has not been leaking too much.

I also want around the back, to take pics of the garden. It appears the veranda and back side are already in good shape.

Photos by Vahur Afanasjev 24 April 2014 Tallinn

Wastelands

Empty space in city. Room to breathe. I wonder what will they build here. And when. And if.
Photo by Vahur, April 2014 Tallinn (direction Toonela tee to Võistluse street).

Private Concert

Ready... and rocking. Photo by Vahur Afanasjev from a private and unsactioned concert by the Revolver band. 19 April 2014 Tartu

The Scream

The Scream. Phot by Vahur Afanasjev, 19 April 2014

Meeting Calamary

Kitty meeting calamary. Photo by Mare Sabolotny, Kirepi village 18 April 2014

Ikarus Bus

Established in 1895 in Budapest, Hungary, the Ikarus bus company has produced many great public transportation vehicles. Saying many I mean several millions, as Ikarus busses ran everywhere in Soviet Union and Warsaw Block countries, including Soviet Estonia.

Without any "ostalgie", I admit that for me the yellow city Ikarus city busses still seem to be more comfortable than the modern Scanias and whatever is used in Europe. Especially when the bus is crowded, you can reach a handle to grab when standing up. And an old Ikarus has one level floor, the modern city busses tend to be higher in the back and have uncomfortable steps to climb.

Well, I haven't seen a live Ikarus city bus for year but a few days ago I spotted a fully restored Ikarus inter-city by the Tallinn bus station. Good people of Estonian Bus History Society have done a great job restoring it. Beautiful!

By the way, who ever did design yet another anachy symbol inspired Soviet period logo? I mean the Tallinn AP (Autobussipark).

Photos by Vahur Afanasjev, April 2014, Tallinn