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

Literature festivals are sexy

Literature festivals are sexy.

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

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.

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).

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

Stairway to Doggy Style, Sleeping Special.

Old dog don't care. Photo by Aapo Ilves, 11. 08. 2013 in Käsmu, North-Estonia.

Onion domes

Onion domes of an orthodox skete in Vasknarva, where the river Narva starts from the lake Peipus. Photo by Vahur Afanasjev, July 2011

Industrial Cemetery

Photo by Mare Sabolotny, May 2011 in Paldiski

Seagull

Mr Seagull.
Photo by Vahur Afanasjev, March 2011, Tallinn

Maarjamäe Memorial

There's a beautiful WWII memorial complex overlooking the Gulf of Tallinn by the road to Pirita and Viimsi. Though built in Soviet era, it's artistically convincing. Even the fallic symbol on the last picture is tasteful to pose with.

Photo by Vahur Afanasjev, Tallinn, 30 January 2011

Tough Girls/Teenage Snoopy Army

Photo by Tuuli Teppo. 2006.

Naissaar/ Nice saar

Naissaar (Women`s island) is a little Estonian island situated in the Gulf of Finland about 10 km north of Tallinn. More about Naissaar.

oktoober 2009

Happy Marvin

"Marvin" is a very happy man - his little guitar is touched & signed by finest estonian guitarmen Riho Sibul (signature on top) & the other guy. Photo by Aapo Ilves. 09. 08. 09. Käsmu, festival Viru Folk.

Pre-Viking, Viking, Post-Viking

Dugout boat or single-log canoe (haabjas), viking ship Turm & some modern white trash. Photo by Aapo Ilves. 08. 08. 09. Käsmu, festival Viru Folk.

The Finno-Ugric one-log boat or haabjas in Estonian is probably the world’s oldest boat type and the forefather of modern plank boat. Haabjas was used as a fishing and a transport vessel already during the stone age.

Wisdom Of The Vikings

Wisdom of the vikings - you hold a tiller & tiller houlds your beer. Photo by Aapo Ilves. 08. 08. 09. Käsmu, festival Viru Folk, viking ship Turm.

Electorate in Moskvitch

As most of the European countries, Estonia held the elections for the European Parlament last Sunday. A Soviet Moskvitch car decorated with Estonian national flags is a stylish way to go voting. Btw, I used to have one of those in 90ies. It's engine showed an amazing ability to stop working when the car was heading downhill no gear engaged.

Photo by Rosin (Kass Ting casting agency) on Tallinn-Narva motorway 7 June 2009.

Blondes and guns...

Photo by Tuuli Teppo. Gun camp at the strip mine in Männiku. 18-19 April 2008.

A zombie rising from the ground

Paldiski - the ex Soviet Army nuclear submarine training centre, now reminding a ghost city with a large number of abandoned houses and military facilities. It is slowly growing and improving, when just a few years ago the only amenity was a small hotel called "The White Ship" ("Valge Laev") (the food is very tasty there by the way), now the town has two grocery stores,a liqueur store, a bank, a tavern and a bed&breakfast. The train station was recently renovated and holds a small cafe.
A part of the film Lilya 4-ever was filmed there. Also featured in one episode of the American TV show "Alias".
It's not far from Tallinn, about 50 km, easily accessible by train or by car.

Picture by Tuuli Teppo. March 11, 2007

The Ring of Power

Paparazzi gather around Estonian president Toomas "Wild Cat" Ilves and the first lady. It's the Estonian independence day reception in the mostly Russian-speaking North-East of Estonia. Have you ever seen so much respect from the photohunters? They form a geometrically correct circle. We envy you, Tom! Photo by Andres Putting (freelance/Delfi), Jõhvi Kontserdimaja, 24th of February, 2009.