Estonia
aardvarchaeology | May 10, 2014Spent Wednesday through Friday in Estonia at the kind invitation of Marge Konsa and the Institute of History and Archaeology in Tartu. Gave a lecture on computer-aided statistics for burial studies (here's my presentation), then went to Tallinn, where Jüri Peets and Raili Allmäe showed me the finds and horrifically battle-damaged bones from the two 8th century Swedish mass burials in ships at Salme on Saaremaa. Also had time to meet with my grad school buddy Marika Mägi and do a lot of sight-seeing. Pics on Flickr!
The vibe in Estonia is optimistic and self-confident. Plaques about EU funding…
grrlscientist | August 27, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Sunset over the Baltic Sea.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This is a look at the sun as it sets over the Baltic Sea. I was ensconced in front of a window under a stairway (since the boat ran out of places to sit .. I know, this was almost impossible for me to believe, too, given the overall size of the ferry). I sat there in front of that window for the duration of the journey, drinking beer, taking pictures (nearly all of which were ruined by glare from the window glass) and…
grrlscientist | August 26, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Gates (from the inside).
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
Do you know how, when an amazing experience is coming to an end, and you just want it to last a little bit longer, you fill your eyes and your heart with as many memories as you can get in those parting moments? This is what I did, and I also snapped photographs of anything, just to preserve those last moments.
The shadows were falling, it was time to return to Helsinki.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.…
grrlscientist | August 26, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Grog.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
All hail to the mighty beer, brewed in the original style, using ingredients that approximate (as closely as possible) what was originally used. My beer had a distinct cinnamon flavor.
As you can see below, the table was outdoors under a large tent, and entertainment included waiter watching, people watching and live music. Here, you can see the waiter adding some finishing touches to a few meals before serving them to hungry patrons.…
grrlscientist | August 26, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Having a beer in Tallinn.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
I know this picture is blurry, but hey, I was running after these guys when I snapped it!
What was that .. thing .. that I was running after, trying to photograph? Here's a closer look;
Having a beer in Tallinn (a closer look).
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
As you can see, this was a bicycle with a number of bar stools attached, along with…
grrlscientist | August 25, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
A tunnel to an open street in Tallinn's Old Town.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
grrlscientist | August 25, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Light.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
I thought I was done sharing pictures from the wall surrounding the Old Town portion of Tallinn, but I was wrong. After looking through my images today, I realized I have more that I want to share with you.
The wall.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This is a look at the wall as it curves around the city. I really like this image because there is so much to see…
grrlscientist | August 24, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Looking towards the next tower along the wall around Old Town.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This is, in my opinion, one of the most spectacular views I've ever had the pleasure to see. I hope my photographs from atop the wall around Old Town can capture this for you well enough that you understand what I saw and experienced while I was in Tallinn.
Looking towards the next tower along the inner portion of wall around Old Town.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.…
grrlscientist | August 23, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
A room inside the wall around Old Town.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This is a room inside the wall that surrounds the Old Town portion of Tallinn, Estonia. As you can see, this room is in remarkably pristine condition, despite being older than god. Sorry that the pic is so bad, but the ambient lighting was impossible to deal with.
Another look at the room inside the wall around Old Town.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 […
grrlscientist | August 23, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
The wall around Old Town.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
The Historic Center of Tallinn, known as "Old Town", was one of the best fortified cities in Europe, with 66 towers adorning the city wall. Today, only 20 or so of these cannon towers remain. The history of Talinn as a trading town is still evident in the beauty of its buildings (for example, refer to the lovely dragons that I photographed on this building, which is now an art gallery).
Entrance to the Castle…
grrlscientist | August 22, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Amber Mall.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This lovely building reminded me of NYC's Flatiron Building in Manhattan, a triangular-shaped building that once was the tallest building in the world. This building in the Old Town portion of Tallinn, Estonia, is where Baltic amber -- fossilized pine tree resin -- is sold. Baltic amber is the oldest amber in the world, but it is not as likely to have insect "inclusions" as the much younger ambers found in the Dominican Republic (the…
grrlscientist | August 22, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Sightseeing Train.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
grrlscientist | August 21, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Phallus.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
grrlscientist | August 21, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Phallus.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
It has been observed that I tend to photograph tall, pointy objects that reach to the sky. In my defense, such objects are plentiful in architecture, and are noticeable and often are iconic on any particular skyline.
Dragons on a church.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
Unlike most phalluses, this particular phallus is attached to a church. In this case, the…
grrlscientist | August 21, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Spices.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
One of the many items sold in the Old Town Square of Tallinn, Estonia were a variety of spices. They smelled so delicious that I almost purchased some just so I could carry them with me to sniff whenever I wished to.
Handmade Blank Books.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
Another item that I am partial to are handmade blank books. I wanted to get one or two, but…
grrlscientist | August 20, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Girl Power in Tallinn, Estonia.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This poster is advertizing a student photography show. I just really liked the sign because of the juxtaposition between the traditional and the modern.
grrlscientist | August 20, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Streets of Tallinn
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
Emerging from the Olde Hansa restaurant after lunch, it was obvious that the weather had changed once more -- I've never seen weather conditions change as quickly as they do in Estonia.
grrlscientist | August 19, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Lunch at the Olde Hansa Restaurant.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This isn't the best picture I've ever taken, but most of the lighting was provided by candlelight. The interior of the building was quite dark, which made it almost impossible to get a sharply focused image without using a flash (and you know how much I hate flash).
Candlelight.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
When you order a beer…
grrlscientist | August 18, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Olde Hansa Restaurant.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This is one entrance to the Olde Hansa resturant in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia. Instead of eating in this restaurant, we went around the corner and at in the other part of this establishment. Pics of that entrance are below the jump.
Olde Hansa Restaurant.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
Entrance to the restaurant we ate lunch at.
Large…
grrlscientist | August 18, 2009tags: Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia, cities
Windows with Pigeon.
Photographed in Old Town, Tallinn, Estonia.
Image: GrrlScientist, 22 July 2009 [larger view]. (raw image)
This photograph reminds me of some of Edward Hopper's paintings. That lone pigeon looks like how I feel today.