just imagine being atop one of the (once) tallest ancient european churches. the strong sea breeze rushing inland with soft clouds that spread, diffuse and fade. feel the wind brushing through your ears as your heart pounds heavily from climbing the steep and narrow stairwell. turn your sight from the sea to the city and find that balance of harmony between them and the skies.

I had the chance to visit ArticEvening Tallinn last week. Met a couple of interesting people [if you are reading this; Hi and thanks for the nice discussions!] and got more updated on how’s the start-up scene in Estonia.

The evening’s panel discussion was about “What is marketing for start-ups and how to do it effectively”. At least for me the panel discussion didn’t offer anything too new, more like support to already known things like affiliations and using social media for you benefit; make your network your marketers and instead of trying to create a picture perfect product, try to start market and launch as soon as possible to ‘own’ the idea.

I believe web start-ups and alike have closer in blood [I hope] than maybe a bit more traditional companies – or at least they should. It was nice to hear these things from the panelists though.

There was also a surprise pitch, which turned out to be an interesting mobile application called TaxiPal. The idea of the application is to get the best taxi for you no matter in which city you are. The app provides the user the prices and the suggested route. The user can then decide from the provided list which company’s taxi to take and order it for certain time to a certain location.

I think the pitch was good and the shown pics about the app were also OK, but what’s with the website – which basically isn’t a website but just a one rather horrendous page.

I’m a bit surprised after the good presentation that the page and the Twitter profile is that content empty. These were some of the basic things the panelists discussed at the event about marketing and this doesn’t quite live up to the expectations. Hopefully guys at TaxiPal understand this, and after all, it isn’t nowadays that difficult or time-consuming to build a basic  website and an informative Twitter account. But altogether, best of luck to you guys, the idea sounded good.

Overall it was nice to visit Tallinn after a short break and hear how’s the new media business field there. Maybe I’ll see you again next time at Tallinn in some interesting event. Cheers!

Oh and by the way if you’re interested, here’s also a small photo gallery of the event at Flickr.

Image by Jaako

Tomorrow I’m off to visit some relatives and the Arctic Evening at Tallinn – finally after a long break!

So if you happen to be at the event, come and say hi. I’m the tall bald guy with a beard and a bad Finnish accent when speaking Estonian.

Date: December 12th, 2009

All family water & underwater photography festival at the Kalev Spa water park.

Location: Kalev SPA water park, Aia 18, Tallinn Estonia – www.kalevspa.ee

Keywords: see or try out underwater photography equipment, take a 4,5 m deep test dive with an instructor, get a waterproof make up, have a fantasy face painting, get yourself or your children photographed by a professional, take underwater photos of models wearing waterproof make-up, get an under water photo of yourself or your child/baby, enjoy the submarine Christmas show, etc. A lot of action both under water and above the water, for adults and children. It’s all about taking pictures!

NB! Waterproof photographic equipment for rent on the spot. Diving equipment on the spot. Sale of water proof make up products from STAGECOLOR.

Access to the Kalev SPA water park is free for the hotel residents, normal ticket price is 150 EEK. Pre sale price at the Piletilevi is 130 EEK. Children up to 5 years pay 15 EEK only. http://www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/kogupere/muu/?show=14903

PROGRAMME

11:00 – 16:00 All family water & underwater photo festival festival at the Kalev Spa water park.

16:00 – 17:30 Under water nude photography – guided by Mr. Lembit Michelson.
Pre sale price at the Piletilevi is 200 EEK http://www.piletilevi.ee/eng/tickets/kogupere/muu/?concert=58574
NB! Limited availability, restricted access.

How to buy http://www.piletilevi.ee/eng/generalinfo/howtobuy/webshop

Accommodation at the Kalev SPA Hotel.

Double room 860 EEK (430EEK/person).
Price includes breakfast, full access to the water park, to the All Family Water Festival, sauna, gym. Further information on the accomodation http://www.kalevspa.ee/hotel_rooms

Accommodation booking kalevspa@kalevspa.ee email address and password is “FOTO”
Phone +372 649 3300, www.kalevspa.ee

Organizer: Kultuuriühing Eesti Fotofestival NGO, info@fotofestival.ee www.fotofestival.ee
Contact Person: Mr. Devi Tompel, GSM +372 566 75 091

Por Sheila Machado*

“O segredo mais bem guardado da Europa”: o título já foi de Praga, mas hoje o tesouro do continente – ainda intocado por horda de turistas – é Tallinn, capital da Estônia.

O centro histórico da cidade é medieval e rodeado por uma muralha:

Nas pequenas ruas todos se encantam com as construções do século 14, muitas delas reformadas, por causa das guerras e ocupações. As dezenas de cafés e restaurante são convidativos para relaxar das andanças por igrejas, galerias e lojas.

Kiek-in-de-Kök, uma torre de canhão que literalmente significa ‘espiar na cozinha’, era usada pelo guardas para vigiar a população e a área externa. A capital estoniana já foi conquistada por russos e alemães. Mas invadir por Kiek-in-de-Kök era difícil: nove balas de canhão de Ivan, o Terrível pararam em suas paredes. Atualmente a torre abriga um museu que conta a história do desenvolvimento de Tallinn, com mapas e modelos da cidade antiga.

Outro ponto obrigatório de visita é o Palácio e o Parque Kadriorg. O complexo, construído em 1718-36, foi construído pelo czar russo Pedro, o Grande para sua mulher, Catarina I. A obra foi feita logo depois de Pedro conquistar a Estônia na Grande Guerra do Norte. Hoje, o palácio barroco abriga o Museu de Arte Estrangeira.

Também imperdível é a catedral russa ortodoxa Alexander Nevsky. Sua fachada, impressionante, domina a praça Lossi, no alto de Pikk jalg. Com uma arquitetura quase opressora, fica estrategicamente à frente do Castelo Toompea, tradicional assembléia da Estônia e onde os movimentos nacionalistas ganharam força.

Para ver toda a Tallinn do alto, a dica é subir a a metade dos 124 metros da torre da igreja Oleviste, onde fica o deck de observação. A escada é apertada, íngreme mal iluminada. Mas vale a pena:

Acesso pelo Báltico
Algumas pessoas podem achar Tallinn um tanto inacessível. Não é. Um dos meios mais fáceis e bonitos de chegar lá é pegar o ferry que sai de Helsinque, capital da Finlândia. A viagem dura em média duas horas, mas pode ser cancelada se não houver condição de navegação no Mar Báltico.

E, na volta, é possível fazer compras no free shop do navio. Muitos finlandeses aproveitam para encher a dispensa de bebidas alcoolicas, mais caras em seu país por causa dos impostos.

* Este post foi originalmente publicado em agosto de 2009 no blog Passaporte, do JB Online

within the interior of the ancients walls of tallinn lies a unesco world heritage site. completed by the richest of materials, textures and a balance of emotions, this historial city is adapted from the eighteenth and nineteenth century into our modern day. it is possible to read stories from the marks made in time by the different influences and cultural happenings.

I guess this will be a little welcome introduction. I’m Christian. I’m 17 years old. I live and study at the moment in Tartu, Estonia. I want to start blogging. I think this form of writing is good for expressing thoughts and feelings… and also a good way to let your friends know what you’ve been up to.

I went to Tallinn on the weekend. I planned on meeting my cousin, Kaisa, in Tallinn but it ended up that she couldn’t. It’s unfortunate because we had  planned on meeting beforehand. I guess I will meet with her next time I’m in Tallinn….. which I hope will be soon!

When I got to Tallinn I went shopping a bit. I didn’t find much. However, I got my hair coloured in a salon. I recently coloured my hair to platinum blond and I’m finding it quite difficult to maintain this new colour as I went from such a dark colour to almost white, but I’m really trying because I like this colour a lot and I think it really suits me! I think I should have coloured my hair by myself, but I guess I was too lazy to do it. : /

I stayed the night in a hostel in the town centre. It was a nice place and gladly I stayed there with decent people. I went to one of Tallinn’s gay bars called X-baar. This place wasn’t bad. I liked the atmosphere and people. I met one woman friend there and had a lovely time with her.

I need to sleep soon. I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep for ages and I’ve got to go to my lessons in the morning.

Head ööd.

C x

Sorry I was a tiny bit late in posting this.  I had a small photo adventure earlier today then went to a play that was amazing.  No words to describe.  I only wish I had my camera with me.  but I would have not been able to capture anything under the limited light…

As for the Sunday stills…

If we had a point system for this, I would be scoring double points.  Because the first photo is of a Tower in Tallinn, Estonia and the second, I used my Russian skills to name the second photo.  It counts right?

The second I will call Темнота в Таллине (Darkness in Tallinn).  Pronounced Tyemnotye va Tallinye.

mõtlesin, et mul on kõrini sellest talvemasendusest, mis inimesi praegusel aastaajal valitseb ning nii kaua kui mul seda elu ja energiat veel jätkub, pean tegutsema!

esmalt, … koolis käia on vaja veel kolm nädalat, enne kui vaheaeg algab.. seega kolm nädalavahetust .. ühel nädalavahetusel läheks lihtsalt Tallinnasse ja vaataks sealset õhtust elu… siis veel ühel nädalavahetusel võiks minna Riiga.. hmm ühel nädalavahetusel võiks Tartust maksimumi võtta .. ja siis juba ongi vaheaeg.. sobib! Kui keegi minuga liituda tahab, andke julgelt teada!!.. või kui on veelgi paremaid ideid, mida teha või kuhu minna.. olen käpp!!

Neljapäevaks võiks ka keegi juba midagi välja pakkuda ;D

Ha-ha, ega ma plaaniinimene pole, kes kõik ette plaaniks ja seejärel ilusti täidaks neid, aga midagi võiks siiski mõelda valmis..

Väga tähtis ja vajalik postitus oli see siin nüüd, eksss??

Muide, selle nädalvahetuse veetsin Paides , armas

vot selline kiizhu pidavat ma olema

I fell in love with a store today, Pip-Squeak Chapeau.

It’s the three month old, concept store of designer Sveta Dresher.

(this pic doesn’t do it justice)

There was something magical about the whitewashed floorboards and videography on the walls playing to Arvo Pärt (who’s name she kindly wrote down for me).  The multi-sensory experience was like walking through clouds and made me want to touch each of the natural fiber, frilly and knitty items – the perfect environment for such tactile things.

I wanted everything!  From every hand-made chiffon skirt and knitted dress, to each carefully chosen journal…this is going to be dangerous…

At least my new found obsession with Estonian composer, Arvo Pärt won’t cost me too much:

On a chirpier note, watch Björk interview Arvo Pärt for the BBC program “Modern Minimalist” (1997)

Päkapikuvabrik

Täna tegelesime Jõuluballi kutsetega, see pidi toimuma ühise tunni ajal, meil oli niivõrd palju kutseid, et me tegutsesime ka vene tunni ajal edasi (nii ropult palju, et me tegutseme homme veel edasi xD). Ma olen suht kindel, et Silja (vene õps) on solvunud meie peale, minuarust keegi isegi ei maininud talle, et me lähme kutseid meisterdama anoh.. vbl keegi, kes tundi läks, mainis. Vähemalt pole ekoolis mingit puudumist märgitud. Et siis jah, 200 kutset oli, kuldsed ja hõbedased, kusjuures hõbedased maksavad eelmüügis 100.- ja balli ajal 125.-, kuldpilet maksab muidugi 500.-. Kaunistamisel sai päris mõnusalt aega veedetud. Ahjah, meenub üks naljakas asi, hakkasime vanasse majja sisenema, et minna kaunistama pileteid, tee peal tuli teemaks Jõuluballi kleit, Piretil on juba 5-st erinevat kleiti, millest ühe peab ta lõpuks välja valima, mina aga ütlesin nukral toonil, et mul polegi ühetgi kleiti veel, Kadri hakkas siis midagi sogama, et ta võib mulle ühe musta kleidi laenata, (seda mida me Kadri peol vaatasime) et ma olevat öelnud, et see on äge ja värki, et mulle see kleit meeldis. Ma jäin siis korraks mõtlema ja ütlesin: ‘Ma ei kasuta sellist sõna nagu ”äge”….’ Kadri siis minuteid hiljem: ‘Ahjah, ei kasuta jah…’

FEIL KADRI… FEEEEEEEEEIL !

Täna oli Vihte heas tujus. Ta küsis  ühe küsimuse ja nimetas mu nime, siis hakkas rääkima, et ta tahtis mind kuidagi teisiti nimetada, ühe ilusa nimega.. Aga seda ta nagu ei tahtnud teiste ees öelda, ütles, et ütleb mulle isiklikult. Armas. Nagu arvata oligi, läks see tal meelest ära. Ma ei läinud üle küsima ka.. Et siis… ilus nimi.

PSt, tal oli niivõrd hea tuju täna, et kui ma klassi sisenesin ja SIRLIlt küsisin: ‘ Sprechen Sie Deutsch ?’, vastas VIHTE: ‘ Ja, Ich Spreche Deutsch, und Du ?’ ja mina siis: ‘ Ein Bisschen..’ … ROOOOWL… =D Mitte, et ma temalt seda küsisin aga noh…

Nüüd on siis kindel, järgmisel neljapäeval Tallinna, Teeviidale :3, Jaanus pidavat ka sel ajal Teeviidal olema. =D

Huvitav, mul pole ammu pea valutanud ja üle pika aja tegin ka lõunauinakut ! Niiet, selline tunne on nagu oleks täna reede.

Btw, Blog Stats: 3,986 hits.. =D, tea, kas homme tuleb 4,000 ära ?

Muse – Undisclosed Desires

Elamine nõuab julgust

Üritad ja tahad, kuid kõik läheb alati persssse..

In the beginning of November, a new choir that features only topless singers was established in Estonia.

The idea behind new topless choir is to get people more interested in choir singing, explains Peep Kollo, 26 years old choir singer from Vox Populi choir. Women and men are expected to join the new topless choir, but so far mostly men have applied. “We will not perform unless we have more women than men,” so Kollo.

Although new choir will definitely get lots of attention because of the facade, the idea is to make great choir music. Or, as it states on its website:Topless choir is new mixed choir that will rock the world’s choir circuits.

As expected, the organizers of the new topless choir are men. According to official website, they are not nudists, body showers nor perverts, but regular people.

Juba suvest saadik olen suhtunud vabadussõja võidusambasse üsna vaoshoitult katsudes teadlikult vältida teravaid sõnavõtte nii selle poolt kui vastu. Pole isegi jõudnud Vabaduse platsil päriselt käiagi, nii sammas kui ka väljak on mööda käies või sõites silmanurgas kõigest põgusalt vilksatanud. Olengi mõelnud, et jõuab küll, niisugused asjad nõuavad aega enne kui nende iseloom tasakesi avaneb.

Paar nädalat tagasi põgusalt Tallinnas käies tekis Vabaduse väljakust möödudes mõte sammakest ja väljakut pildistada. Et ilm oli kurjavõitu, enesel kõht tühi ja hiline lõunakohtumine kohe algamas, ei läinud veelgi päriselt risti juurde. Kõigest klõpsasin paar pilti Jaani kiriku juures.

Kui ma nüüd neid pilte rahulikult vaatan, tekib küll tunne nagu Ivan Orava mälestussammas oma asukoha keskkonnaga kooskõlas ei oleks. Just siit Jaani juurest vaadeldes ta kuidagi rikub vaate Vanalinna poole. Nagu oleks Tallinna kõige väärtuslikumale esindusplatsile midagi võõrast kerkinud, mis sinna õieti ei kuulu.

Ise väljakust aga võib asja saada küll. Iseäranis suvel kujuneb ta kindlasti mõnusaks kohaks, kus aega surnuks lüüa. Oleneb muidugi paljus ka sellest, kuidas linnavõimud ja -kodanikud väljakut sisustavad. Kui seal hakab kommerts ohjeldamatult lohama, põdrast turistid ja nendega kaasnevad taskuvargast sabarakud väljaku vallutavad, siis ei taha seal küll viibida. See oleks umbes nagu Raekoja platsi jõuluturg, kus ehtsaid asju pole ollagi.

Need aga on alles esimesed muljed. Aegamööda võib pilt muutuda nii samba kui väljaku osas. Võib-olla piisab sellest et mõne teise nurga alt vaadata, mine tea. Päriselt ei taha endiselt veel kiita ega laita, asja avanemine nõuab aega.

…ehk puhastus

Päivi (klassijuhataja) saatis just hotti kirja – On plaan minna Tallinnasse Teeviidale. Karjääriplaneerimise temaatikaga tegeleb koolipsühholoog, tema annab teile ka eelneva, ettevalmistava ülesande. Praegune kava näeb ette minekut neljapäeval, 3. detsembril. Täpne plaan saabub edaspidi, kui buss tellitud jm organisatoorset laadi küsimused lahendatud. Juhhei ?

Sel kohal meenub meie Jõuluballiks korraldatav ajatabel, peame seda täiendama, Päivi kirjutas sinna hea lause – Märdil avaldus projektijuhtimise oskus- organiseeris kaevas lasteaia liivakastist otsetunneli kaevamist Ameerikasse. 

kes kardab illusioonideta maailma ?

käsi, sünnimärk, silm.

Reamonn – Supergirl

Aga palun! 22.-24. novembrini on Tallinnas Coca-Cola Plazas võimalik näha õhtul “Videviku”-saaga esimest filmi “Videvik”.

Kõik, kes soovivad kirgi üles kütta, jookske ja nautige Kolmapäeval aga näeme esilinastusel!

Around 2 years ago I was doing some grocery shopping in Kaubamaja when suddenly a man approached me, Wim, and said that I had amazing eyes (I kid u not ).  He introduced himself as a documentary photographer and gave me his card, asking me to contact him regarding an exhibition he was organizing.  Obviously I was very skeptical. I wasn’t born yesterday, you have to be careful in this world, there are so many scammers out there.

http://www.wimlamboo.nl/gallery2/v/Streetlife/Talinn/

http://www.galeriepiculiar.nl/pageID_5100280.html

That night I went home and I google him to make sure he was legit.  After browsing through pages after pages of his work I decided to call him and give it a shot.  We met the next week for a photo-shoot. I’m gonna say it right now, wow, long, difficult, and I’m no model…heheeeee. 5 hours of work and I was beat.

Wim is a great conversationalist even though it was hard as English is not his first language. We did however get along, he is funny with a great sense of humor, and an odd vision regarding his photography.

About a year ago he called me up and said that he’s going to use a photo or maybe two in his book. He is currently composing a book called The Women of Tallinn . Needless to say, I was excited, I’ve never been part of anything like this before.

And today I got an email from him asking me to write an entry for his book…how great is that !!!

I know quite a few girls who work as models and I’d just like to say RESPECT. It is a job that requires patience and a strong personality.  For you people who aren’t Estonian I’d like to introduce…heheeeee…you to a super model, who is well known in the world, and who just happens to be from my little home town, and who was also discovered in a shopping centre. CARMEN KASS

Have you ever had any experiences like that? Leave a comment or a question the comments and I look forward to reading what you guys think!

As you probably already know Tallinn is the European Capital of Culture in 2011. Which means that in 406 days Tallinn begins the largest storytelling event in its history. Writers, musicians, artists and actors will tell, paint, sing and act tales inspired by the sea, speaking of Estonia and its people. The stories will be short and long, modern and ancient, exciting and tragic; most importantly, they will all be genuinely Estonian-like.

The main theme of Tallinn 2011, “Stories of the Seashore”, encapsulates Estonian history and Tallinn’s physical location next to the sea, which explains Estonia’s rich cultural diversity, contacts and conflicts. The larger theme is also organized into three smaller parts:

1) Stories of singing together;
2) Stories of the living old city;
3) Stories of dreams and surprises.

„Stories of singing together“ describe how we are all changing the world – through democracy, citizenship, community, freedom and traditions. In truth, the song and dance festivals are our biggest stories of all – we are a people of song and dance; we have the ability to come together and unified we are victorious, and we cannot forget that it is through singing that we won our freedom. In addition to the Song and Dance Festivals, music events include the Birgitta Festival and the youth subculture project, AfroReggae.

„Stories of the living old city“ will tell the story of Tallinn as a city where time has never stopped. Every morning, the people – Estonians, Russians, Germans, Finns, ect. – gather here to write a new page in our city’s history. This can be witnessed in the Old Town’s drama festival, Tallinn Teater Treff, which unite representatives of world cultures and will breathe life into the heart of Tallinn’s culture. The „Stories of the living old city“ will also feature interpretive dance with architecture in „Open Spaces Living Art“ and „Tallinn’s Marathon.“

„Stories of Dreams and Surprises“ will speak of a city and country where the internet has been declared a “human right” and which saw what the media named the world’s first Cyberwar. Together we dream of bringing the sea to the city, and we will do just this on Tallinn’s Maritime Days. Also in store is the audiovisual Plektrum Festival and the Student’s Modern Art Trianual Eksperimenta!

You can find more information about Tallinn 2011 here: http://www.tallinn2011.ee/?id=91

Great trip . Not in the way I ( or anyone else ) would imagine given the specific circumstances , but still enlightening . Been on a ship for 2 days with 2000 students from all around Europe and got to spend some 6 hours in Tallinn . The city was ok, I guess . Nothing fancy, the old part of the city had some nice spots but it seemed to be a really sad city . Even more than Stockholm. Photos will be on flickr by the end of the week I guess , you could see for yourselves.

But what the trip had to offer was ( apart from the hangover, a terrible headache, and a major strike in my monthly financial planning ) proof that I’m getting older . Just couldn’t compete with the 20-year old erasmus crowd partying the hell out of themselves for 48 hours .I did my best but I don’t think I ‘m “there” anymore . Time goes by , moments fly by , i just have to reconsider my approach to life .

The second major offering was yet another perfect example of how my social skills suck big time. Well, I can justify myself given past experiences, circumstances and a rather sick balance i’ve cherished between social life and “the right to be left alone” . But still I’ve got to work on that . Isn’t it all about becoming a better person after all ?

And just because it’s stuck on my mind for the last 3 hours or so , irrelevant to this post, but still sadly beautiful . Enjoy :