i have completely updated my Tallinn photo page.
i realize now that sometimes i might have some interesting angles on some important buildings in a given city but no straight forward shot. this, of course, is kinda awkward since all i can show you is a distorted perspective...
random photo explanations:
- the Mayeri steps photo - the lions painted on the vases were once actually carved out of stones, but the Soviets didn't like them due to their imperial (and hence extravagent) origin.
- i took this photo by more or less blindly aiming the camera at full arms' length over a wall - i'd say it came out quite well considering i could barely see the video screen from the angle i was holding it!
- the Cat's Well was a location of many sacrifices in Medieval Tallinn. apparently, the residents of Tallinn in the Middle Ages thought that there was an evil spirit who would dry up the town's water supply unless it was given regular animal sacrifices. the sacrifices, mostly stray cats, would be dropped in this well - talk about unsanitary drinking water!
- the Town Hall tower has a weather vane on top that goes by the name of "Old Thomas". Old Thomas symbolizes Tallinn and has been there since 1530.
- my photo tour of Soviet era Tallinn begins with the former KGB prison photo and continues through to the pictures of/from Linnahall. what i did fail to capture for you was the TV tower. since every former Soviet city inevitably has one of these monstrosities, i've so far been able to capture some of them (most notably in Riga). this time, however, i have failed. oh well.
- the photos from the Marine Mine Museum are in very soft focus if they are in focus at all. i apologize but the lighting there stunk.
- and, of course, these are the photos that include the photos of the president... of Estonia.
tomorrow, i will endeavor to get my photos from Helsinki online, although i don't know how possible that is. i think it may be my largest update yet. unless, of course, i divide it into photos from Helsinki and photos from the overnight cruise, which i very well might do.