The Estonian flag, Tallinn.
A partial skyline of Lower Town as taken from Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
A partial skyline of Lower Town as seen from Toompea Hill, Tallinn - dominating the photo is Oleviste Kirik (St. Olaf's Church).
A partial skyline of Lower Town as seen from Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
A partial skyline of Lower Town as seen from Toompea Hill, Tallinn - the tower is that of Puha Vaimu kirik (Holy Spirit Church). In the distance you can see Soviet era housing blocks.
Looking into Lower Town from Toompea Hill, Tallinn - you can see the result of years of Soviet neglect in the building in the foreground.
Looking down from Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral as seen from Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn.
Niguliste Church as seen from Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn.
Niguliste Church, now an art museum, as seen from Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn.
Lower Town as seen from Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn.
The Mayeri steps which lead up Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Kiek in de Kok, on the way up Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn - notice the original doorway.
Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn - a massive defensive tower that was once part of the city walls.
Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn - one can still see 6 cannonballs embedded in its walls dating back to a failed invasion by Ivan the Terrible.
The city walls just above Kiek in de Kok on Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Statue in Lindamagi, a tiny park just below Nevsky Cathedral on Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Toomkirik (Dome Church) on Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on Toompea Hill, Tallinn - named after the duke who attacked SE Estonia and Pskov in the early 1200's.
Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn - a Russian Orthodox Church.
Nevsky Cathedral towers over the other buildings on Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Toompea Castle, home of the Estonian government, on Toompea Hill, Tallinn - this castle faces Nevsky Cathedral.
Another view (from Toompark) of Toompea Castle, Tallinn.
Another view (from Toompark) of Toompea Castle, Tallinn.
Another view of Toompea Castle (from Toompark), Tallinn - the tower on the right, Pikk Hermann, flies the Estonian flag. "It's commonly recognised that whoever's flag flies on top of this tower is the ruler of Estonia" (Tallinn In Your Pocket, August 2005).
The city walls as seen from Toompark, Tallinn.
A statue in Toompark, Tallinn.
The city walls, Tallinn.
Fat Margaret, another mighty defensive tower, stands at the opposite end of the city from Kiek in de Kok, Tallinn.
A beautiful doorway in the Lower Town, Tallinn.
St. Olaf's Church, Lower Town, Tallinn.
St. Olaf's Church, Lower Town, Tallinn.
A side street next to Dominiiklaste klooster (The Dominican Monastary), Lower Town, Tallinn.
A side street next to Dominiiklaste klooster (The Dominican Monastary), Lower Town, Tallinn.
St. Nicholas church in Lower Town, Tallinn.
The Cat's Well, Tallinn.
Hare, hare! (Lower Town, Tallinn)
Town Hall Square, Lower Town, Tallinn.
Town Hall Square, Lower Town, Tallinn - notice how things are under construction/reconstruction, an ever-present and pervasive trend in the Baltic states.
Raeapteek (Town Hall Pharmacy), one of the oldest continuously running pharmacies in Europe, Town Hall Square, Tallinn.
The astronomical clock on the Town Hall, Town Hall Square, Tallinn.
A look upwards at the Town Hall, Tallinn.
The Town Hall tower with Old Thomas on top, Tallinn.
Looking back at Town Hall from the direction of Toompea Hill, Tallinn.
Off of Town Hall Square, Tallinn.
Niguliste Church, Tallinn.
The WWII bombing ruins next to Niguliste Church, Tallinn.
A nice building on Mere puiestee, just outside of Old Town, Tallinn.
Estonia Theatre, just outside of Old Town, Tallinn.
The former KGB prison in Old Town, Tallinn - notice that the basement windows are bricked up.
The House on Tartu mnt, Tallinn - the obligatory Stalinist "wedding cake" building, albeit somewhat smaller than normal. It was a residential building but it's now a casino... A little ironic, donchathink?
The former Soviet soldier memorial, Tallinn - it now serves as a WWII memorial, despite the Soviet insignia.
The WWII memorial, Tallinn.
The Naval Officers' Club, Tallinn - built in 1952 as a recreational club for the Soviet officers.
The Naval Officers' Club, Tallinn - one of the last buildings to still have a hammer and sickle in its facade.
Linnahall, Tallinn - it was built for the 1980 Olympics.
Linnahall, Tallinn - offers crumbling evidence of the Soviet architectural practice of overusing concrete.
Linnahall, Tallinn - children play in the fountains and the pool beneath the helipad.
Linnahall, Tallinn - helicopters leave frequently to ferry people to and from Helsinki, Finland.
Tallinn's NE shoreline, as seen from Linnahall, Tallinn.
Pirita klooster (Convent of St. Bridget), Tallinn - along Tallinn's NE shoreline (actually just outside of Tallinn in Pirita) stands the ruins of this Medieval convent.
The shoreline in Pirita, Estonia.
An inlet in Pirita, Estonia.
The Baltic Sea, as seen from Linnahall, Tallinn.
The Marine Mine Museum, featuring mines rescued from the Baltic Sea, Tallinn - a detonation device used for early marine mines.
A detonated mine, The Marine Mine Museum, Tallinn.
A detonated mine, The Marine Mine Museum, Tallinn.
One wall in the Marine Mine Museum, Tallinn.
The other side of the Marine Mine Museum, Tallinn.
A change in architectural style - this far north, more buildings are made out of wood - in between Old Town and Kadriorg Park, Tallinn.
Another view of the wooden house, Tallinn.
Kadriorg Park, Tallinn.
Kadriorg Park, Tallinn.
A statue in Kadriorg Park, Tallinn.
Another statue in Kadriorg Park, Tallinn - in the far background, you can see the construction of the new National Art Museum.
An old building in Kadriorg Park, Tallinn - it kinda reminds me of the Bates Motel... Ack!
The cottage in Kadriorg Park where Alexander the Great stayed while Kadriorg Palace was being built, Tallinn.
The front of Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn.
A slightly different perspective of Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn.
The gardens in the rear of Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn.
A slightly different perspective of the gardens in the rear of Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn.
The Presidential Palace, behind Kadriorg Palace, Tallinn.
The Presidential Palace, Tallinn - a choir sings in celebration of the anniversary of Estonia's liberation from Soviet control.
The Presidential Palace, Tallinn - under the tree on the right are the President and his wife.
The Estonian President, Arnold Rüütel, at the celebration for Estonia's liberation from Soviet control, Tallinn.
Mr. Rüütel gives a speech in honor of the anniversary, Tallinn.