M-Voting in Estonia

In March I blogged about how Estonians could cast their votes online at the last National Parliamentary Elections. Well there are now reports that the government is looking to establish a system of M-Voting, whereby people can vote using their mobile phones. Interesting for Australians to consider when their Saturdays are disrupted by having to vote (sometime) later this year. Imagine voting securely in 30 seconds using your phone, at home, in the car or even at the pub!

Rooftop Sunset

I just went up to the top of our building to get a good look at the sunset. Here are a few snaps I got. They're taken at 20:00, just to give you an idea of the shortening days.

Getting Cold in Tallinn

The mecury has been slowly falling over the last month or so here in Tallinn, and it is cold outside even on a sunny day. Our house only has communal heating, which we have to wait to be turned on. As a result it has been getting cold inside, but thankfully the heat came on just a few hours ago! This may not sound like much, but to me it is great, as i wont be freezing cold in my own home. However it also signals that summer has well and truly passed, and the long slide into winter has began!!

We have these radiators which are heated by hot water.

I thought the little snow flake was apt for how the apartment felt when I got home from Viljandi this morning .
However now the heat is on and i have ramped the dial up to 9! I've never been a fan of the cold.
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Now playing: Bloc Party - Like Eating Glass
via FoxyTunes

Estonian Basketballer playing in Melbourne

Martin Muursepp, an Estonian basketballer is playing for the Tigers in Melbourne, and was given this write up in the Age.

Thanks to Jeff for pointing this out.

More Graffiti

Since my second most recent post I've taken a few more pictures of graffiti on Tallinn's walls. Here's two:

1. Not sure what this one means, I just thought it looked interesting.

2. I really like this one, as it is quite subtle but very clever. This is on the wall next to the front door of the building I lived in when I studied in Tallinn 3 years ago. The street was the location for the most dramatic fighting in the April "Bronze Soldier" Riots. The one death, where a Russian rioter was stabbed to death also occurred in this street. I really good commentary on the logic, or lack of it, in rioting!

Also interesting is the police website set up recently to identify the remaining unknown rioters. People are supposed to go to the site and look at the pictures, and then tell the police if they know the people.


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Now playing: My Chemical Romance - Welcome To The Black Parade
via FoxyTunes

Tallinn Video

I was playing around with a web-based slide show tool and I used some photos of Tallinn just as a practice. I was going to delete this however I figured that I might as well leave it up, as I have nothing more interesting to blog about!!!!

Graffiti

I have no idea of the graffiti artist or his story, but someone keeps painting variations of hats and faces around Tallinn, mainly in the old town. When Pricey was visiting earlier in the year he became obsessed with spotting each one and looking at the different variations. I just found this one on a wall near my house while walking home from a tour this morning, though without the face. I dedicate it to Pricey!

Estonia article in the Economist

The Economist has published a really interesting article about the abuse hurled at Estonia by Russians and Russian Estonians. It sums the situation up extremely well, which is quite rare in the international media. It Basically outlines how calling Estonians Nazis or saying that Estonia has an apartheid system is just crazy.

Padise

Today I did a test run tour to a place called Padise. The reason for going there is its monastery, or at least the ruins of the monastery. I used two Norwegian guys as my test subjects, and the good news is they enjoyed it, so I think I will add it to my tours from now on. Unfortunately I was stuck with just my camera phone again, but here are the pictures anyway.

Monastery Tower

The Monastery was once used as a manor house, until it was struck by lightning and burned down. The owners built the new one you can see in the picture below, viewed from the tower.
Window

External View

Courtyard

External View

Internal View (or what would have been internal!)

Tower

Viljandi Folk Festival

I've just returned from the Vilhjandi Folk Music Festival. I only had my camera with me, so here are some very poor quality pictures.



The view of Viljandi Castle from Sirli's Grandfather's Summer House. The music festival is held amongst the ruins of the castle.

Greek Music played by an Estonian Band.

Spanish Folk Music

Sirli and I

My Birthday

I've been pretty slac in posting here of late, and I just realise that I didn't put anything up about my Birthday. Sirli threw a surprise party for me the night before my actual birthday. I have to admit that I had no idea!!

Pictures here

Guests

Last week James, Fitzy, Adam and Terhi came to Tallinn. The picture below is from when we hired a mini bus and drove to Paldiski. On the weekend we hired a car and Fitzy, Adam, Sirli and I drove through Southern Estonia and onto Riga. Driving to Riga was a very scary experience. The number of times other drivers overtake on blind corners is amazing! Driving in Tallinn seems like a piece of cake now.

More Pictures here.

Jaanipäev

This weekend is one of the most festive in Estonia, as the whole country celebrates the Summer Solstice. Saturday was Võidupüha, or Victory Day, which commemorates victory over the Germans after WWI, and today is Jaanipäev, or St John's Day. However the most important aspect of the whole weekend is St Johns Evening (Jaaniõhtu). I experienced my first Jaani Evening at Rocca Al Mare open air museum, with Sirli and her parents. The museum has a collection of original farm houses for Estonia's history, and yesterday evening it had 4 Jaanipäev celebrations; from Czarist times, First Republic Times (1930's), Soviet Time and Today. The idea was to show how Jäänipäev was celebrated in each period.

People all over Estonia have parties, and light bonfires which they then jump over to bring them good luck. It's a tradition which as roots all the way back to Estonia's pagan past.

Melbourne Shooting in the Estonian News

The shooting which happened in Melbourne today has made news here in Estonia. I saw it first in Estonian (not understanding much) and when I checked The Age it was obviously a big story given the amount of coverage.

Estonian T-Shirt

I just saw this on Amazon. Interesting!

House Update

Sirli and I moved most of our stuff to the new apartment today. I know many readers of this blog (both of you) will be surprised that we still haven't moved, but we have basically been waiting for the kitchen, which will FINALLY be installed on Wednesday. With a bit of luck we will probably spend our first night there tomorrow or Monday night. A big thanks must go to Susie and Sven for helping us move, especially to Sven for giving us the benefit of his handyman skills and constructing our new wardrobe. I shall update our protracted moving situation as we go!

Tanel Padar at Pirita Klooster

I have just returned from watching Estonia's most popular band Tanel Padar and The Sun in concert at Pitita Convent, a great setting. However the weather didn't really cooperate, and it rained for the second half. A little you tube video of one of their songs remixed is below for your enjoyment!

Lahemaa Pics

I just put all the pictures from the trip I did to Lahemaa on Flickr. I didn't select any out, so it's a bit of a mission looking through them, but If you're bored take a look.

Lahemaa Trip

I did a trip to day for my business today, to Lahemaa, a national park on the north coast of Estonia. This is the type of stuff I'm taking people to see outside of Tallinn.















Saha Chapel, 15th Century.















Cist graves from the bronze age. People were buried above ground because the limestone bedrock is so close to the surface, making it hard to dig.



















Jõelähtme Church, history from the 14th century.

Maardu Manor House















Coastal scenery in Lahemaa National Park.

Estonian Idol

I have had no interest in this series, but this girl just won Eesti Otsib Superstaari (Estonia Searches for a Superstar). Estonians are generally extremely good singers, but the finalists for this contest were mostly hopeless. As with most shows of this type, 13 year old girls vote off anyone with talent for someone they like for reasons which are unknown to anyone else. Having said that, the winner was actually one of the better ones, and she is quite pretty. Some of the final 10 (not featured here for your safety) were so bad I cried laughing!