Wednesday: Linnar Viik‘s Skype van: turns out, he also loves windsurfing, and apparently needed a vehicle big enough to carry his and his buddies’ gear to reach the best spots. So what did he do? He bought a big, fuck-off SWEDISH MILITARY TRANSPORT vehicle at auction, from a colleague who bought it at auction. (Thanks to Siim Teller from Skype for setting me straight!) Oh, and it has on-board CDMA/WiFi, and power outlets, naturally.
Wednesday: There’s this neighborhood on the edge of Tallinn, near the airport, called Ulemiste. It used to be a major Soviet industrial center, but is now going through major gentrification and revitalization. There’s a huge project to tear down nearly everything in site and build swanky new office buildings and retail spaces, all re-branded as Ulemiste City. But this old warehouse says “Soviet Union Communist Party Forever!” over the entrance. That worked out pretty well, didn’t it?
Tuesday: On Parnu Street, one of the main east-west drags in Tallinn, and near the old site of the Bronze Soldier of Tallinn, where there were riots earlier this year, I spotted this spray-painted on a wall: “In case of stupidity, break everything.” I’m not 100 percent sure this is related to the riots, but I think there’s a good chance it is.
Sunday: I think this photo says a lot about Estonia society. Dude, you can bike within a few feet of the President’s house? Even Senegal is more restrictive than that.
Sunday: So it turns out that in addition to the really beautiful (sadly, now defunct) train station (and museum), there’s a Communications Museum in Haapsalu. This northwestern Estonian city is where the first radio broadcast was, and now houses a ton of great old communications technology, ranging from letters to radios to televisions. It’s maintained by a volunteer curator, who keeps the candle burning for six hours a day, four days a week.
Saturday-Sunday: While we were in Haapsalu last weekend, it just so happened that there was an “American Car Show” going on in town. Veljo and I stopped in for a look, and saw a few usual suspects that you would expect at a real American car show, like this 1950s Chevy. But what I didn’t expect to find was Confederate Flag after Confederate Flag after Confederate Flag. Oh, and did I mention that one Estonian guy running a massage table (WTF?) was dressed up like a cowboy? Oh, and one guy had a posted picture of the KKK. Don’t ask me why.
Saturday: Before Haapsalu, we were in Hiiumaa, where we found a few remnants of Soviet activity left. They built towers, bunkers, and this really weird-looking Wellsian tripod thing. I have no idea what this is supposed to do.
What a cool trip you’re having!
I saw a bunch of Confederate Flags flying from assorted balconies in Eindhoven last year and was totally baffled (and horrified) until it was explained to me that “it’s because the Dutch love Dukes of Hazzard”. Actually I’m still baffled (and horrified). I suspect these Dukes of Hazzard fans are also the same folks who hate all non-white immigrants here.
Ha, I was gonna write, “I bet they’re Dukes of Hazzard fans.”
I wonder if Dukes of Hazzard has hit Estonia yet.
You need to come visit us in Georgia and see some REAL confederate flags!
(and eat some wicked BBQ)
Giselle, The Confederate Flag is a symbol of Freedom from tyranny all over the world. Estonia won their freedom from Russia, the Confederate States of America didn’t, because they were overran and taken over.
Cajie, symbol of freedom FROM tyranny? How’s that?
Linnar didn’t buy the truck from an auction. A colleague did, Linnar got it from him. Setting the facts straight 🙂
Fixed! Thanks!
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