While browsing through your Tallinn accommodation options you might notice a listing for the Sokos Viru Hotel. Looks like a standard city centre hotel right? Well, not exactly. more “‘Ashtrays with ears’: KGB spying in Tallinn’s Viru Hotel”
Tag: Remnants of the Soviet Era
St. Olaf’s Church: Tallinn’s Tower of Fire, Myths, and the KGB
Tallinn’s St. Olaf’s Church (Oleviste kirik) is more than just a pretty church. It’s a place of record-breaking heights, mysterious legends, and Cold War espionage. more “St. Olaf’s Church: Tallinn’s Tower of Fire, Myths, and the KGB”
The Final Days of Patarei Prison (1990 – 2005)
Patarei Prison, nestled along the shores of Kalamaja, stands as a haunting relic of a bygone era. For over a century, its towering walls bore witness to the ebb and flow of human suffering and resilience. more “The Final Days of Patarei Prison (1990 – 2005)”
The Soviet history of Telliskivi Factory: photos from the archives
Telliskivi Creative City has become the centre of social life and business in modern Tallinn. Many people often find themselves asking questions like: What is the history of this place? more “The Soviet history of Telliskivi Factory: photos from the archives”
Behind the Iron Curtain: A Glimpse into Daily Life in Soviet Estonia
The Soviet era, particularly under Stalin’s reign, is often associated with oppression, fear, and hardship. However, after Stalin’s death, a gradual thawing occurred, and life for ordinary people in places like Soviet Estonia began to take on a semblance of normalcy more “Behind the Iron Curtain: A Glimpse into Daily Life in Soviet Estonia”
Grandeur and Brutalism: The Best of Soviet Architecture in Tallinn
Tallinn is renowned for its picturesque medieval Old Town, but its Soviet past has also left an indelible mark on its urban landscape more “Grandeur and Brutalism: The Best of Soviet Architecture in Tallinn”
The Legacy of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in Tallinn: Soviet Architecture
The Moscow Olympics of 1980 were not just a global sporting spectacle; they were an opportunity for the Soviet Union to showcase its architectural prowess. Tallinn played its part in this grand narrative as the host city for the sailing events. more “The Legacy of the 1980 Moscow Olympics in Tallinn: Soviet Architecture”
2009-Present: a virtual tour and time travel adventure in post-Soviet Tallinn
I’d like to invite you on a post-Soviet Tallinn adventure. Come on an alternative virtual tour through a time of extreme changes, witness the scale of gentrification and re-live a lost world. more “2009-Present: a virtual tour and time travel adventure in post-Soviet Tallinn”
9 travel tips to help you explore Estonia like a real traveller
How can I make the most of my time in Estonia and have a real adventure? Good question.
Here are nine tips I’ve developed during my time in Estonia that I believe will help you to explore the city like a real traveller. more “9 travel tips to help you explore Estonia like a real traveller”