Tallinn 10. Kadriorg Park in the Rain

On Friday, I visited Kadriorg Palace and Gardens - an extensive park full of interesting buildings, lakes, gardens and wildlife (their squirrels were a delight with the dark tails and ear tufts but light too poor to capture).  Commissioned in 1718 by Peter the Great, the palace was the summer home for Peter I, Catherine I and their family. It houses the Kadriorg Art Museum and serves as the presidential palace. In Estonian, Kadriorg means 'Catherine's Valley. The light level was very low with intermittent rain so not the best images but here to remember the area.

Tallinn 9. Patarei Prison

The Patarei prison was originally built as a sea fortress in 1820.  Over the years it has had different functions; in 1920, it became a prison. It housed inmates until 2004, and has been left virtually untouched since. It serves as a chilling reminder of the Soviet occupation of Estonia (1944 to 1991), when it was run by the KGB. Unfortunately from October 2016, Patarei fortress prison has been closed and therefore access to Patarei is no longer possible. If they do reopen it, I would like to return but here some infrared images on a grey day of the exterior and neighbouring works!

(I am now back in UK after an 'interesting' day of delays due to UK snow - will continue to post from the trip as and when time!)

Tallinn 8. Second Evening in Town

It started to snow on Wednesday just as the light was fading adding atmosphere to the Christmas Market and Freedom Square. The last image shows the Hotel Palace where I stayed - very comfortable and well placed for transport and the Old Town. (Leave for home today so the other two days' photos will have to wait till back in UK)

Tallinn 7. Some Great Museums to Visit in Kalamaja District

On Thursday, after spending time at Linnahall and walking via Patarei Prison (separate post), I visited some of the many Museums in this part of the city.

1. Seaplane Museum. The museum is located in a building originally constructed as a hangar for seaplanes in 1916–1917. The building is remarkable for its unsupported span comprising three concrete shells supported by pillars at the corners and joints. The hall was put out of service during the Soviet era but has been rennovated and opened in 2012. Two images from the web to show the exterior of the buiding before and after repair.

 

2. Estonian Museum of Architecture. The museum is located in Rotermann salt storage building that is over 100 years old and one of the most remarkable examples of industrial architecture in Tallinn. There are four floors of exhibits all interesting both for the exhibits and the architecture itself

3. Energy Discovery Centre. The Energy Discovery Centre is located  in the old Tallinn Power Plant, where using oil shale for energy, electricity for the public network first started in the early 20th century.  The plant had three buildings: the machine house (now the Energy Discovery Centre), the boiler house (now the Tallinn Creative Hub), and the office building (now houses a hostel). The plant operated until 1979. The former turbines and generators are displayed in the main hall of the Discovery Centre alongside the overhead travelling crane produced by AS Ilmarine in 1929, which could lift as much as 25 tons. Some of the original floor from the 1930s has been preserved. The star exhibits of the exhibition are the Tesla coils in the Faraday cage and the Van de Graaff generator, which are used for the daily lightning and static electricity demonstrations.

4.Tallin Creative Club. See above - now used for artists workshops and Exhibitions.

Tallinn 6. Style in All things

As you would expect with Finland as its close neighbour, the design of all new buildings or refits are stylish (and HiTech) including the toilets. Even the signs are modern though need a confirmational second look