Daily Archives: July 4, 2024

Jul4

Teliskivi neighborhood – the land of beautiful murals!

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Saturday, 08-June-2024


On my way to the photography museum in Tallinn, I found one of the most beautiful neighborhoods that I’ve seen to date on my adventures. Everywhere I looked there were beautiful murals, neat shops, and little areas to sit and relax – families eating, kids playing, bros rocking basketball and badminton and other kinds of hip lawn games.

Basically, this was gentrification paradise.

To be honest, it was absolutely gorgeous and probably something like where I’ll hopefully end up living in Dublin. I know, I know, I don’t know if I’m cool enough to hang out with the tech bros who make this place their home, but… I’ll try, okay? It looked so fun to live here! Getting to see pretty murals every day, while eating at cool hip restaurants that you can easily walk to? All while being near a train station?

Yeah, it was fun to wander around. Especially with a gelato cone that I clearly had to get. Heck yeah, Rocky Road!

Jul4

Old Town days in Tallinn

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Various days, between Friday 07-June-2024 through Sunday, 09-June-2024


Another quick entry, similar to the farmer’s market – While exploring around the Old Town of Tallinn, I happened across the Old Town days festival!

I ended up staying quite a while, each time I came across the event. One time, watching dancers swing and twirl in synchronization. Another, listening to a full ensemble playing Estonian folk music in the rain. A third, walking around and seeing the different sides and colors of what I believe to be May-day-style colorful ribbon braids.




Now, I’d normally include some historic or similar context for these… some kind of information as to what Old Town Days was celebrating, or when the costumes or music were from. In this case, though, I don’t know any of that information. The festival was surprisingly light on information… which is to say, there was literally no explanation or event charter to explain what was happening.

I asked around, of course, chatting with a few other people nearby… but no one could give a certain answer… and those that could (people in costume) either didn’t speak English, or were busy twirling and dancing.

Instead of clouding the event with context and history, then, we simply see it for what it is. Beautiful music, interesting instruments, and beautiful dance. Even without context, it’s pretty amazing.