seenel

seenel, originally uploaded by Marja2.

The Estonian for 'silk' is siid

The Estonian for 'spider' is ämblik

Thanks MK, for the use of image. Kes annab, sii om kuningas

Mustjõe kõrtsitalu

tools2, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

Taken at a wonderful place called Mustjõe kõrtsitalu

See http://www.mustjoe.ee/

The Estonian for 'roof' is katus

The Estonian for 'shoe' is king

The Estonian for 'plough' is ader

Freedom

PA093005e1, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

The Teletorn described below was one of the focal points during Estonia's re-assertion of independence in 1991. Here is a nice anecdote which demonstrates the practicality of the Estonian mentality rather well:

"There is also the widespread story of a handful of radio operators who, in 1991, were willing to lose their lives to protect the free media of the reborn Republic of Estonia. They placed a matchbox between the elevator's door and frame in such a manner that the elevator wouldn't work - this forced the Soviet troops to climb every one of the approx. 1000 steps up into the tower."

The Estonian for 'freedom' is vabadus

The Estonian for 'ingenuity' is leidlikkus

Teletorn

PA092954a, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

The Teletorn : Tallinn TV Tower. Begun in 1975 completed in 1980, it stands 314 metres high. I imagine that during the Soviet period it was used for far more than than just transmitting TV signals and have no doubt that it would have been a strategic target for NATO forces should hostilities have commenced. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallinn_TV_Tower

The Estonian for 'concrete' is betoon

The Estonian for 'tower' is torn

Mushrooms in Early October

PA092953a, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

The act of collecting mushrooms seems to have strong cultural significance in Estonia.

The Estonian for 'mushroom' is seen

The Estonian for 'autumn' is sügis

sinimustvalge

P9242933, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

During the Soviet occupation of Estonia, people were sent to the gulag for being in possession of this symbol of cultural and linguistic independence.

The Estonian for 'blue' is sinine

The Estonian for 'black' is must

The Estonian for 'white' is valge

see the wikipedia entry

walk15

walk15, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

On Liivalaia St.

The Estonian for 'kitten' is kassipoeg

The Estonian for 'leaf' is leht

on Toompuiestee

walk6, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

mid Spetember, a fierce bright Sunday afternoon.

The Estonian for 'tree' is puu.

The Estonian for 'shadow' is vari ( poolpimedus - 'halflight' )

Just enough and nothing more

Viljandi_3, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

Supplies for the hearth stacked for the coming Estonia winter.

The Estonian for 'firewood' is küttepuud

The Estonian for 'winter' is talv

Folk Will Never Die

Viljandi_10, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

We recently went to Pärimusmuusika Lõikuspidu (Harvest Music Festival) at Vijandi, the capital of the Estonian folk music scene. This town of 20,000 inhibit ants plays host to the biggest folk music festival in Estonia every summer, the Pärimusmuusika Festivali in July.

I caught three concerts and a great jam session late on the Saturday night including the beautifully melodic Vägilased who got the crowd doing some wonderfully intricate harvest dances.

The Estonian for 'music' is muusika

( helitöö and noodid are nice words too meaning 'composition' and 'notes')

The Estonian for 'a dance' is tants

Tiki Lounge

P9242863, originally uploaded by raycrowley.

taken by the lake in Viljandi, late september 2006

The Estonian for 'lake' is järv

The Estonian for 'shore' is kallas