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Tallinn, Estonia, to open secret tunnels crossing the medieval Old Town

Sean McLachlan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Europe, Estonia

Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is one of Europe's most beautiful medieval cities, and it's getting an increasing number of visitors. Starting next year there will be more to see as the city opens up secret tunnels from the 17th century connecting the city wall, shown above, to the rest of the Old Town.

Parts of the walkway along the medieval walls will also be opened and some of the wall and towers will be restored. By 2012, city planners want to open the route from from the medieval tower Neitsitorn along the town wall to another tower called Kiek in de Kök, where you can see cannonballs stuck in the outer walls from a battle in 1577. By late 2013, the route will open from Neitsitorn to Freedom Square, partly via old tunnels.

Being a fan of all things medieval, Tallinn is on my shortlist of places to go. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a wonderfully preserved medieval port and has a long history. Thanks to the folks at the Medieval News blog for bringing this to my attention!

[Photo of city wall courtesy Christine Kühnel. Photo of Old Town courtesy Gunnar Bach Pedersen]

Tallinn, Estonia, to open secret tunnels crossing the medieval Old Town originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 08 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential

Kraig Becker — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Israel, Jordan, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Norway, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, New Zealand, Chile, News

A new study conducted by George Washington University, Vital Wave Consulting, and the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) shows that Israel, Chile, and the Slovak Republic led the way in adventure tourism in 2010. The study, which resulted in the third annual Adventure Tourism Development Index, uses a mix of quantitative data and expert surveys to rank nations from around the globe on their approach and commitment to sustainable adventure travel.

The study examines what researchers call the "ten pillars" of adventure tourism. Those pillars include such things as infrastructure, cultural resources, adventure activities, entrepreneurship, and more. When those factors were all examined and ranked accordingly, for each country, a score was calculated that resulted in rankings for both developed and developing nations.

So exactly which countries earned high marks in the latest Adventure Tourism Development Index? The top ten developing countries included the following: Israel, Slovak Republic, Chile, Estonia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Jordan, Romania and Latvia.Conversely, the top ten developed nations included: Switzerland, Iceland, New Zealand, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Ireland, Norway, Finland and Austria.

The ATTA is quick to point out that these lists are not an indication of how well visited these countries currently are as adventure travel destinations, although some are already popular amongst travelers. Instead, it is a general rating on the climate that exists in these places that make it possible to support sustainable tourism now and into the future.

Judging from the list, it appears that Europe is well ahead of the game in terms of promoting sustainable travel. Both lists are dominated by countries from that continent, which could come as a surprise to many travelers.

To read the entire report click here.

Israel, Chile, Slovak Republic among countries with highest adventure travel potential originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 31 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR

Meg Nesterov — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Ukraine

This year is the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Soviet Union and 21 years since the reunification of Germany. While citizens of the USSR and GDR were unable to travel abroad and restricted in domestic travel, foreign travelers were permitted under a controlled environment. In the early nineties, if you were a foreigner looking to go abroad to the Eastern Europe or Central Asia, you called your travel agent and hoped to get approved for a visa and an escorted tour. After your trip, you'd brag about the passport stamps and complain about the food. Here's a look back at travel as it was for foreigners twenty years ago and today visiting the biggies of the former Eastern Bloc: the United Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) and the German Democratic Republic (East Germany).

Soviet Union/USSR (now: independent states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldovia, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.)

Travel then: Before 1992, most tourists were only able to enter the Soviet Union with visas and travel itineraries provided by the state travel agency, Intourist. Intourist was founded by Joseph Stalin and also managed many of the USSR's accommodations. Like North Korea today, visitors' experiences were tightly controlled, peppered with propaganda, and anything but independent, with some travelers' conversations and actions recorded and reported. Read this fascinating trip report from a Fodor's community member who visited Russia in 1984 and a Chicago Tribune story with an Intourist guide after the glasnost policy was introduced.

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Travel then and now: Travel to the USSR and GDR originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps

Alex Robertson Textor — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Cyprus, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vatican City

Creative new use for border crossing posts at German/Austrian border.

In the late 1980s, an American spending a summer traveling across Europe with a Eurailpass would see his or her passport stamped possibly dozens of times. With a few exceptions, every time a border was crossed, an immigration agent would pop his or her head into a train compartment, look at everyone's passports, in most cases stamp them, and move on. Every Eastern Bloc country required visas, some of which could be obtained at the border and others of which had to be applied for in advance.

Today, an American can enter the Schengen zone in Helsinki, fly to Oslo and then on to Amsterdam, proceed by train through Belgium, France, Italy, Slovenia, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia and Poland, then by bus to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and then by ferry back to Helsinki before catching a flight to Athens and landing in Greece without once needing to submit a passport to a border guard's scrutiny.

The development of the Schengen agreement across Europe has altered the geopolitical map of the continent in many ways. For tourists, the development of the Schengen zone has simplified travel by drastically reducing the number of times a passport can be checked and stamped as national borders are crossed.

The Schengen Agreement is named after the town of Schengen in Luxembourg. It was here in 1985 that five countries-Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, West Germany, and France-signed an agreement to essentially create borderless travel between them. A model for this agreement had been created years before by the Benelux countries (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg), which eliminated border controls back in 1948. The Nordic countries also did away with internal border posts, in 1958.

In 1995, the five original Schengen countries plus Portugal and Spain inaugurated the zone. In 1997, Austria and Italy joined. Greece followed in 2000 and the five Nordic countries joined in 2001. In late 2007, nine more countries joined the Schengen zone; most recently, Switzerland signed up in 2008.

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Schengen and the disappearance of European passport stamps originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Five lesser-known European islands

Alex Robertson Textor — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Portugal, United Kingdom

Last June, we published a list of four European islands that float under the radar: Porquerolles, France; Fasta Åland, Finland; San Domino, Italy; and Vlieland, Netherlands.

As far as we're concerned, it's not too early to start making summer travel plans to get away from the crowds. Here are five more beautiful yet lesser-known European islands that don't get a ton of press. They're scattered across the continent, from England to the Azores and from Greece to the Baltic Sea.

1. St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly, England. St. Agnes, one of the Isles of Scilly, is the southernmost inhabited bit of England. Temperatures are moderate and pleasant year-round. The beaches and shoreline are more reminiscent of the Caribbean than of the popular imagination of England. You can spend your time walking around the island, visiting the lighthouse, and relaxing over a pint at the Turk's Head, England's southernmost pub. St. Agnes can be reached by ferry from the main island of St. Mary's.

2. Corvo, Azores, Portugal. The smallest and northernmost of the remote Azores, Corvo is an isolated place. The island boasts a stunning verdant caldera with two crater lakes. It is also well-known as a birdwatching spot. Food lovers should enjoy Corvo's local handmade cheese, distinctive corn bread, and larded tarts made with rock grass. Corvo can be reached by air on SATA Air Açores.

3. Kasos, Greece. Situated between Crete and Karpathos, Kasos is a sparsely populated dot on the map at the southern end of the Dodecanese Islands. Greece being Greece, the island has several remarkable beaches on offer, though these are not the whole story. Its five villages are home to scores of delightful churches. The island also maintains a busy festival schedule throughout the year. The festival of St. Marina, held on July 17, is the most important summer season festival event. Ferries connect visitors to Kasos from Crete and Piraeus, and Olympic Air links the island to the outside world by air.

4. Bornholm, Denmark. The Danish Baltic Sea island of Bornholm lies far east of the rest of Denmark. The bucolic island is packed with attractions. Among these is Hammershus, the largest castle ruin in Northern Europe, which dates back to the 12th Century. Bornholm is also a hub for arts and crafts, and hosts an annual Culture Week festival in September. Bornholm can be reached by ferry from Køge (Denmark), Ystad (Sweden), Kolobrzeg (Poland), and Sassnitz (Germany). There are also air links from Copenhagen on Cimber Sterling as well as sesonal connections to Billund (Cimber Sterling) and Oslo (Widerøe).

5. Hiiumaa, Estonia. This quiet western Estonian island is full of picturesque rural corners: old churches, lighthouses, little forested islets, and beaches for swimming and sunning. Hiking is a big draw here, and there are also opportunities for horseback riding and kayaking. Prices are very reasonable here, as Estonia remains an affordable destination. For budget-friendly accommodation on Hiiumaa, consider booking a room at the delightful Allike, where double rooms begin at €50. Hiiumaa can be reached by air from Tallinn with Avies and by ferry from the mainland and the neighboring island of Saaremaa.

[Image of St. Agnes: Flickr | Carlton Browne]

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Five lesser-known European islands originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A new place to spend euros: Estonia

Sean McLachlan — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Estonia, Budget Travel, News

One of the greatest boons to travelers in recent years is the expanding eurozone. Gone are the days when you spent a few days in France, then wasted money getting your francs exchanged into lire in order to visit Italy. There were always a few odd coins left over that ended up sitting useless in the sock drawer.

At the start of 2011, Estonia has become the 17th country to join the eurozone. The kroon will soon become a memory as the old currency is phased out.

While this is good news for travelers carrying euros, it could carry a hint of future trouble. Many countries that adopted the euro saw prices rise as shopkeepers rounded up in the exchange. This is what happened in Spain, and prices never stopped rising. What used to be a budget travel destination soon became almost as expensive as the rest of Europe. Living in Madrid I'm constantly hearing Spaniards complain about how much more expensive things are these days.

Estonia has also become a budget travel destination in recent years. The Baltic republic may be small with only 1.3 million people, but it has an interesting history, some beautiful countryside, and a distinct culture. Hopefully it won't get too expensive to experience all that.

A new place to spend euros: Estonia originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Trade Mocked

Andrew Evans — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Algeria, Congo, Ethiopia, Gambia, Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, Bangladesh, Iran, Israel, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Turkey, United Arab, Emirates, Vietnam, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, Jamaica, United States, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Internet Tools, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean, French Polynesia

You were a cheerleader, you dated a cheerleader, or you hated the cheerleaders. As I recall, that's how high school worked.

Thanks to travel PR, that same primeval paradigm lives on long after graduation. That miniskirts-shouting-slogans thing still works, whether you're a used car salesman, Miley Cyrus on VH1 or the tourist board of a small Balkan nation. When it comes to selling your destination in today's busy world of busy people, a country's name just isn't enough--just like school spirit, you need colors, a pep band, a mascot, a brand and most important--a cheer.

It's tragic but true: tourist boards don't trust their country's name to inspire appropriate thoughts in your brain. Toponyms are too open-ended and too untrustworthy--also, way too obvious. For example, what's the first thing that pops into your head when I say . . . Monte Carlo? How about Australia? The Bahamas? Kuwait? The Gambia?

Whatever you're thinking, it's not enough. Tourist boards want you to choose their destination over all others, then allocate all of your vacation days to them and then come spend your money on very specific things--like miniature golf by the sea or hot air balloon rides across the prairie. In short, they want your school spirit so much they're churning out cheers to fill up all the Swiss cheese holes in your mental map of the world.

Like a good cheer, a good destination slogan is simple and so memorable it sticks in your head like two-sided tape. Sex sells, but then so does love: "Virginia is for Lovers", Hungary offers visitors "A Love for Life", Albania promises "A New Mediterranean Love", while the highlighted "I feel Slovenia" spells out sweetly "I Feel Love". Meanwhile, Bosnia & Herzegovina call themselves "the Heart Shaped Land" and Denmark's logo is a red heart with a white cross. Colombia and Dubai have red hearts in their logo. Everybody else uses sunshine.

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Trade Mocked originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 10 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Kraig Becker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, Botswana, Israel, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Ecotourism

The Adventure Tourism Development Index is a study put together by the Adventure Travel Trade Association, in conjunction with George Washington University and Xola Consulting. The joint effort examines 192 countries and ranks them based on their commitment to sustainable adventure tourism, as well as a number of other factors that influence their ability to host an adventure travel market and offer unique experience to travelers.

The ATDI uses what it calls the "10 Pillars of Adventure Tourism Market Competitiveness" to determine its rankings. Those pillars include Sustainable Development Policy, Safety and Security, Tourism Infrastructure, Natural Resources, Cultural Resources, Adventure Activity Resources, Entrepreneurship, Humanitarian, Health, and Image.

The study used a combination of surveys, gathered from top adventure travel specialists from around the planet, and quantifiable data from each of the countries to establish a list of the top adventure destinations in both the developed and developing world.

The results of the research are quite interesting, offering up some destinations that might not have seemed like viable options in the past. The top ten developing countries are as follows:

1. Slovak Republic
2. Israel
3. Czech Republic
4. Estonia
5. Slovenia
6. Chile
7. Bulgaria
8. Latvia
9. Botswana
10. Lithuania

And the top ten developed countries are:

Continue reading Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations

Adventure Tourism Development Index rates top adventure destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tallinn is more than a winter wonderland

Tom Johansmeyer — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Estonia

Yeah, on first glance, Tallinn looks like it was lifted out of EPCOT. The walls around the capital of Estonia, the look and feel of the architecture ... the "old city" seems almost staged. But, that changes quickly when you walk the streets, get a feel for the people and scarf down a meal in one of the restaurants. To call it charming is an understatement, with cobblestone roads that date back centuries, reminding you that history is underfoot as much as around you as you trace the winding roads.

I arrived in Tallinn by ferry from Helsinki, which makes it a great side-trip from Finland, though the New York Daily News reports the time to the old city from the local airport is a mere 15 minutes - which is almost impossible to imagine for anyone who has sought Manhattan after landing in JFK.

When I climbed the walls of Tallinn a year and a half ago, I had no sense for the town as a winter wonderland, but looking back, I can see it as a Christmas village waiting to happen. The UNESCO world heritage site (since 1997) is among the best-preserved medieval villages in the world and takes advantage of its unusual look to host a Christmas market that began last year on November 29 and is set to close this week (on January 7).

If Santa isn't really your scene - or if you wait for warmer weather before visiting - make it a priority to visit the indoor shooting range. Ask for Instructor Tonu to show you the ropes with an AK-47, and have a blast sending rounds downrange. Top it off with a meal at Olde Hansa, and you're good to go.

[Photo by Tom Johansmeyer]

Tallinn is more than a winter wonderland originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 03 Jan 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get out and go: Events around the world (November 11-15)

Brenda Yun — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Festivals and Events, Asia, Europe, North America, Japan, Estonia, Germany, Canada, United States

It's time to look at the festivals and events happening around the world, and this week has a particularly international selection of happenings. If you're close and have time, then you have no excuse to get out and go!

Saskatoon - The Saskatoon Fall Fair, an agricultural and livestock show in Saskatchewan, Canada, will begin tomorrow, November 11, and continue until November 14.
Tokyo - The Shinjuku Ootori Matsuri Festival will take place November 11-12 and 23-24. The festival attracts over 600,000 people to the Hanazono Jinja Shrine.
Tallinn (Estonia) - Thursday 12 November 2009 The Black Nights Film Festival combines feature films with the sub-festivals of animated films, student films and children/youth films. The event begins Thursday, November 12, and continues for a full month until December 6.
Boulder - The Boulder Adventure Film Festival will be held November 12-14. This gritty, raw film fest is dedicated to the beating heart of adventure and a community undertaking run by adventurers, filmmakers and artists wishing to spread the creativity, enthusiasm, and activism inherent to outdoor adventure.
Frankfurt - The 'Botticelli' exhibition showcasing the art of Sandro Botticelli (c. 1445-1510), whose work has become a landmark of the Italian Renaissance, opens this Friday, November 13, at the Stadel Museum and will continue until February 28, 2010.
Boston - The city's annual Christmas Festival of Lights will take place this Friday, November 13. The lights will be on display until January 3.

If you make it to one of these events, let us know how it was, or if you know of an event that's coming up, please let us know and we'll be sure to include it in the next "Get out and go" round-up.

Get out and go: Events around the world (November 11-15) originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ten amazing "green" adventures

Kraig Becker — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Biking, Hiking, Skiing, Africa, Europe, Oceania, South America, Kenya, Rwanda, Lebanon, Sri Lanka, Estonia, Finland, France, New Zealand, Brazil, Camping, Ecotourism, Middle East

Eco-adventures are all the rage these days with environmentally conscious travelers choosing to visit far flung places, all the while fully aware of the size of their carbon footprint. They want an amazing travel experience, and are willing to go to great lengths to get it, all the while adhering to the principles of sustainable travel.

With that in mind, the Times Online has an excellent article listing ten top "green" travel experiences, or what they call "clean breaks", each of which offer cultural immersion, amazing scenery, and a fantastic experience that is far off the beaten path. For instance, the article recommends heading to Lebanon to hike the Mountain Trail, the country's first long distance trek, which runs through the Mount Lebanon range from Qbaiyat, in the north, to Marjaayoun in the south. The trail is roughly 270 miles in length, with regularly spaced stone inns offering up a place to sleep, good food, and plenty to drink.

For a completely different experience, hop a flight to New Zealand to spend a little time on the slopes. The authors of this piece recommend heading to Craigieburn Valley in the Southern Alps for some amazing skiing, minus the resort. Yep, that's right, no chairlifts or groomed trails here. Just a couple of rope tows that will pull you to the top of the mountain, where you'll get the opportunity to ski through untouched wilderness. And at the end of the day, relax in one of the nearby huts, which are comfortable but primitive.

Other suggestions include a swimming vacation in Finland, camping in France, and hiking in Estonia. There is a little bit of something for everyone, and you won't need to feel guilty about your impact on the environment while you travel.

Ten amazing "green" adventures originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 01 Aug 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Photo of the day 6.1.09

Karen Walrond — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Photos, Europe, Estonia, Photo of the Day, Hotels and Accommodations

I love this great shot shared by t3mujin, of a hostel in Estonia. I think the more predictable shot would have been to just take a photograph of the stained glass window; instead, t3mujin shoots down the hallway, showing the play of colour caused by the window -- which, really, when you think about it, is why we love stained glass in the first place. Lovely capture.

If you've got some great travel shots you'd love to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day.

Photo of the day 6.1.09 originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top travel destination countries? Canada is number one and Nigeria is. . .?

Jamie Rhein — Thu, 28 May 2009 15:35:00 EST

Filed under: Business, Stories, Africa, Europe, Nigeria, Iran, Estonia, Lithuania, Canada, News, Middle East

When asked the to respond to the statement, "I would like to go to visit this country if money were no object," Canada ranked number one in a recent global survey conducted by Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brand Index.

Where was the U.S. in the mix of 50? Number 10. Harump!

Steve Stephens, the travel editor for the Columbus Dispatch offered up these tidbits last Sunday and provided the ranking for the other top five choices plus provided some reasons for the results.

From 2nd to 5th in that order:

Italy
Australia
Switzerland
France

What's your guess for number 50? No, it's not Nigeria.

Continue reading Top travel destination countries? Canada is number one and Nigeria is. . .?

Top travel destination countries? Canada is number one and Nigeria is. . .? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 28 May 2009 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"Vodka Pipeline" Links Russia and Estonia

Kraig Becker — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Russian Federation, Estonia

An ambitious group of smugglers managed to build a 1.2 mile long pipeline across the Russian-Estonian border with the intention of pumping contraband vodka into the EU. According to this story from the Telegraph, they actually managed to get more than 1630 gallons across the border before their operation was discovered and shut down.

It seems that vodka is far cheaper in Russia than Estonia, so the plan was to circumvent the import tariffs by pumping the booze through the pipeline, and selling it for huge profits. Those plans were thwarted last Fall however when Estonian authorities discovered the untaxed vodka hidden in a truck. Now, the 11 bootleggers, some from Russia, some from Estonia, face up to five years prison, along with massive fines. All told, the group managed to avoid paying as much as 20,000 Euros in taxes.

The scary thing is that this isn't the first time that someone has built such a pipeline. Authorities shut down the first one back in 2004 and another in 2006, although that one wasn't in operation yet. You certainly have to salute the ingenuity and engineering prowess that goes into these projects. It's also good to know that in the wake of the global economic downturn, at least the bootleggers are making some money.

[via Gizmodo]

"Vodka Pipeline" Links Russia and Estonia originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tour the world's vandalism

Tom Johansmeyer — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Photos, Europe, North America, Estonia, France, Iceland, Canada, United States

Eyesore or art, graffiti is part of any culture's public dialogue. Vandalism is visual profanity, and we all swear in our own f---ing ways. I've been drawn to these wall scrawls for a while, probably since I read Holden Caulfield's concerns about the subject in Catcher in the Rye. My fascination gained momentum while I was stationed in South Korea.

A soldiers' bar in Tong Du Chon (the Peace Club, which is no longer there) was littered with attempted wit. "I used to believe in the common decency of main," one drunken soldier-scholar printed at eye level. Another replied, "I still do." Eight hours into a soju-induced haze, this stuff is profound.

Along the way, I've become a connoisseur of this crime, though only as an observer. I have seen social commentary and even debate. And, there's even been a bit of meaningless paint spilled in the vain hope of making a point. I've soaked it all in and hit a few readers up for their tips, as well.

So, let's take a tour of some of my favorite acts of defacement. Some reflect careful planning and show artistic talent. Others offer nothing more than layers upon layers of cries for attention and assertions of self-importance.

Continue reading Tour the world's vandalism

Tour the world's vandalism originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Clueless tourists: the Estonian version

Neil Woodburn — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Estonia

Recently our Alaska correspondent, Catherine Bodry, wrote a humorous post about all the dumb questions tourists ask the locals when they visit Alaska--like, "what time do they turn on the northern lights?"

I've always believed that people from other countries also have a similar list of dumb questions they are peppered with from clueless tourists who probably never should have left home.

I was therefore amused to recently come across an Estonian version of dumb tourist questions collected by local tour guides and the Tourist Information Center in Tallinn. I'm sure that we would all probably have some dumb questions for a small country like Estonia, so I'm not going to point any fingers. But do spend a moment to read through them and ask yourself if that could have been you sticking your foot in your mouth.

Oh, and just in case you're wondering, the article has a short quiz to determine if you're a clueless tourist yourself. (Hint, Tallinn is not the capital of funk dancing).

Clueless tourists: the Estonian version originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Short and Sweet Travel Advice for the World's Top Tech Cities

Neil Woodburn — Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:28:00 EST

Filed under: China, India, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Estonia, Finland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

If you're in the tech industry these days, your travel has become increasingly more widespread in the last five years as international competition has started challenging Silicon Valley as the sole place to do business.

With this in mind, Business 2.0 has published a handy little guide in this month's issue: The Road Warrior's Guide to Travel.

The guide, which is available online here, or as a pull-out in the print edition, breaks out the travel basics for the planet's hottest tech cities: Bangalore, Barcelona, Helsinki, Hong Kong, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tel Aviv, and Tokyo.

Each city section addresses the same six questions; How to get around, where to find free Wi-Fi, where to get a trim, best place to get down to business, best place to celebrate closing the deal, and what you might not know.

Better get a print copy soon, however. I just learned that Business 2.0 (one of my favorite magazines) is going belly-up--perhaps yet another sign that the tech world is migrating out of America?

Short and Sweet Travel Advice for the World's Top Tech Cities originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 11 Sep 2007 07:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Europe's Red Asphalt: The Most Dangerous Roads in the EU

Neil Woodburn — Tue, 08 May 2007 08:18:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Thinking of renting a car and driving through Europe this summer? Want to come back alive? Well then, there are a couple of countries you should probably avoid--mainly those located in the Baltics.

According to a recent EU report, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia had the highest number of per capita vehicular fatalities in 2006. Lithuania led the charge with 223 deaths per million inhabitants. Latvia took second with 177 while Estonia grabbed the bronze with 152.

A deeper analysis of the report in the Baltic Times wasn't able to provide a clear answer as to why driving in the Baltics is such a dangerous ordeal. The paper did point out, however, that alcohol wasn't entirely to blame. Only 14.8 percent of Lithuania's fatalities were drunk driving related. Spain, on the other hand, holds the dubious honor of having the highest percentage of drunk driving fatalities: 29.5 percent. France and Portugal follow closely with 28.8 and 27.8 percent respectively.

Hmm... I might be wrong here, but I'll bet those three countries consume more wine per capita than anywhere else in Europe. Heavy beer drinking countries like the Czech Republic and Austria, on the other hand, experienced only 4.8 and 5.9 percent of fatalities due to drunk driving.

So, where are the safest roads in Europe? Malta with 25 fatalities per million inhabitants followed by the Netherlands (43) and Sweden (49).

Europe's Red Asphalt: The Most Dangerous Roads in the EU originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 08 May 2007 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tallinn Tunnels

Neil Woodburn — Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:42:00 EST

Filed under: Estonia

We've posted a number of times here on Gadling about various tunnels and catacombs which wind their way under old cities throughout the Europe.

Thanks to an article in the Baltic Times, we have one more tunnel system to add to the list.

Buried deep below the town of Tallinn, Estonia, is a series of old tunnels which worm their way between the Swedish Bastion and the Ingeri Bastion--two ancient fortifications which used to protect the city.

The tunnels, constructed in the 16th and 17th centuries, have been neglected for many years, collecting debris and homeless people. Recently, however, the Tallinn City Council's Heritage Protection Department, run by Boris Dubovik (above) has been refurbishing the tunnels and cleaning them up for a possible tourist attraction.

Joel Alas, writing for the Baltic Times, was granted a private tour by Dubovik and writes about his subterranean experience here.

The tunnels are not as impressive as those under Paris, for example, but may still be worth a peak. For the time being, however, they remain off limits and surprisingly well-alarmed to prevent urban explorers from sneaking in. Of course, that's never stopped a good tunneler before...

Tallinn Tunnels originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 09 Dec 2006 08:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Word for the Travel Wise (12/04/06)

Adrienne Wilson — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Europe, Estonia, Foreign Language

Brr... Since the weather system seems to be in a funk almost everywhere these days perhaps it is time we start learning the local lingo to help us better discuss global warming when chatting with our concerned foreign friends, say in Estonia.

Today's word is an Estonian word used in Estonia:

jää - ice

To learn more about the background of this Finno-Ugric lingo check out Wiki online which has a few words to get you started at the bottom of their page. To jump right into the meat of the language go to speakestonian.com.uk which has a long list of everyday phrases to use and several links to keep you learning using a variety of methods. For free mp3 downloads for your cell phone go to the BBC and to make a pen pal or two before your journey sign-up at My Language Exchange.

Past Estonian words: pearoad, tere, pood

Word for the Travel Wise (12/04/06) originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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