Tag Archives: Baltic Vacation

St. Isaac's Square in St. Petersburg, Russia

In St. Isaac’s Square in St. Petersburg, Russia stand two impressive structures: St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the statue of Nicholas I. The cathedral took 40 years to build and was completed in 1858. The design of the cathedral and the dome in particular influenced the design of the United States Capitol in Washington, DC. The statue of Nicholas I was remarkable for its time. It was the first equestrian statue using only two points of support – the horse’s two rear legs. The statue was unveiled in 1859. Continue reading

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Wind Vanes of Tallinn

One delightful aspect of Tallinn is the relative abundance of wind vanes (or weather vanes) atop the buildings in the city. One traditional wind vane is that of Vana Toomas (Old Thomas), based on a legend of a medeival archery tournament in which members of the aristocracy would compete to see who could shoot a wooden parrot off the top of a pole. All those who tried failed this endeavor until finally a young boy named Thomas succeeded. Thomas was from a poor family but, because of his skills, he was made an apprentice guard and later became a soldier and guard loved by all. When he died, a metal statue of Thomas was placed atop city hall so he could watch over Tallinn for all time. Continue reading

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Toompea Castle and Tallinn Fortifications

Toompea Castle is the seat of the Parliament of the Republic of Estonia (the Riigikogu). Immediately to the south and adjacent to Toompea Castle is the Kuberneriaed (Governor’s Garden). Toompea Castle includes both older and newer construction. The older structure on the west side was part of the medieval fortress of the Order of the Brothers of the Sword and includes the Tall Hermann Tower (Pikka Hermanni Torn). The Estonian flag flies above the Tall Hermann Tower, with blue for the sky, black for the soil, and white for hard work and a bright future. Newer additions to Toompea Castle include the east wing which was built on order of Russian Empress Catherine the Great and completed in 1773. The south wing was completed in 1935. Other fortifications, 60% of them original, can also be seen in Tallinn. Continue reading

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Monuments and Public Art in Tallinn

Like any reasonably large city, Tallinn, Estonia has a wealth of monuments and public art. Among the most beloved figures is Gustav Ernesaks, one of the founders of the Singling Revolution and the Tallinn Music Festival. Voldemar Panso was the first leader of the drama school of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theater. The Rusalka monument commemorates the sinking of a Russian battleship of the same name in 1893. Finally, some Estonian graffitti: art in art itself, professing “Retro-Futurism”. Continue reading

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The Churches of Old Tallinn

When approaching Tallinn, Estonia, one cannot help but be awed by the sight of this old fortified city, with church steeples towering overhead. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is Tallinn’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral. St. Nicholas’s Church was built by merchants from the island of Gotland in the 13th century and is used today as a museum and concert hall. St. Olav’s Church was, from 1549 to 1625, the tallest building in the world and is currently used as a Baptist church. Continue reading

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The Nimb Complex – Day and Night

The Nimb Complex at Tivoli in Copenhagen is an impressive Moorish structure housing a number of restaurants and a hotel. It has been described as a cross between a Moorish Taj Mahal and a Christmas tree. In front of the structure is an unusual fountain. Instead of spraying jets of water skyward, these fountains send bubbles upward through translucent tubes. Seeing the sights at Tivoli during the day is not enought. At night, the lights and music transform the park into a different world. Continue reading

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At Tivoli Gardens

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Copenhagen is Tivoli, the second oldest amusement park in Europe. Tivoli (or Tivoli Gardens) is much more than an amusement park, however. There are gardens, concerts, and restaurants; there are wonderful sights to see and sounds to hear. Before going to Tivoli I was told that daytime in Tivoli is for children. Nighttime is for adults. Continue reading

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The Little Mermaid in Tivoli

While in Copenhagen I wanted to see the sculpture of The Little Mermaid, based on Hans Christian Andersen’s famous character. The sculpture was created by Edvard Eriksen (who used his wife Elaine as a model) and placed in the harbor at Copenhagen. However, the original sculpture has been removed from the harbor and is currently in China for World Expo 2010. Edvard Eriksen’s family, however, possesses a second copy of the sculpture and has loaned the copy to Tivoli Gardens, where I was able to see it. Notice that this representation of the Little Mermaid has both legs and fins, a bit of poetic license on the part of the sculptor. Continue reading

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More Sights in Copenhagen

More sights in Copenhagen include the Round Tower at Kirche and the exterior of Tivoli Gardens. The Round Tower at Trinitatis Kirche SOURCE: The Round Tower at Trinitatis Kirche (Copenhagen, Denmark). Photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 27 Jul 2010. … Continue reading

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Copenhagen City Hall

I arrived in Copenhagen on Tuesday, July 27 and took a brief stroll through the area around my hotel in the early evening. Continue reading

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