 |
|
| Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau | JULY 2006 |
 |
|
| Vabaduse väljak 7, 15199 Tallinn, Estonia • www.tourism.tallinn.ee | |
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
News briefs Direct connection now operating between Tallinn and Aegna Island Unknown cityscapes and forgotten fashions Exhibition presents Medieval torture instruments … along with instructions for use New exhibitions open at KUMU National Opera gears up for its landmark 101st season Wiiralt’s unknown works go on display New regulations aim to rein in Tallinn’s cabbies New Tallinn video ready |
|
News briefsThe history-related Land of Kalev theme park, which started operations on June 1, was closed on June 16 due to lack of public interest. All tickets purchased will be refunded. For detailed information, contact E. M. Management LTD: sven@kalevitemaa.ee, GSM +372 520 2404.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From July 19 to 23, Town Hall Square will host a traditional art market where Estonia’s professional artists and its best craftspeople will sell their works. The market will be open from 9am to 8pm, weather permitting.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On July 22, the 288th anniversary of Kadriorg Park, the new Kadriorg Park Museum will open its doors to the public. Located in the historical park keeper’s house at Weizenbergi 26, the new museum will also include a park-themed library and information point. For additional information, contact the park administration +372 601 4548.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * A new lions’ enclosure was opened at the Tallinn Zoo on June 29. Juna, a male Asian lion who has resided in Tallinn for the past year, has just acquired a young female companion, Tori, and visitors can see the lions up close in their brand-new, outdoor, glass enclosure. Additional information: www.tallinnzoo.ee
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The Estonian Fire Fighting Museum will close on September 15 at the request of the building’s owner. The museum is now searching for new premises. While still at its current Vana-Viru 14 location, the museum will be operating Thursday to Saturday, noon to 5pm. During the first half of September it will operate from Tuesdays to Saturdays.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On June 7, Felicitalia, an Italian lifestyle centre, opened its doors on the fourth floor of the Viru Centre. With the aim of introducing all things Italian, this wide-ranging enterprise combines a gourmet shop, clothing store, and travel agency, and also hosts various Italian-themed events. Felicitalia is open every day from 9am to 9pm. For more details see: www.felicitalia.it.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This year’s Tallinn Pride gay parade will take place on August 12 in Old Town. The 90-minute parade, which is being held for the third time, is part of wider celebrations for sexual minorities, the entire event lasting from August 7 to 13. For details see www.pride.ee.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Estonian Air ended its direct flights to Manchester on July 1, and from September 1 it will no longer fly to Dublin. Both routes were closed due to lack of demand. The current flight schedule can be found on the company’s website at www.estonian-air.ee.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * On June 26, Copterline suspended its Tallinn-Helsinki flights in order to conduct regular maintenance on its helicopter. Regular flights will resume in August. For current information, please see the company’s website at www.copterline.ee. The report on Tallinn’s foreign tourism in 2005 is now ready and can be seen on Tallinn’s tourism web. For additional information, please contact Kersti Uus, analyst with the TCTO&CB, at kersti.uus@tallinnlv.ee, or by phone at +372 640 4413.
The exact time in Estonia can now be seen on the Estonian Central Office of Metrology website www.metrosert.ee. The time, to an accuracy of 0.1 seconds, is received by satellite from the International Metrology Centre in Paris.
Direct connection now operating between Tallinn and Aegna IslandIn summer, a near-daily ferry service connects Tallinn to Aegna Island, a popular beauty spot located 14 km from the city centre. Regular boat service to the island began June 12. Aegna Island is a protected nature area which, thanks to the sandy beach on its north shore, is becoming a popular vacation spot. Its main sights are the ruins of military structures dating back to various periods, an old cemetery and several picturesque boulders. The link between the city and the island is made by Juku, the Estonian Maritime Academy’s training ship, which can accommodate up to 36 passengers. The ship docks next to Pirita Harbour. When approaching the harbour from the direction of the city, you’ll find Juku docked on the left side of the road, on the opposite side of Pirita River. Three trips to the island will be made every weekday (except Tuesday). The ship departs from Pirita at 8:45am, 2pm, and 7pm, and from Aegna at 9:45am, 3pm, and 8pm. On Saturdays and Sundays the ship departs for the island at 8:45am, 12:30pm, 4:30pm, and 7pm, and returns to the city at 10am, 2:30pm, 5:30pm, and 8pm. A round-trip ticket costs 75 EEK. Additional information: Unknown cityscapes and forgotten fashionsThe Maarjamäe Palace, better known for its permanent exhibit on Estonian history, is currently hosting two temporary exhibitions that should attract architecture and fashion buffs. The exhibits introduce the lost face of Tallinn and the rise of the modern woman. An exhibit dealing with architectural history, Outside the town walls. 19th Century views from the art collection of the Estonian History Museum, opened on May 10. It’s based on the rich art collection of the museum’s predecessor, the Provincial Museum, which was established in 1864. 50 works from Baltic German artists are on display, the majority of which are by Carl Friedrich Christian Buddeus (1775–1864), who lived and worked in Estonia for over 25 years. Rather than focusing on the better-known Old Town area, these works portray Tallinn’s suburbs, where only a few fishermen’s shacks, taverns, houses, summer manors and wide meadows then existed. Today these areas are so changed that it’s difficult (albeit interesting) to match those 19th-century views with the current cityscape. An exhibition on the recent history of fashion, Paula, you have bobbed hair! Women’s fashions between the World Wars, opened on June 8. The exhibit provides a survey of the changes in Estonian women’s clothing from 1900 to 1945, demonstrating how the changing appearance of women reflects changes in social attitudes brought about by wars and technical developments. Pop songs and films of street scenes from the period help illustrate this sudden and irreversible metamorphosis. The items on display belong to the collections of the Estonian History Museum and the Tallinn City Museum. Both exhibitions will continue through November 19. The museum is open Wednesday to Sunday 11am to 6pm; and from November 1, 10am to 5pm. The ticket price is 15 kroons. Additional information: Exhibition presents Medieval torture instruments … along with instructions for useAt the beginning of June, an exhibition of medieval torture instruments opened in the Tallinn House of Tourism on Town Hall Square. Despite its macabre subject matter, the exhibit is actually quite educational when regarded in the light of general cultural development, reflecting the more inhuman aspects of European history. The collection consists of over 60 means of torture, including the well-known rack, Spanish boots and chastity belts. Explanatory texts in English, Russian, Italian and Estonian accompany each display, and separate information folders are available in German, French, Finnish and Polish. In addition, medieval engravings illustrate methods of use. The majority of the instruments are actually originals, having been used primarily in the "administration of justice" by the Inquisition court. However, equipment intended for the restraint of real criminals – as well as the easy cure of bad habits (spreading of gossip, making a racket, swearing) – is also on display. The items are not of local origin, but have been collected from Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain. They belong to an association of collectors and history enthusiasts, Associazione Ricercatoni Storici, located in Verona. The exhibit is open through September 17, operating daily from 10am to 9pm. The price of the ticket is 65 kroons. However tempted, visitors aren’t allowed to try out the items on display. Additional information: New exhibitions open at KUMUTwo new exhibitions were recently opened at the KUMU Art Museum, one introducing fin-de-siècle Symbolism and the transition from Realism to Impressionism, the other concentrating on 1990s contemporary art crammed with social messages. The comprehensive survey exhibition, From one century to the next. Kristjan and Paul Raud, opened in the museum’s Great Hall on June 22. Twin brothers, Kristjan Raud (1865–1943) and Paul Raud (1865–1930) were among the founders of Estonian national art. The former is known primarily as the author of National Romanticism drawings and the latter for his Realistic portraits. This exhibition, however, focuses on the less-well-known and versatile portion of the brothers’ work – Kristjan Raud’s distinctive Symbolism and Paul Raud’s Impressionist landscapes. The exhibit’s 300 works, many on public display for the first time, were sourced from Estonia’s museums and private collections. The exhibition will be open through October 8. On July 7, an exhibition entitled Collected crises. Estonian art in the 1990s opened in the museum’s Contemporary Art Gallery. It’s a summary of what was a revolutionary decade for contemporary Estonian art, a time when the implicit versatility of current artistic life got its start. "Crisis" is the most accurate term to characterise both the art and the society as a whole during that period. Some of the exhibit’s works will be replaced in September in order to provide as broad a summary of the diverse decade as possible. The exhibition will continue until February 5, 2007. Through the end of September, the KUMU will be open Tuesdays to Sundays 11am to 6pm, and Thursdays 11am to 9pm. From October through the end of April the museum will be open Wednesdays to Sundays from 11am to 6pm. During the summer months, the museum’s café terrace operates every day from 11am to 11pm. Since its February 18 opening, the KUMU has been visited by almost 84,000 people, including 10,600 visitors to special events and 4,200 participants in educational programs. On its opening day, 1,660 people visited the museum; the very first visitors were a Korean and a Finn. Additional information: National Opera gears up for its landmark 101st seasonAs the Estonian National Opera prepares to kick off an event-filled 101st season this August 26, special performances are already taking place in the Town Hall and celebrations marking the opera’s 100th birthday are in the works. The Opera in the Town Hall concert series, a joint effort by the National Opera and the non-profit organization Musicante, will continue through August 11, with performances taking place in the Tallinn Town Hall every Friday beginning at 8pm. In addition to soloists from the National Opera, guest artists from the US, Russia, Germany, Finland, and Latvia will perform. The National Opera will mark its arrival in a new century, the start of its 101st season, by holding a Market Day on August 26 in the historical marketplace behind the theatre building. Opera lovers will be treated to a grand concert while old costumes and props are sold from market tables. The event lasts from noon to 3pm. The finale of the National Opera’s three-year jubilee period will be a festival entitled Estonia–100, which will take place September 6 to 24. The festival will see the best stage pieces performed, new books and CDs presented, and Estonia Theatre’s scenery, costumes designs and posters displayed in city’s galleries. The highlight of the festivities will be the gala performance on September 16, the day that marks exactly 100 years since the professional Estonia Theatre was established. As a bow to the drama actors who founded the Estonia a century ago, the play Judith by Estonian author A. H. Tammsaare (1878–1940) will be presented on the evenings of September 22, 23 and 24. During its 101st season the Estonian National Opera will once again be performing Verdi’s La Traviata, a public favourite that has remained on the programme for nine years. Rossini’s comical opera Cinderella will premiere on November 10. This contemporary interpretation of the ever-fresh fairytale will be directed and designed by Michiel Dijkema of Holland. On November 29, a single concert performance of Alfredo Catalani’s seldom-performed opera, La Wally, can be heard. And on New Year’s Eve, the traditional Estonia Ball will take place, where operetta and dance programs can be enjoyed in the special atmosphere of the theatre. During summer, the Estonia’s box office is open from 11am to 7pm daily (phone +372 683 1214). Tickets can be booked weekdays from 10am to 4pm (estonia@opera.ee, phone +372 683 1260). For more information: Wiiralt’s unknown works go on displayAt the beginning of June, an exhibition of the unknown works of Eduard Wiiralt (1898 – 1954), the most accomplished Estonian graphic artist of the 20th Century, was opened at the Adamson-Eric Museum in Tallinn’s Old Town. The valuable private collection, which has only recently come to light, consists of works created in Paris between 1926 and 1934. The exhibition, entitled Love in Strasbourg: Works by Eduard Wiiralt from the Juhani Komulainen collection, displays a collection of unique pieces that shed light on a much-studied turning point in Wiiralt’s work at the beginning of the 1930s. The majority of the collection consists of drawings: rough drafts and sketches of well-known engravings such as Mon Paris and Hell, sketches of nudes, fantastic heads and portraits. The works belong to a collection that was once owned by artist and poet Nelly Stulz, Wiiralt’s friend and supporter in Strasbourg. The current owner of the collection is Finnish composer Juhani Komulainen. Love in Strasbourg can be viewed until September 3. The Adamson-Eric Museum is open Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm. A multi-lingual exhibition catalogue is also available. Additional information: New regulations aim to rein in Tallinn’s cabbiesOn July 15, new regulations designed to crack down on Tallinn’s crooked cabdrivers, who have become notorious for overcharging tourists and natives alike, came into effect. According to the amended regulations, all taxies must now display an English-language rate card in a visible place, along with a special, 24-hour help-line number, 1345, where taxi fraud can be reported. All this information must be posted both on the dashboard and on the window of the right rear door. In addition, any car used as a taxi must have the operator’s name or logo clearly marked on the vehicle and it must have a roof light with the word takso on the front. All taximeters must be metrologically controlled and can’t have any attachments other than a printer. Passengers are advised to check to make sure the taximeter is visible and plugged in before starting the ride. The customer has the right to refuse payment if the taximeter and/or printer are missing or out of order. The City Council ordinance also changed the procedure for issuing taxi licenses and vehicle cards. Also an amendment of the law is planned to tighten the regulations governing the provision of taxi services. Upon breaking the law, dishonest taxi drivers will lose the right to operate, whereas today they are only fined. Over the last few months, the City Government has become more serious about putting Tallinn’s taxi business in order, participating with police to take undercover test rides. On May 23, the mayor and one of the deputy mayors made just such a test ride. Disguised as Italian tourists, the city leaders rode separately from the city centre to the port and to the airport, and together from the airport back to the city centre. They were cheated royally on two of the five trips. One trip from the city centre to the airport cost 241 kroons, and the ride from the airport to the city centre cost 220 kroons. Both fares were 2.5 times more than the valid fare rates of the operators. The drivers who were caught cheating were fined. Visitors should also beware that some taxi drivers who operate as sole proprietors have established incredibly high rates, charging as much as 50 kroons/km and 3000 kroons/hour for waiting. To avoid such surprises, as well as out and out fraud, it’s recommended that passengers get an estimate of the fare to the destination before entering the taxi. A verbal explanation of the price does not relieve the driver of the obligation to turn on the meter. More advice related to taxi services is available on the tourism website. Additional information: New Tallinn video readyA new promotional video that presents Tallinn as an attractive tourism and convention destination has been produced and is now available to tourist industry professionals. Made in cooperation with the Allfilm production company, the video is designed to introduce the city to its most important target markets. The 4.56-minute video is available on CD as well as VHS. Tourism professionals can order the video from tourism.marketing@tallinnlv.ee. A shorter, 1-minute version should be ready by autumn. The video was prepared within the framework of the Phare ESC 2003: Development of Tourism Marketing project. The budget for the video project was 1.1 million EEK. Additional information: |