Stoppers in the Streets
by Kathrin_E
Seevral streets in the centre of Tartu are pedestrianized. To close them for car traffic concrete stoppers are used. However, unlike other cities these are not just boring blocks or pillars. You will find many different designs: birds, shoes, turtles, barrels...
Every year there is a competition among design students for a new series. The winning design is then produced.
The young designers of Tartu definitely don't lack imagination! I took my camera and put together a collection of the different models I found. Here is a travelogue with the photos. Find your own favourite, I cannot decide upon one.
Estonia
by RACCOON1
Town and gown meet at this piazza in front of Tartu's City Hall. And behind you is Mother River. To your right is the Tartu University's main building a beautiful neoclassical facade but unfortunately not photographable because commercial buidings crowd the optimum photo taking ops.
Student Days
by King_Golo
Tartu Kevadpäevad (or spring days in English) are the town's biggest celebration taking place each year in the end of April / beginning of May. As Tartu is a university town, most events are organized by students. However, the events range from night aerobics to theater plays, from children's events to mudwrestling, from wine races to boat races. In fact, the boat race (Kummipaadiralli) is one of the main events: Everybody who wants to participate comes with a weird, often self-constructed boat that is pretty likely to sink soon. Then, they have to row through a course of approximately 150m. Unfortunately, in the middle of this course the current of Emajogi river is very fast, so that it is a lot of work to finish the course at all. The most important thing of the race is fun, not winning. So don't be surprised to see people dressed up as sheikhs, people having a barbecue on their boat or people who cling to other boats so that they don't have to row themselves...
Another great event is the night singing (Öölaulupidu). Estonians are known to be a people that enjoys singing at almost all occasions. There's a huge treasure of folk songs and at this event people gather on a certain place on Dome Hill to sing these songs. Not all of them, but quite many. Sheets with the lyrics are provided so you can actually sing along. The atmosphere is magical: Thousands of people all singing together to the sound of acoustic guitars... Fires lighting the darkness... and you in the middle of it!
Russian in Estonia?
by AgentJX about Rasputin
Rasputin offers good Russian food in a typically tacky interior that does not really seem Russian. However, the food is actually quite good. The selection of main courses is a bit limited, but there is wide selection of starters or smaller dishes, plus some soups and desserts. The portions are generous and worth how much they cost. Borsch, I hadn’t really given the soup a chance before, but Rasputin’s is very good, and for 30 EEK they give you a big bowl. Perfect for lunches or as part of dinner.
The chicken casserole dish (I still haven’t learned the Russian name) is also very good.
The sculpture and fountain “The Kissing Students”
by Raimix
"The Kissing Students" were put on town hall square in 1998 and was projected by Mati Karmin. It is like a symbol of Tartu, quite popular place to take photos. I should say this sculpture is symbolizing all the atmosphere of Tartu, especially at period of studying, when town is full of students and, of course, falling in love by young couples.
I have seen lots of people enjoying this structure and taking photos nearby it.
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Entrance to the gunpowder cellar
Postage stamp for the song festival of 2009
The Worry Bridge
Terracotta heads on the facade
