Tallinn

Tallinn's City Hall : Tallinn, EE

In the two years I've been based at a U.N. organization in Geneva, this is the first time I've been on duty travel. The destination: Tallinn, Estonia. The next few days will feature pictures from this former Soviet satellite country on the Baltic Sea.

Turrets and Dragons : Tallinn, EE

First up, City Hall in Tallinn's old town section. Tallinn is Estonia's capital and largest city. It sits on the edge of the Baltic and is 80 km from Helsinki, across the Gulf of Finland. Founded in 1154, Tallinn actually has a history dating back to 3,000 BCE. City Hall was built sometime in the 1500s. Tallinn is a UNESCO World Heritage city and one of the 2011 European Cities of Cultural. It's also one of the most technologically and digitally sophisticated cities in the world, ranking in the top 10.

Old Thomas, the symbol and guardian of Tallinn : Tallinn, EE

Photo copyright: Janet M Kincaid, 4/11

Aarberg

Hotel zum Goldene Krone : Aarberg, CH

Getting back to last weekend and dinner with my cousin in Biel: After we dropped him off at the train station for his trip back to Zurich, we decided to skip the autobahn and take some of the back roads of Switzerland.

Blacksmith Shop : Aarberg, CH

This resulted in a visit to the town of Aarberg. Had I not wanted to drive across the old wooden bridge we saw, we wouldn't have discovered this lovely little medieval town. These are just a few pictures. Tomorrow, I'll feature two of the liveliest characters I've met in Switzerland.

Photo copyright: Janet Kincaid, 07/09