Abandoned in Estonia: Dark Soviet Secrets
Рет қаралды 21,418
Күн бұрынEstonia is a country that has been occupied and oppressed for longer than it's been free. As part of the former Soviet Union, you find a lot of dark history, secrets, and abandoned sites in this Baltic nation. This video is devoted to exploring Estonia's Soviet past and what's been left behind. We begin at the Tallinn TV Tower, which is not only the tallest building in the country, but also the site of Estonia regaining independence in an unexpected and peaceful way. Back near the city centre is Linnahall, which was built for the controversial Moscow Olympics in 1980 when Tallinn was the site of the sailing events. It was built as the Soviets imagined a palace should look. Historic Hotel Viru is now the home of the KGB Museum because it's where the KGB conducted secret operations for years. We'll also show you a huge complex of abandoned buildings next to an abandoned prison and quarry, an abandoned submarine base called Hara, which was used by the Soviet military, and a cemetery for Soviet pilots with the most unique 'headstones' we've ever encountered.
🇪🇪SEE MORE ESTONIAN ADVENTURES:
👉We Didn't Expect This In Estonia: bit.ly/estoniafirstday
👉Storybook Magic in Tallinn, Estonia: bit.ly/storybooktallinn
👉Worst Road Trip Ever in Estonia: bit.ly/worstroadtrip
--------------------
🏠 GET A $50 AIRBNB TRAVEL CREDIT:
www.airbnb.com/c/emccurdy3
🎥 OUR AMAZON SHOP: GEAR + TRAVEL FAVOURITES
www.amazon.com/shop/eileenaldis
🎵 GET A 30-DAY FREE TRIAL OF OUR MUSIC DATABASE:
www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
💼GET $20 OFF THE SUITCASES WE USE:
referrals-ca.awaytravel.com/a...
--------------------
👋🏻ABOUT ME
Hi! My name is Eileen and in 2017 I sold my stuff and bought a one-way ticket to travel the world with my boyfriend, Marc. We're sharing this grand adventure one video at a time and upload new videos every week. We'd love for you to subscribe and come along! Click here: bit.ly/SubscribeEileenAldis
--------------------
👩LET'S GET THE FRIENDSHIP THING GOING 👋
INSTAGRAM = / eileenaldis (@eileenaldis)
FACEBOOK = / eileenaldis (@eileenaldis)
TWITTER = / eileenaldis (@eileenaldis)
EMAIL = eileenaldis@gmail.com
--------------------
🎥GEAR (affiliate links)
Smaller camera: goo.gl/mPRPfW
Bigger camera + lens: goo.gl/qS8eCN
Flying camera: amzn.to/2pXTPBN
Underwater camera: amzn.to/2RJYlBO
Tripod: amzn.to/2oDVVSr
--------------------
#Estonia #UrbanExploring #Abandoned
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
Of all the places we explore in this video, what interests you most? 🤔
@hannunorppa5590 4 жыл бұрын
I can see you are professional globetrotters and your smile is cute!
@hannunorppa5590 4 жыл бұрын
I spent 2 nights at Viru hotell at Eeastern 1991...I got weird phone calls in our room....KGB? ;) the microphones were the legend!
@ginafriend1690 4 жыл бұрын
Cemetery
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
@@hannunorppa5590 You stayed at Viru?! Wow, that's incredible! Have you been back since? It'd be interesting for you to see the KGB office up on the hidden floor now. Our guide told us many people were aware of some degree of surveillance but not the extent - as a former guest, would you agree with that?
@hannunorppa5590 4 жыл бұрын
I am from Finland I had to go to Estonia that spring 1991, to see with my own eyes the becoming independence of our/mine southern brothers/sisters in Viro, Eesti, Estonia. And also the collapse of Soviet Union. I sensed it but I could not know it took only from Aprill to August, that makes only 4 months to the collapse! Without them us, the Finns could not exist, but that is an other and very long story!
@Shaun_Garratt 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks guys, fascinating video. You always do a great job explaining the history of your destinations and the abandoned buildings are intriguing (reminds me of your abandoned UFO pods vid in Taiwan). The abandoned prison buildings seemed kind of creepy though. The KGB museum looks really interesting, crazy about the exploding ink purses. No wonder the Estonian people were so keen to get rid of the Soviets.
@Orlington17 4 жыл бұрын
The same as today catalonia keen on getting rid of Spain, or Scotland, or Texas, or Hawai ))) Personally, we loved soviet times in Estonia!
@Grilledcheesyness 2 жыл бұрын
Great video. You seem to be so sincere in your interest in the countries you visit -- something you often do not find in others' travel videos. Thanks for this vid -- really enjoyed it and may stay in the Hotel Viru when I visit Tallin in June.
@bichannel3419 Жыл бұрын
Amazing video guys. So informative.
@EileenAldis Жыл бұрын
Thank you! We really appreciate that :)
@linpin9343 4 жыл бұрын
Loved it. So informative. 👍🏻💗
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you! ❤️ There's so much to learn and we really felt we got a much deeper appreciation for Estonian history and what life was like during Communist times.
@ginafriend1690 4 жыл бұрын
Where's your glove girl. Loved the tap dance! Sad to think wasn't That long ago and how it's basically turned to ruins around there. Loved the cemetery, very cool! Interesting tour. Heck, were all being watched today. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Appreciated! 🤗
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Gina! :) The cemetery was a place we'll never forget. Absolutely chilling and the image stays in your mind. All incredibly interesting history and quite recent in the scheme of things, as you say.
@lindalouwagie-neyens4692 4 жыл бұрын
Very interesting video in many ways. Firstly, I liked how you used the time you were "waiting" for your KGB Museum tour as an opportunity to introduce the other sites you'd visited outside of town, then "resumed" the tour when your guide arrived. Nice device. Secondly, you seemed to capture a bleak other-worldliness especially at the abandoned sites and the museum that we could actually feel as we watched your video. I was heartened with the story about how Estonia was declared free from TV tower peacefully. And, I really loved the soviet pilot graveyard, too. Besides being visually striking and unique - I've never seen tail fins as grave markers - the graveyard contrasted with all of the other soviet sites in this video, in that each tail fin was a memorial to a real person. It makes me wonder how many of those pilots wanted to be occupied Estonia.
@toobydude41 4 жыл бұрын
This is exactly how I feel . I could not say it any better.
@betsyfreeman6637 4 жыл бұрын
Spending my quarantine Friday evening with Eileen and Marc!!! Hope you are doing well back in Canada!
@allenfalls9172 4 жыл бұрын
Loved the video
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it :)
@kevinwestrom4775 4 жыл бұрын
More great drone video footage in the video! That's certainly an interesting "palace" as mentioned, agreed. It almost resembles somewhat an ancient ziggurat temple of the middle east, with all the steps up the sides and other features on it, the helipad on the top, notwithstanding. That small Soviet pilot cemetery was actually quite interesting, the usage of tail fins for the gravestones/memorials for all of them.
@nancyjohnson9247 4 жыл бұрын
The abandoned history and buildings of Estonia dating back to the Soviet era are fascinating. I remember the 1980 Olympics and to see the abandoned site now and all the other abandoned sites of Soviet occupation is chilling. The most remarkable place for me to see though has to be the KGB museum. Oh my. Very scary activity took place there and yet today the guide has a sense of humour about it. Perhaps the best way to handle a bygone time. All of your videos have shown what a beautiful place Estonia is today. Thanks for the tours.
@pip_nalip 4 жыл бұрын
I hasten to assure you that the offices of the KGB were no worse than the offices of the CIA. Or was everything in the CIA in the rainbow tones of the LGBT community? As for Estonia and the neighboring Baltic republics - Latvia, Lithuania, now it is one of the poorest countries in Europe. Almost half of the budgets of these countries are subsidies of the European Union, half of the young population left these countries for central and western Europe to earn money. These are deserted and aging countries. In the days of the USSR, these were prosperous republics, where there was a mass of production from the automotive industry to radio electronics and so on. Now this is nothing. During the "totalitarian Mordor and Soviet occupation" all the inhabitants of these republics received education in their native language! Now, in the era of democracy, these countries forbid Russians to receive education in Russian. The Soviet Union built numerous ports in the Baltic in these countries, and built infrastructure. There is practically none of this now, just as there is no income. In recent years, part of the income of these countries was received as a transit, using ports for the delivery of goods from Russia to Europe. In the light of their Russophobic, hostile policies, Russia is modernizing and building new ports in the Baltic in its Leningrad Region. A huge amount of cargo stopped going through these Baltic countries and in the future Russia will reduce this flow to a minimum. In this regard, the presidents of these countries, business, have already begun to turn to Russia with a request to find a compromise. But Russia is unlikely to hear the "Washington Regional Committee".
@mer3abec 3 жыл бұрын
In USSR Estonia was the face . Today it is ass of EU.
@davecurda2350 4 жыл бұрын
Very cool
@karbonass Жыл бұрын
The actual tallest structure in Estonia is the Koeru TV mast, Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_structures_in_Estonia
@horseplop9 4 жыл бұрын
What a Fun Video.. Tallin is on my list 🇱🇻 latvia also. Great job
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
Happy you enjoyed it! Tallinn is a great place to visit and let's just say you'll be seeing Latvia on our channel prettttty soon ;)
@eksiarvamus 4 жыл бұрын
*Tallinn
@realplayerE 4 жыл бұрын
I recomend u do visit Haapsalu,its 100km from Tallinn. A werry interesting city with an old castle and a promenade and so on.
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the recommendation! :)
@PortlyTravellers 4 жыл бұрын
We thought the hotel was the most interesting. Having all that KGB stuff left behind really lets you explore what it would have been like.-Shawna🍁
@hannunorppa5590 4 жыл бұрын
When Finnish "REPO Construction" Company built the hotell, they were advised to leave few "hoses" or tubes inside the walls empty with no wire or anything usuall in them. That means the microphone wires were pulled through them later! ;)
@matskustikee 4 жыл бұрын
Hi i need correct you, that Olympic sailing event what you were meantioned, was actually At Pirita about 10 klick from Linnahall
@Noah-fd8du 4 жыл бұрын
Even though I live in estonia I learned something new about the history
@hannunorppa5590 4 жыл бұрын
That matchbox episode was true! the transmitters were on the top and the "omons"(=KGB) were down ready to go up! You do great!! I love you! (I am from Finland, but that is an other story ;)
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
Hello! Thanks so much! I'm sure you can tell from all our Finland videos how we much we love Finland too :) The story of Estonian independence is so fascinating and I was imagining it while being at the tower. So glad we got to learn about it.
@hannunorppa5590 4 жыл бұрын
@@EileenAldis I have seen them too and and those "walking distance videos about the city of Helsinki were excellent!
@EileenAldis 4 жыл бұрын
@@hannunorppa5590 Thank you very much! Please have some salmon soup and Fazer chocolate for us ;)
@philmoore71 4 жыл бұрын
well covered
@toobydude41 4 жыл бұрын
WOW. Incredible. The means to which the KGB spied on people! The plates being bugged like that..are you kidding me!! Mind blowing..fascinating..as well as chilling. And the ink bombs..whoa. That room being left exactly as is. Can't get over this stuff. Yes, interesting to say the very least. Oh yeah that graveyard..not your everyday cemetery OMG. Such a compelling video on many levels Eileen! Loved the heartwarming story of Estonia's road to independence. BTW, up in that TV tower, you will not find me stepping on that clear area in the floor! LOL Toronto's CN Tower has a similar spot on its top floor, you probably know this :) I went with my dad up there..back in 1987...and nope, once I saw that transparent spot, my feet weren't even tempted. LOL Unbelievable view for sure. You guys are true legends!!!
@danditto6145 2 жыл бұрын
Estonia is definetly one of the places I want to go!! Thanks for video.
@EileenAldis 8 күн бұрын
It's fantastic! You'll love it. We made other videos there about more things to do (and eat!): bit.ly/estoniaplaylist :)
@danditto6145 7 күн бұрын
I go to Copenhagen, DK a lot and always debate the best way to get over to Estonia. Is it best to fly and if so which airport is best? Maybe take the train into Germany and then up to Estonia. Is there a ferry .
@EileenAldis 4 күн бұрын
@@danditto6145 I'm not sure about that route. We arrived via boat from Russia after our visa-free trip there. Have you seen our Russia series? bit.ly/russiaplaylist Whichever way you go...you'll love Estonia when you arrive :)
@carleryk 4 жыл бұрын
Estonians never wanted to be part of the Soviet Union. We didn't really have choice since we were occupied by the Soviet Union. So that's why these (abandoned) buildings aren't maintained or preserved. We didn't want them and at most they help us remember the dark period of Estonia's history. The Linnahall will be renovated and rebuilt as a conference center / concert hall, new harbour and shopping mall.
@ivanfedotov9971 4 жыл бұрын
At least now i hope you are happy with your life in European Union inspite of the fact of your population decline
@carleryk 4 жыл бұрын
@@ivanfedotov9971 Actually, the population decline is happening because of Russians not Estonians - the birthrate of Estonians has been quite stable and a little positive the last few years. Too big immigration from Slavic countries and some other Asian and African countries does worry a little.
@Orlington17 4 жыл бұрын
dont say for everyone, we love the soviet times in Estonia! Everything was free, a lot of cool activities for kids and everybody, architect boom in Estonia and btw, just 15 years ago i was visiting CityHall it was still working and had concerts going - very cool place, very special design!
@carleryk 4 жыл бұрын
@@Orlington17Well everything looks better for people in their childhood/youth. Most Estonians probably don't like Soviet architecture (including the 'mäed' in Tallinn). But some do. It's all about personal preference. I do agree that some buildings, including Linnahall are worth keeping.
@Orlington17 4 жыл бұрын
@@carleryk how is that decline due to russians? ))
@rikutaskinen5432 Жыл бұрын
I was in hotel Viru first timw 1978,since that many times. all those places are familiar to me.
@EileenAldis Жыл бұрын
Wow, that's so interesting to have observed so much change since then.
@sabrinarobert1965 4 жыл бұрын
LOVED THIS VIDEO ♡ My daughter and I are nerds on random knowledge, we d watched a lot on Russia as Ruby is obsessed with anything to do with Russia amongst other things ...we learnt a lot and i will certainly book this tour! Fascinating...love when you go into kgb history (as well as cultures,nature, politics, archtecture, food, fun facts, beautiful sites)etc...knowledge is wisdom soooo many fascinating places people facts around this world🌍 Have a lovely evening🌮🌮🥑🌶🍉🍍
@dmdm7096 4 жыл бұрын
Ask an Estonian ..half her "facts" are total nonsense .My wife is from Estonia ,I've lived there .. This girls knows nothing about what she's talking about .
@sabrinarobert1965 4 жыл бұрын
@@dmdm7096 How about you share your knowledge then... I'm all ears if you think you are wiser on these facts. Nobody knows everything, i certainly dont! There is always something new everyday and i am grateful.
@matskustikee 4 жыл бұрын
@@sabrinarobert1965 good luck with russian but we ain't russian, we are proud Estonians as I'm
@sabrinarobert1965 4 жыл бұрын
@@matskustikee You should be proud to be Estonian thats never an issue! I work with lots of Russians Estonians i have a soft spot for Estonians! I have also some very good friends in Russia and Latvia...i think with the right attitude, open minds, love & laughters everybody can be friends and appreciate everybodys differences...i thrieve on learning everyday so understanding and welcoming discovering is very much a pleasure to me. I cannot wait to visit 😍
@mabelodedina9965 2 жыл бұрын
I am watching this in April 2022. This gives me some understanding all these countries that escaped and claimed independence from the Russian.
@EileenAldis 11 күн бұрын
There's so much history to learn.
@elizabethpiekut4730 4 жыл бұрын
👍
@icanfly6269 2 жыл бұрын
So this is where faded was filmed
@aerohogpete5794 4 жыл бұрын
Thank you for an interesting video. Did you know that the Viru hotel was built by two Finnish construction companies between 1969 and 1972 ? The first company got the project from the soviets but went bankrupt after a fire in an unfinished building. Finnish government found another company to finish the job and guaranteed the project economically. Finns tried to keep good relations to soviet union so goverment interference was kind of a ”must do”.
@indrakobak5760 4 жыл бұрын
And wht s ur point ?
@indrakobak5760 4 жыл бұрын
It was finnish company name , but who built the hotel was Estonians as usual ❤🇪🇪 Estonians are always building here and in Finland .
@adnaneroglu2500 3 жыл бұрын
👍🙋♂️
@EileenAldis 3 жыл бұрын
Hello Adnan! 👋 😀
@kulnokaiklem 4 жыл бұрын
Тallinn Linnahall Cityhall Горхолл 1980 : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y7-lfamYv5u7eZc.html Alan Walker Faded video with 2,6 mld views filmed in Tallinn and around Paldiski : kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bJZ5p6t935u7dXU.html
@energyb005t4 3 жыл бұрын
You mean 2,6B?
@icanfly6269 3 жыл бұрын
3B now!
@lordsteppergod7269 3 жыл бұрын
That building was in Tenet
@EileenAldis 3 жыл бұрын
Correct!
@RenegadeRanga 4 жыл бұрын
Get someone with a fear of heights up that tower on the cloudy glass. Hey mate just stand there and do a dance for us. We all bitch about the cold but just imagine how the Siberian's feel.
@rajeevar6474 Жыл бұрын
_________^^_______________ am sad watching these buildings specially the TV tower Olympic yard and then the kgb office.
@EileenAldis Жыл бұрын
Yes, I understand. But also remember the courage of the people, like at the TV tower.
@respublikas 2 жыл бұрын
Respect to the Esti peoples for breaking out!Looks like you guys are pulsating life at the moment atleast in Tallin.Best of luck to the blatic brothers and sisters =] Currently though we are having pressures verry similar to the soviet times, being put on us by our own government back here in Lithuania :[
@aldismurray2150 4 жыл бұрын
The pilots' graves were so interesting but so many abandoned buildings seem to be a waste. Does anyone live in the area?
@philmoore71 4 жыл бұрын
a township is nearby, and a NATO adjoins it
@tonysklai 4 жыл бұрын
Baltic sea freedom air
@user-we4zg8bb4w 3 жыл бұрын
И рад бы послушать и посмотреть ...да субтитры на английском . Не понимаю о чём .
@hapi7420 2 жыл бұрын
My grandfathers painting is in the hall
@EileenAldis 2 жыл бұрын
Wow, where do you mean?
@hapi7420 2 жыл бұрын
City hall
@hapi7420 2 жыл бұрын
I don't know the exact name of the building I'm english
@hapi7420 2 жыл бұрын
Just search linna hall Tallinn inside painting
@hapi7420 2 жыл бұрын
And enn põldroos to the end
@pietersiahaija4698 Жыл бұрын
The Russian heritage of Estland ....
@Orlington17 4 жыл бұрын
visit Narva with the only place on earth there 2 castles so close to each other! Btw, what does "controversial Moscow olympics" mean? ))) And I would like to say that this also doesnt help to understand soviet history at all! I mean, this was times with no internet, so only info we had was our media and this info the only one that can be sold today! Nowadays we have CIA watching all the people's stuff and nobody talks about "surviving" these times or tells spooky stories about US government even after Kashogi killing, Assange, Snowden, Guantanamo, Saddam and so on and so on!
@bima0205 2 жыл бұрын
Oh my God why are Finnish women always beautiful
@karmo0 4 жыл бұрын
I bet you have moved on... ...to the next country.
@maksphoto78 3 жыл бұрын
Estonia flourished as part of the Soviet Union, it was one of the most prosperous Soviet Republics. I was born in Tallinn in 1978. I've been to Linnahall in the 90s many times, it was an impressive venue to go to. Such a shame it was abandoned.
@user-eb1fw2dv2r 4 жыл бұрын
western's lie about Great USSR
@dmdm7096 4 жыл бұрын
You are so misguided .. my wife is from Estonia . Her family spans back generations ..I've lived there .. don't tell the world silly stories that "locals" tell you as fact.. Go back to the states , stop dis respecting cultures you know nothing about
@diavik5200 4 жыл бұрын
as if you know anything about Estonia and it's culture. Im 100% sure locals know a lot more about their own history and culture unlike you. It's a lovely video so stop your bs.
@user-zb5dr3cx6k Жыл бұрын
Eileen, either you don't know anything about the USSR and Estonia, or you are deliberately lying.
@EileenAldis Жыл бұрын
I definitely agree that Lapland is typically associated with the winter. We were glad to see a different side to it. This was in the autumn and we'd love to visit in summertime as well.
Atlas Obscura
Рет қаралды 18 М.