weswrong's photostream

Estonia is one of Europes fastest growing economies. They are motivated to change and the city is transforming itself into a glitzy western style metropolis. Russia will always loom on the horizon but for now things are brighter than they have ever been for Estonia.

Here is the Russian border station. The frontier with the west. To cross here I would need a visa, even taking this photo seemed risky. For thousands of Russians crossing this border is routine. For Estonians it represents a constant tension with their agressive neighbor who continually harrass its former possession and make it no secret of their lust to regain what was once theirs.

Across the Narva river is the Russian flag standing atop the fortress waving in the cold wind of a winter storm.

Along with the bronze statue is a graveyard for soldiers killed fighting the Nazi's in WWII.

Once just a bridge within the Soviet Union today it connects Russia to Estonia. Here is where the EU ends. Here is where NATO ends. Here is where the West and the East are divided. On the left is the Estonian fortress on the right the Russian. Both serving as a cold reminder.