Seeing The Old In Old Town Tbilisi

Sometimes Ye Olde Europe is quaint, lovely and one big gelato shop. In Tbilisi, Georgia, large sections of the old town have resisted redevelopment, gentrification, touristification. What some sections have not resisted is the ravages of time and lack of upkeep. Old is just old.

Heading into a section of ancient housing.

Streets are tight, masonry is crumbling. Newish building propping up old and failing.

Fenced in. Set for redevelopment, keeping out scavengers, delaying the inevitable collapse? Yes.

Fantastical remnant. Peeps built whatever fit into whatever irregular space was allotted. Active. Laundry still hanging, even if the host building is failing.

A small sign of care, a steel buttress, holding back collapse, waiting for a restoration to save the property. Crossing fingers. 

A Look At Hội An, Part Two

Strolling around Hội An, more glimpses of the old town.

A typical street, all color-coordinated buildings and strings of lanterns.

Old architecture, a shophouse and courtyard.

Tourists cruising the Thu Bon River.

Larger boats for longer cruises. How to power the prosperity? With a snake of cables.

Had enough of the old town? The beach is nearby.

A Look At Hội An, Part One

Hội An is a nice little town, about midway along Vietnam's long coastline. What makes it special is its old trading port area, still largely intact and reflecting architecture from the 15th to 19th centuries. A sort of Southeast Asia version of Key West, New Orleans' French Quarter, etc...

The heart of the city is along the Thu Bon River.

Iconic landmark, the Japanese covered bridge. Typical street, Vietnamese flag flying.

The architecture, a nice mix of Vietnamese and French Colonial with heavy doses of patina, courtesy of the tropical heat and rains.

Traditional tea in an old courtyard. The place has been discovered, especially by Asian tourists, eager to pose in traditional dress. Snap.

The fantastic Buddhist Pháp Bảo Temple.

Seeing Songkhla, Thailand

Songkhla is a quaint, beachside town in southern Thailand that features an Old Town section similar to those found in other mid-size Asian cities. Small streets, shophouse architecture, Colonial remnants.

The city is well aware of the tourist potential in preserving the past and playing up the area. Welcome!

The iconic, touches, a weathered building, rickshaw and relaxation. Old wooden architecture.

Escaping to an inner courtyard.

A building waiting for renovation. Old mosque minaret.

Songkhla is also a port city, with still-active docks.

A couple of examples of Old Town building restoration, showing off Colonial and Art Deco designs.

Back at the port, iconic blue fishing boats.

Checking Out Tallinn's Old Town

Another Baltic country, another Old Town. Tallinn's throwback-ville has more of a medieval feel than Vilnius or Riga. While the Old Town feels more complete than the other Baltic capitals' versions, it also feels less like a real, living part of the overall city. Restaurants and boutiques, yes. Banks and places of commerce, not so much.

Cobblestones and colors, time for a stroll.

Heading in through one of the old gates of the city wall. The highlights, usually churches.

A peek through a courtyard gate.

Even in summer, when the sun refuses to shine, it's time to grab a fur throw. Pig planter box, trough reversed.

The impressive St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, home to Tallinn's Russian Orthodox faithful.

You can take a fantasyland tour from a blue train. Outside the old walls, ready to be a back lot for Game of Thrones.

A geometric jumble of a skyline.

Winter In Lithuania

So many places we've been, so little space on the blog. Not true! Due to an ever-increasing inventory of fabulous blog items, Hello Talalay is going to a Monday-Friday, five-posts-a-week rotation. Enjoy (dread?) the increased onslaught.

We were teased with a few cold snaps and snow dustings, until winter showed up around the first of the year. Finally, Vilnius as a snow-covered winter wonderland. OK, maybe drop wonderland.

Vilnius, wearing her winter coat.

Blowing snow, settling snow.

The main Old Town square, looking wintery.

Nearly empty places.

The ice skating rink is open.

The Skoda Yeti, named for this season. Soon enough, mush to jump through.

Getting a little sledding in.