by CKR
We can hope that the Estonians will be saying that (Welcome to Tallinn) to President Bush next Monday. But, as in Southeast Asia, I fear that our president will be a poor guest.
He's bringing a thousand of his closest friends, and the Radisson Hotel, which will be his headquarters, has only 280 rooms. There are a number of other hotels within walking distance. Hillary Clinton stayed at the Olümpia, my personal and sentimental favorite, when she visited. There's a photo of her in the lobby.
The Radisson is not far from the now-blockaded United States Embassy on Kentmanni Street. Kentmanni has long been closed off, and probably Rävala Puiestee will join Kentmanni. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the entire area between Estonia Puiestee/Gonsiori and Liivalaia were blockaded. That just includes the two major department stores, several theaters and restaurants, and the Foreign Ministry, but what the heck.
It's not easy to find a good map of Tallinn. Here's one of the better ones so you can maybe figure this out.
The Radisson seems to have moved, however, according to its website. It now is located in the park just up the hill from Vabaduse Väljak (Freedom Square). I guess they did that in President Bush's honor.
Or maybe that's intended to be just across the street from the Russian World War II monument that has been the center of controversy recently. The Russians are asking President Bush to intervene in this never-ending quarrel. I'll bet he won't.
But at the same time, his staff are warming up to offend the Estonians too.
October 2nd was the 15th anniversary of the opening of the U.S. embassy in Estonia.That's from National Security Council Senior Director for European Affairs Judy Ansley.
The U.S. embassy re-opened fifteen years ago, Ms. Ansley. There was a U.S. embassy to Estonia in that very same building during Estonia's first period of independence between the two world wars. The British embassy shared the same building, but the last time I walked past it, the Brits seemed to have left. Who could blame them, with the concrete barriers, television cameras and endless guards outside the building.
And there are some Estonians ready to be offended. This is being met by other Estonians with a typical bemusement. PHK and I just had a conversation about this, and our expectation is that the visit will mostly be taken in Estonian stride, with a few laughs and some irritation about the traffic jams.
So far that's what I see in the two main papers. Eesti Päevaleht tells us today that Condoleezza Rice will be one of that throng of 1000, and Postimees is much cooler, with only the turkey-pardoning photo-op that heads up this post.
Recommendation to the hangers-on: try the local food at Eesti Maja. It's run by folks from New Jersey, but that doesn't mean the food isn't Estonian. And walk over to Old Town, if your (American) watchers will let you. Cross Pärnu Manatee at Tammsaare Park and walk up Viru through the old gate. Buy a few sweaters at the sweater market for yourself and the folks back home. Go all the way to Raekoja square. I'd recommend bringing back some Vana Tallinn liqueur or Viru Valge vodka, but the airport guys will have to confiscate it now that liquids are forbidden.
(Hat tip to Giustino at Itching for Eestimaa for an early warning.)