cross posted from Itching for Eestimaa, a blog about the world's only post-communist nordic country
So I am here in Tallinn, Estonia, city of Danish expansionism. Tallinn does not feel like the Estonia I know, the Estonia I try to write about. This city is not crisscrossed by the bumpy, unpaved roads of rural Estonian counties like Viljandimaa. Instead, its well-heeled pedestrians enjoy the cosmopolitan life.
That means eating a lunch like the one I just ate -- of delicious, peeled pears covered in sweet whipped cream, satisfying pasta salads, medallions of mouthwatering beef. Where are the potatoes, pork, sauerkraut, and cakes? They don't sell food like this at the local supermarket in the countryside.
This is the fare served up at the Second Annual Lennart Meri Memorial Conference, held this week. The conference, organized more in line with the late President Meri's interests than his cult of personality -- as it should be -- draws together the Estonian policy community, representatives from think-tanks across Europe, foreign ministers, prime ministers, ambassadors, high representatives -- people whose opinion should count. And also the media.
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