Dear Harry Põder
First of all let me express my gratitude for such a prompt response.
I believe I made two mistakes for which I have to apologize.
There are fewer Russian visitors than Norwegians. I did not know that. Thank you for letting me know that the number Norwegian tourists in the Sokos Viru Hotel is greater than the number of Russian tourists? It does sound however highly implausible judging by the number of transport connections and other factors but if you say that then I guess I would take it for granted, namely that Russian Federation passport holders are the fifth group by number at Tallinn (Sokos) Viru hotel.
My second misconception was about the Viru hotel itself. I was under a false impression that the Viru Hotel was constructed by the Moscow-based Intourist and is almost identical to a building they put together in Togliatti at the same time and Moscow-based Intourist hired companies from Finland and Finland (though not exclusively Finnish) contractors participated in the building project for which they were of course most handsomely paid. I just finished my own small hotel project in Moravia, in Czech Republic, in which I converted an old building (the foundation may be dates from the 14th century) to a small hotel / bed and breakfast use. I had different contractors working at the site, but I'd say I put this hotel together (there is a fine German word for it, Bauherr) and, let's say, not Hungarians, although I had one gentleman working who might have been of Hungarian origin or he at least confided that. From what you implied the Viru Hotel was not built by Moscow-based Intourist but was a donation of the Finns. Sadly I was unaware of that part story -I did not know that the building was a gift of the Finno-Ugric inhabitants of Finland (of course not just Finns live in Finland) to their Southern brethren. This would obviously be a fantastic marketing asset for the hotel, I was not aware of the fact and I apologize for my ignorance. I would certainly publicize this act of a historically unprecedented collective ethnic generosity.
As you've mentioned the much maligned USA - I must say you are absolutely right, I am a US national (and I spent a few years in Austria and I live in the Czech Republic), with a disclaimer that Americans of Russian descent or those who were born there are Americans and not "Russians in America" and I'd say that in Austria (which is not an ethnic state) someone who has an Austrian passport is an Austrian (it is so believe me) and I guess in the Czech Republic that tends also to be the case - sometimes even if you don't have the Czech citizenship (as I don't) - I feel very much like a local. I speak Czech but when I didn't I don't believe I had any encounters of the kind I had at your much esteemed establishment or in today's Estonia. So while you are correct that someone of Russian descent would consider the flag of the United States as his or her as it would right be or someone who is of Russian background but is a citizen of France (I know that country also well) he would certainly feel French, I am not quite sure it is the case in Estonia - not at least after I talked to a few locals here.
Once again, thank you very much for your prompt response.
There are two points that I noted
first that at this time the number of Russian overnight visitors is smaller than of Norwegians though that might change in the future.
secondly (an important point to keep in mind and to spread around) that the Viru Hotel was a gift of the Finnish speaking nationals of Finland.
Warmest regards,
First of all let me express my gratitude for such a prompt response.
I believe I made two mistakes for which I have to apologize.
There are fewer Russian visitors than Norwegians. I did not know that. Thank you for letting me know that the number Norwegian tourists in the Sokos Viru Hotel is greater than the number of Russian tourists? It does sound however highly implausible judging by the number of transport connections and other factors but if you say that then I guess I would take it for granted, namely that Russian Federation passport holders are the fifth group by number at Tallinn (Sokos) Viru hotel.
My second misconception was about the Viru hotel itself. I was under a false impression that the Viru Hotel was constructed by the Moscow-based Intourist and is almost identical to a building they put together in Togliatti at the same time and Moscow-based Intourist hired companies from Finland and Finland (though not exclusively Finnish) contractors participated in the building project for which they were of course most handsomely paid. I just finished my own small hotel project in Moravia, in Czech Republic, in which I converted an old building (the foundation may be dates from the 14th century) to a small hotel / bed and breakfast use. I had different contractors working at the site, but I'd say I put this hotel together (there is a fine German word for it, Bauherr) and, let's say, not Hungarians, although I had one gentleman working who might have been of Hungarian origin or he at least confided that. From what you implied the Viru Hotel was not built by Moscow-based Intourist but was a donation of the Finns. Sadly I was unaware of that part story -I did not know that the building was a gift of the Finno-Ugric inhabitants of Finland (of course not just Finns live in Finland) to their Southern brethren. This would obviously be a fantastic marketing asset for the hotel, I was not aware of the fact and I apologize for my ignorance. I would certainly publicize this act of a historically unprecedented collective ethnic generosity.
As you've mentioned the much maligned USA - I must say you are absolutely right, I am a US national (and I spent a few years in Austria and I live in the Czech Republic), with a disclaimer that Americans of Russian descent or those who were born there are Americans and not "Russians in America" and I'd say that in Austria (which is not an ethnic state) someone who has an Austrian passport is an Austrian (it is so believe me) and I guess in the Czech Republic that tends also to be the case - sometimes even if you don't have the Czech citizenship (as I don't) - I feel very much like a local. I speak Czech but when I didn't I don't believe I had any encounters of the kind I had at your much esteemed establishment or in today's Estonia. So while you are correct that someone of Russian descent would consider the flag of the United States as his or her as it would right be or someone who is of Russian background but is a citizen of France (I know that country also well) he would certainly feel French, I am not quite sure it is the case in Estonia - not at least after I talked to a few locals here.
Once again, thank you very much for your prompt response.
There are two points that I noted
first that at this time the number of Russian overnight visitors is smaller than of Norwegians though that might change in the future.
secondly (an important point to keep in mind and to spread around) that the Viru Hotel was a gift of the Finnish speaking nationals of Finland.
Warmest regards,
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