US Security Adviser gets it wrong - Expat in Kaliningrad, Russia

Dear Mr President Trump, Kaliningrad is not closed to tourism*

*With due deference given to the current coronavirus situation

Dear President Trump

I hope you will not mind me writing an open letter to you to advise you that the advice your adviser is giving you is the wrong advice.

I refer to the comment made by US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien¹ in which he condemns Kaliningrad as being a ‘closed military base’ and a ‘missed opportunity for Russia and Europe’, the latter reference being in terms of trade and tourism.

Whilst I do not pretend to have an in-depth knowledge of the trade situation, I can state, and quite categorically, that Kaliningrad is not, and has not been for as long as I can remember, closed to tourists. I have been visiting Kaliningrad for almost 20 years and during that time development in the tourist industry has progressed substantially and exponentially, to a point where not to visit Kaliningrad would indeed be a lost opportunity.

Kaliningrad, which, as I am sure you know, was before the Second World War Königsberg, offers considerable insight for people interested in military history, particularly, but not exclusively, with regard to WWII and the Cold War period. Although Königsberg suffered extensive damage in WWII, there are many monuments, excellent museums and various sites of military interest for visitors to see both within Kaliningrad and its surrounding region, including but not limited to the two concentric circles of fortresses constructed in the mid- to late-19^th century for Königsberg’s defence, many of which are still intact.

Situated on the Baltic coast, Kaliningrad gives easy access to two former German spa towns, Cranz and Rauschen, now, respectively, Zelenogradsk and Svetlogorsk, both of which are attractive, atmospheric and thriving coastal resorts, and the once East Prussian landscape contains many hidden gems of both natural and historical interest.

You will no doubt be acquainted with the fact that the Kaliningrad region is the world’s most prolific amber-producing region. The city itself contains the world-famous Amber Museum, housed in one of the refurbished red-brick Gothic forts, and amber shops and markets abound in Kaliningrad and throughout the coastal resorts.

In addition to the natural beauty of the Baltic coast, the southern section of the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, lies within the Kaliningrad region. It is an ancient landmark, replete with natural and cultural features, which has been attracting, and continues to attract, many visitors year on year.

Kaliningrad itself is a thriving, bustling, modern city. Public transport is excellent, and the city is amply stocked with all manner of cafés, bars and restaurants, each one infused with its own unique character and diverse enough to cater for every conceivable taste.

The open status of Kaliningrad is further endorsed by the notable presence of the following hotels, each one of international stature: Radisson Hotel, Mercure Hotel, Ibis Hotel, Holiday Inn and so on.

If Kaliningrad was as closed as Mr O’Brien suggests, I think we can quite confidently assume that such leading hotel brands would be conspicuous for their absence.

Art and independent thinking flourishes in Kaliningrad where, as with Königsberg before it, talented people proliferate ~ artists, historians, writers, poets, architects et al continue the Königsbergian tradition of creative excellence and erudition established by the likes of Immanuel Kant, ETA Hoffmann, Friedrich Lahrs, Bruno and Max Taut, Sergey Snegov, Evgeny Grishkovets and many, many more.

Many people of various nationalities ~ German, French, Polish, Dutch and also some Americans ~ travel to Kaliningrad each year drawn to the city’s and the region’s cultural heritage.

For further evidence of Mr O’Brien’s lack of knowledge concerning the region, please go to Google and simply type ‘Kaliningrad’. There you will find all the information you need pertaining to Kaliningrad and its region as a tourist destination. My personal observations of life and tourism in and around Kaliningrad can be found at https://expatkaliningrad.com/

Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I am English. I moved to Kaliningrad more than a year ago, and I have only two regrets: (1) that I should have done so sooner; (2) coronavirus has closed my favourite bars (hopefully temporarily!).

If you ever have the chance to holiday in Kaliningrad, take it. I am sure that you will find it not only agreeable but also enlightening. So often truth eludes those whose opinions are poorly informed or compromised by prejudice.

Wishing you, your family and the people of your great nation, all the very best

Yours sincerely
Mick Hart
Kaliningrad

Source:

1. https://ednews.net/en/news/world/429825-kaliningrad-is-russian-dagger-in-heart-of-europe [accessed 29 May 2020]