Strasbourg, France, and Baden-Baden, Germany, the twin border cities hosting the 60th anniversary NATO summit on Friday and Saturday, were both under security lock for about two days before The President and First Lady arrived, and this continued for their entire visit. Yesterday, anti-NATO protesters--some 65,000 strong, according to estimates--closed down the walking bridge between the two cities, where President Obama and NATO leaders paused for a "unity" photo op early in the day, in advance of the day's meeting. By late afternoon, at least three buildings in Strasbourg, including the Ibis Hotel, were set on fire by protesters.
Meantime, across the Rhine river in Baden-Baden yesterday, the town was deserted. Cafes and restaurants were open, but had no customers, as traffic throughout the city was halted, and citizens were urged to stay at home. Bam and Michelle walked around the marketplace in Baden-Baden with German Chancellor Angela Merkel (above), under heavy military guard, and met with a small crowd. Alongside the violent anti-war protests going on, there were other political issues being addressed, too: The Obama-NATO cake managed to cause a little bit of a scandal (cake in pix at top and bottom of post). The cake is from the Kammerzell Cafe in Baden-Baden, and was criticized for being a veiled racist foodie commentary, because of the dark chocolate frosting (the cake inside is chocolate, too). The writing reads 'Great Obama,' or 'Greetings/welcome Obama' (depending on who's doing the translation) an
d the little blue and white decorations are NATO flags. Germany is apparently newly aware of "racist implications" in food: The Obama Fingers fried chicken strips, introduced by German company Sprehe in early March, have already been pulled from the global marketplace, after being criticized for being sterotypically racist.*Related Obama European Foodorama posts: Read about special NATO wines here; Obama's peachy- keen moment at the Strasbourg Town Hall here; and deets on Emile Jung, legendary French chef, here. Obama Fingers chicken strips are described here.
