Update: Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev visits West Seattle

(Thanks to Babs for the motorcade photo)
ORIGINAL 5:13 PM REPORT: We’ve gotten a couple messages about a motorcade in the Alki area. We’re told it’s for the president of Bulgaria, who has indeed been visiting Seattle. Earlier today, first-year President Rosen Prevneliev was on Capitol Hill. While in the area, he’s also met with Bill Gates. He’s in the area to drum up U.S. interest in Bulgarian business and is also visiting the “other” U.S. tech hub, Silicon Valley.

8:07 PM UPDATE: President Prevneliev has moved on, according to a WSB’er who called to say the motorcade had (temporarily) shut down I-5. Commenter WS says he was visiting The Pacific Institute, which is on Harbor Avenue SW between Salty’s and Seacrest; we passed by briefly en route to another story and noted the motorcycle officers were parked right across the street from the Institute.

(Event photos courtesy FOCUS News Agency, used with permission)
ADDED EARLY THURSDAY: Thanks to Bulgaria’s FOCUS News Agency for sharing photos from the West Seattle event; their correspondent reports that President Prevneliev told members of Seattle’s Bulgarian community that he is working to build trust between citizens and their political leaders, and that he is working on a long-term development plan for the country, including a proposed technology park.

FOCUS reports that about 40 people met with President Plevneliev during his West Seattle stop, including Bulgaria’s Ambassador to the United States, Elena Poptodorova, and the U.S. Ambassador to Bulgaria, James Warlick, who has been tweeting about the trip:

The president’s Silicon Valley itinerary Thursday includes a stop at Google HQ.

16 Replies to "Update: Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev visits West Seattle"

  • andiems May 16, 2012 (5:17 pm)

    I have video of it :)

  • westseattledood May 16, 2012 (5:23 pm)

    Well, no doubt Mr. President and crew are gonna’ kill pre/flight time at El Chupacabra’s Happy Hour watching for a seal or whale sighting

    No? ;)

  • Christopher Boffoli May 16, 2012 (5:56 pm)

    Kudos on the fast camera work Babs!

  • Aman May 16, 2012 (6:01 pm)

    Добре дошли в Западна Сиатъл г-н президент

  • JayDee May 16, 2012 (6:22 pm)

    Thanks to Google Translate Aman said:

    “Welcome to West Seattle, Mr. President”

    I think dinner is at Saltys–given the parking restrictions and eager valets.

    • WSB May 16, 2012 (6:25 pm)

      He was described somewhere as planning to meet tonight with the Seattle Bulgarian community. What a lovely night for any kind of an event on the water :) – TR

  • Jeri May 16, 2012 (6:46 pm)

    I love when people visit and our city of Seattle shows off by looking all sunny, green and gorgeous!

  • miws May 16, 2012 (6:57 pm)

    That must explain the Motorcycle Officers that cruised down 4th Av, past the Central Library, Downtown this morning.

    .

    I was sitting outside the library, between 8:30 and 10:00, and five bikes went by, twice, within a period of probably 15 minutes or so.

    .

    Not sure if it was the same five, both times, and thought they were just starting their shifts, before splitting up and going their separate ways. Although, the thought of some procession crossed my mind, but there was nothing else to indicate that.

    .

    Mike

  • rats May 16, 2012 (7:23 pm)

    Sasha B Cohen filming his next movie? :)

  • ws May 16, 2012 (7:44 pm)

    He was meeting at The Pacific Institute with community members.

    • WSB May 16, 2012 (8:03 pm)

      Thanks, WS, I drove by briefly en route to another story and it appeared the police were more concentrated by the Institute than by Salty’s. – TR

  • JayDee May 16, 2012 (8:18 pm)

    Didn’t even know there was an Institute there…other than Saltys.

  • TylerDurden May 16, 2012 (8:23 pm)

    Pisna mi!

  • rockergirl5678 May 16, 2012 (9:36 pm)

    I saw the motorcade when I was on capitol hill – wondered who it was at the time.

  • JJD May 16, 2012 (10:48 pm)

    I saw this motorcade on capitol hill this afternoon too, didn’t know who it was but was damn curious, lol. Thank you! When I arrived at High 5 Pie around 2pm, it was headed east up the hill…around 3pm they raced back westward towards downtown. The 2pm instance saw one of the motorcycle cops yelling repeatedly at a metro bus telling him to “Stop…Stop!…STOP!!” & keep the intersection clear, hehe.

  • Sherri Chun May 17, 2012 (7:56 am)

    That is awesome! We have many students from Bulgaria, they will be proud!

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