They say that the Alhambra of Granada It was whitewashed back in the 13th century, when it was built on the Sabika, one of the highest points in the capital of the Nasrid kingdom. But when it was built, work was done at night, and seen in the dark the torches turned it red.
And that’s why the name, which in Spanish means Red Castle. Other theories say that Alhambra (the Red) is actually the feminine name of its founder, Abu al-Ahmar (Muhammad I, 1238-1273), which in Arabic means ‘the Red’, because he had red hair. Be that as it may, the site is magical and bewitches its visitors, as anyone who has visited it knows. Hence the leaders gathered there this Thursday went crazy about the surroundings, to the point of making selfies all over. Some were in sneakers, like the president of Albania; Others asked the President of the Government himself to do it and Pedro Sánchez, like a good host, acted as photographer.
Spain boasts unique and magical art
These were not the only curious scenes that were seen on the most Nasrid European day. The dinner on the occasion of the summit of the European Political Community was the place where we finally saw the Kings together again in public, after several private trips from king philip alone: he was in Asturias at his godson’s wedding, then he traveled the following Saturday to Zaragoza to eat with some friends and took the opportunity to see his daughter Leonor. On Sunday she traveled to Malaga, where she attended an important women’s golf tournament of which Mrs. Letizia is Honorary President. But the queen was not in any of the three. Days before, of all these solo movements of Don Felipe, the attendance of King Juan Carlos at the private party for the 18th birthday of the Princess of Asturias, in El Pardo, had been made public, to which the attendance of other members of the family who are not usual to see with the Monarch and his wives.
Perfect hostess
But it’s Thursday, the Queen couldn’t miss it because she acted as the perfect hostess with her husband and posed with the European leaders who were delighted to attend the event. Together with the Sovereign and his wife, the acting president and Begoña Gómez, appeared before the illustrious guests.
Spain holds the presidency of the Council of the EU for the fifth time, and it was a good opportunity to demonstrate once again the enormous skills of Feñipe VI and the Queen as unbeatable hosts before the European personalities who gathered at the Alhambra.
A better scenario could not have been imagined than the one chosen for presidents, heads of government, and their partners. The summit participants arrived around six-thirty in the afternoon at the Patio de los Arrayanes, in the Palacio de Comares, with an elongated central pool surrounded by myrtle hedges (hence the name).
They were received by Pedro Sanchez y Begoña Gomez, splendid with a low-cut model by the Asturian Marcos Luengo. The acting president and his wife greeted the authorities and many of them, despite having seen a lot of the world, were ojiplasticos by the impressive surroundings and their beauty, to the point of not being able to resist the temptation of breaking any protocol and taking their cell phones out of their pockets to take photographs and selfies and take home a personalized souvenir of the moment. Doña Letizia was very close to Gauthier Destenay, the husband of Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister of Finland He begged the socialist leader to take a photograph of him and his wife. The scene was so curious that the nine o’clock news programs included the scene among their content. Petteri Orpo posed with Niina M. Kanniainen, his wife. And then Pedro Sánchez himself and Begoña Gómez posed with them to take a selfie with the four of them. So that they say that Finns are cold and not very spontaneous.
The King met Zelensky in the Alhambra in his first meeting (at least in public) with the Ukrainian president since Russia unleashed the war. Zelensky had not been in Spain since the war began.
Mrs. Letizia approached after Felipe VI started the conversation to greet the Ukrainian president, who did not stay at the dinner where nearly fifty leaders from the European continent were present.
Around eight in the afternoon, the Monarch and his wife, together with the acting president and Begoña Gómez, moved to the Patio de los Leones, where they greeted those present. There he later took the family photo of the summit, first with the political and institutional leaders and later with his partners in a more complete photo.
Later, in the gardens, a flamenco show by the singer Marina Heredia delighted the visitors, who were then offered at the Parados, within the monumental complex, a dinner based on the Andalusian menu prepared by the chef Paco Morales from Córdoba, whose business has two Michelin stars (Ronda de los Tejares 16).
The king’s speech
King Felipe VI has trusted that the leaders who have attended the summit of the European Political Community (CPE) will leave imbued with the “spirit of Granada” and aware of what diversity and tolerance can offer if they are used as “advantage”.
This was expressed in his welcome words at the dinner that took place at the Parador de Granada after the visit that the leaders made to some of the most emblematic patios and rooms of the Alhambra.
Don Felipe praised Granada, a city “proud of its history, which has made it a unique example of cultural fusion in Europe” and which has its “most visible feature” in the Alhambra.
The monarch has trusted that “the spirit of Granada, the visual reminder of what diversity and tolerance can provide when we channel them as an advantage and a resource, has inspired” the conversations “that the leaders have had during the day and “the ones you will have in the future.”
Europe, he maintained, is a “continent with a long common history and today there are still some national positions and cultural references that sometimes differ.”
But perhaps, Felipe VI has said, “the combination of all that history and our diverse points of view and sensitivities is the reason why in recent decades we have managed to unite around our common values.”
These values, they have said, are “the aspiration for a true peace, not based on the strength of one actor but on the free consent of all, large and small” as well as “the aspiration for a true democracy as the system that best respects our diversity, both within our borders and across the continent.
In his opinion, the CPE is “an indispensable tool” for all the countries that make it up – the 27 of the EU and another 17 that are not members – since “it offers a forum in which to meet and discuss the issues that are important for us, so that we can reach common positions and the European voice can be heard on the international scene.