Spanish
Santo Domingo.- Dozens of Spanish citizens residing in the Dominican Republic gathered on the morning of this Monday in the vicinity of the port of Punta Torrecilla to welcome the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón, who arrived in the country aboard the Spanish Navy Training Ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano.
With flags, applause, and faces full of emotion, those present expressed their pride at the visit of the heir to the Spanish throne, who is making a stopover in Santo Domingo as part of her military training in the Navy.
“I am very happy to be here because I miss my homeland very much, and I feel that having the princess here is like having a little piece of Spain with me. I come from Cádiz and I have been in the Dominican Republic for a year, and I have been very happy here. I know that Princess Leonor will do a great job,” expressed Raquel, a Spanish citizen waving a flag of her country, moved.
The arrival of the Juan Sebastián de Elcano generated great anticipation, not only among resident Spaniards, but also among Dominicans curious to meet the young princess, who at 18 years old continues her preparation as future Head of the Armed Forces.
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For many of the attendees, the visit has a deep symbolic value, as it represents a link with their homeland abroad.
“It's an indescribable emotion to see the ship enter the port and know that the princess is here. It's a way of feeling closer to home,” commented Maite Bonilla de Valencia.
Local authorities and representatives of the Embassy of Spain in the country organized an official reception, while protocol activities and institutional visits are expected throughout the week.
The Juan Sebastián de Elcano, with almost a century of history, has traditionally been a "floating embassy" of Spain and is used for the training of Navy officers. This stop in Santo Domingo is part of its 97th training cruise, which will conclude in Spain after its next stop in New York.
