Breathe
By Laura Pérez Cisneros
When the moorings of Elcano's ship are cast off tomorrow, Saturday, January 11, the arms of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will also be the moorings that will untie their princess, who will carry in her heart's trunk, recommendations, advice and blessings to sail the seas and experience how to navigate life in the coming and going of waves, moments that do not return and that can only remain trapped in the memory.
38 years after the ship Juan Sebastían de Elcano was also his great teacher of the sea, now 57 years old, the King could not better portray what his daughter will learn from the oceans: "The sea is a permanent learning and challenge, sometimes uncompromising and raw, with no room for excuses ".
It will be 5 months and 8 countries of America, of the 76 midshipmen there are only 9 women and in that time they will learn to use the lexicon of sailors; while on board the ship Leonor will be simply "Midshipman Borbón Ortiz" and will have the same treatment as the others; that includes guards of 3 hours during the day and 4 hours at night when it is her turn.
You will experience the roughness of storms in every way; you will get blisters on your fingers and like the sea you will experience all the emotions: the fear of rough waters. You will make jokes to your mates, you will learn to make double heart knots in a new brotherhood with them and yes, Leonor you will also miss and above all you will value your parents and your sister Sofia, your grandparents, and it is clear to you, it is the price of being future Queen of Spain so you want to leave your soul every day in your naval training.
I imagine you perfect, alone on the high seas with that profile so Bourbon, marveling at the sunsets, the lullaby of the sea and the beauty that your blue eyes will become one with the waters, seeing the greatness of life and how you will never get excited when, as in pirate stories, someone shouts: "Land ahoy! "You will celebrate in a big way and when you step on land only in those moments, the magic will invade you and from midshipman you will be received as "Her Royal Highness, Princess of Asturias" and each port will be an official visit and you will be an ambassador of Spain, there will come the duality in this life experience, being a sailor of the sea and princess, that will also give you more security to develop and you will have Leonor, a new complicity with your father the King and your grandfather the Emeritus, who also lived the same experience in 1958.
A special crew member
Before embarking from the port of Cadiz, the midshipmen visit the church of Santo Domingo to commend themselves to the Virgin of Our Lady of the Rosary and, as has been the case since 1986, the image of the Virgin leaves the altar and also embarks to give her protection to the crew and students on their journey. Known as "La Galeona" or "La Naval" the virgin will return to her church until next July when this course at sea ends.
From kitchen assistant to International Chef.
A few days ago the Spanish chef José Andrés received from President Biden "The Medal of Freedom" -the highest civilian honor of the nation- because this man who has a vocation to help, had the good fortune to do his military training in the Navy and it was in 1989 when he embarked on the ship as an assistant cook "What I have achieved in life I owe largely to the Navy. Respect, honor and sacrifice, always helping others" and those life lessons learned on the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, have earned him international recognition with his "World Central Kitchen" that takes food to war zones and where there are tragedies.
Mexico and the Spanish ship.
During her apprenticeship at sea Leonor will visit 8 countries: Salvador de Bahia Brazil, Montevideo Uruguay, Punta Arenas and Valparaiso in Chile, El Callao Peru, Cartagena de Indias and Santa Marta in Colombia, Santo Domingo Dominican Republic and New York USA.
On this occasion, the princess will miss out on getting to know Mexico. She will not be welcomed with "sones jarochos" in Veracruz, enjoy the warmth of our people, wrap herself in our colors, taste our food and listen to "Granada" by the unforgettable Agustin Lara or be in Manzanillo Colima, because the training ship has visited Mexico 14 times. It will be for another time princess that when you finish this trip at sea you will not be the same and you know it.
X @lauperezcisnero
*Multitask journalist, passionate about international affairs, royalty expert, life observer Storyteller, tvhost, lucky and grateful radio host
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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