Spanish Royalty to visit!

What an exciting announcement this afternoon when we heard King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sophia of Spain will be visiting Pensacola on February 18 and 19 to help us celebrate our 450th anniversary countdown. On August 14, 1559 Tristan de Luna de Arellano's expedition sailed into Pensacola Bay and became the first European settlement in America.

Celebrate Pensacola, Inc. has been working very hard to bring about this visit of Spanish royalty. Dignitaries arrived from Spain on Friday to assess potential security concerns and scout out our local attractions. I'm only sad we aren't having brilliantly sunny days to showcase our sugar-white beaches and sparkling turquoise and emerald waters.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate in February to show the King and Queen of Spain the beauty which must have greeted their explorers who arrived in Pensacola Bay 450 years ago. They would truly understand the words of Carlos de Siguenza y Gongora who wrote of Pensacola Bay,

"I hereby assert that this bay is the finest jewel possessed by His Majesty...not only here in America but in all his kingdom."

I will be putting up a permanent link to Celebrate Pensacola, Inc. so you may follow the celebratory events scheduled during this exciting anniversary year.