With Don Quixote, towards a Europe of the Regions

by HSH Prince Radu of Hohenzollern-Veringen

In Ciudad Real, a Spanish town of 70,000 inhabitants, Don Quixote is neither the Knight of the Sad Face, nor the chimera man, nor the symbol of lost causes. Don Quixote de la Mancha of today is the name of the first private airport in Spain, with a 4-km runway, yet “smaller“ than the pride that locals took in promoting this “quixotic“ project. Don Quixote is also the name of a local handball club boasting the champion team of Europe, while the “Kingdom of Don Quixote“ is a tourist development made of a golf course, a casino, a hotel and restaurants, all linked to the airport of the man of La Mancha. This is to show the spectacular shape that myths can take while spreading out in this era of globalisation.

Here is another myth – a recent one, this time:

Romanians working in Spain are sometimes the object of irony at home, both in the media and in private conversations. We, who stay at home and know it all, use “fruit-related names” to speak of them, and the only mitigating circumstance we grant them is due to their sending home 80% of the money they make in Spain, money that their families at home use to build a house or to live better, or see to their health or improve their education.
But seen from here, from Castile-La Mancha, in Spain, where hundreds of thousands of Romanians live, things are totally different. First, the Romanians here are beautiful, they live in dignity and show it. They are people of good character, good citizens, they have a sense of responsibility and a quiet dignity about them – they might very well be the first “European citizens” that Romania has produced. They have already set up 80 civic organisations, they promote culture and education in the mother tongue, they live in perfect harmony with the locals, and they speak very good Spanish – which they have learnt as quickly as they have learnt the way of life of their country of adoption. They are in fact the living image of what the Europe of Regions should be. The free and democratic transfer of energies, cultures, cross-border aspirations, their assuming of a continental destiny, while blending outlooks and ways of understanding the Latin and Christian world – or, in an even wider context, the multicultural and multi-faith European world – is impeccable.
Hundreds of people came to my meetings in Ciudad Real. The Spanish-Romanian Association led by the tireless and enthusiastic Daniel Comanita, organised, with the support of our Embassy in Madrid and of HE Mrs Maria Ligor, tens of meetings in the space of four days – in city halls, local council buildings, universities, among journalists and thousands of Romanians, in the pubs or museums, in libraries, squares or churches. I met bishops, teachers, stonemasons, farmers, bartenders, traders, millionaires, librarians, taxi-drivers, academics, policemen. Some said that Romania is a clever country, because, although a republic, it gives the Royal House the historical opportunity to promote Romania’s interests in a unique way. Others told us how happy and proud they are to see Romania on the way to prosperity and democracy. All of that week, local radio channels broadcast the visit to Ciudad Real of two princes: on Monday – a Prince from Romania, on Friday – Prince Felipe. Everybody talked of Romanians’ talent, fantastic flexibility, civic spirit, civility, generosity and friendliness, loyalty to the majority, attachment to the faith, culture and language, seriousness and warmth.
I went to several cities: Alcazar de San Juan, Tomelloso, Campo de Critana and Toledo, and everywhere I found the same healthy spirit of dignity and self-control. Romanians of all ages, from all walks of life, coming from all the corners of Romania, from Bistrita to Alba, from Târgu Jiu to Constanta, all standing on their own feet, living their life and assuming their destiny. Nowhere did I find signs of humiliation, of life bordering on crime, or of other myths similar to the windmills in the Knight of the Sad Face’s age-old story. The Romanians’ children themselves have their share in spreading Romania’s good-name – Spanish teachers are amazed at their adaptability, flexibility and imagination, openness and intelligence.
We have however to “give Caesar what is Caesar’s”. The opportunity to see these European regions at the other end of the continent arose in Târgoviste and Pucioasa. It was there that, upon accepting to grant our high patronage to the “Association of the Royal Court’s Friends”, I met their European partners of Ciudad Real and Alcazar de San Juan respectively, whom I then welcomed at the Elizabeth Palace and encouraged to invest in Romania and initiate European projects in cooperation with the Dâmbovita County. They may very well be the ones to start building, with European funding, a private airport in Târgoviste, with a 4-km runway able to accommodate both Air Force One and the big Antonov cargo planes. An airport to bring tourists to Dâmbovita and goods to the whole country, to ingeniously support Bucharest and its Otopeni airport, to improve the locals’ self-esteem and to bring back to life the kingly spirit of the Princely House of Basarab’s Seat, whose cultural heritage and medieval hospitality would be the delight of the Internet and iPod generations.
Spain is one of the few prosperous European countries highly dynamic in absorbing EU funds. When this happens in a country of 44 million inhabitants, the impact is continental. Romania too, with its 22 million, will have a beneficial influence on a large area of our continent, if it adopts the same dynamic pace towards prosperity. 50 years ago, Ciudad Real used to be a village, comparable to Romanian villages. Today it is a model of European development. Tens of thousands of Romanians are involved in implementing European projects there – and they would have a lot to say, if asked. Unfortunately, the “pages” of Romanian public life do not find place for them. We don’t know how the European future looks to the lady architect coming from Iasi, to the worker from Alba Iulia, the lawyer from Targoviste, the student harvesting olives in his summer holidays or the professor of philosophy from Cluj who live now – for a while or for ever – in Castile la Mancha. Neither is Europe eager to know what they think. And still, the social impact of their life there is remarkable. They are setting an example that goes beyond a clear-cut exodus in search of a better life. Their story bears on the European destiny, on the intelligent safeguarding of family and traditional values; their story is even richer in meaning than the Romanians’ exodus to America at the beginning of the 20th century. They are this continent’s citizens to whom Brussels should raise a statue, because they are the ones giving life and substance to the tons of paperwork in the European capital. The European Union defines the rules of a new paradigm of the world system; the Romanians living in Spain give flesh to continental ideals.
A new force of the Romanian society is taking shape outside the country; it is dynamic and supple, useful to both Romania and Europe. We, who live at home, should come to realize that Don Quixote has replaced windmills with private airports.

Monday, the 12th February, started in the City Hall of Ciudad Real, where I was welcomed by the Mayor, together with the many people gathered in the square. Leather-clad motorcycled “Politia Local“ dismounted their powerful “steeds”. We went up to the Council Room, to meet the local representatives of the Popular Party and of the Socialist Party. Two Romanian children – Dragos and Alexandra – offered me bread and salt. Then we heard the welcome speeches and held a press conference. We left the City Hall and made, in convoy, for the Catholic Bishopric Church, to meet the Bishop of the Ciudad Real Province. On the steps of the city hall a woman was selling lottery tickets to raise money for the blind. I bought two.
The meeting with the Bishop was short. He told me that the Greek Catholics in Romania have not recovered their properties. I told him that neither has King Michael.
We went then to the Castile La Mancha University (30,000 students), where I met the Rector and the professors. I admired the old rectory building, formerly a hospital that soldiers turned into barracks in Napoleonic times. The new buildings are very clean and in good taste. In the majestic hall we held a conference about Romania. I answered questions.
Then we went to see the Prefect. After the official meeting and the press conference, the Prefect invited me downtown, so we drank coffee and orange juice in a cafeteria. Statues and reminders of Miguel de Cervantes and Don Quixote are present all over the city.
Then came a meeting with businessmen, another one with the Romanian communities and a reception given by the Mayor. Meeting Romanians was a very touching experience. Those beautiful and responsible people, of all ages and social standings, sensible and open-minded made me feel proud of being Romanian and of living in this age. Their world is as real as the one of self-intoxicating Bucharest locals, but the two realities run parallel. They came from far and wide – some of them travelled 500 km – to say how happy they were to see their country represented also by the Royal House. I lived moments of utter happiness amongst those people, who were neither over-excited with their achievements nor arrogant. They neither lionized nor held themselves in contempt, as we often do at home. They have the measure of things, and we Romanians at home should look up to them.
That day ended at 22h – it was long but highly rewarding, and I silently thanked God several times for giving me the chance to live such professional experiences. This reminded me of King Juan Carlos I, who said, some time ago, that he had to earn his daily right to be King.

13th February, Ciudad Real and Alcazar de San Juan.
The day started with a visit to the private airport “Don Quixote“ of Ciudad Real. We were seen there by several local “Don Quixote“, very proud of their project, thought of as very “quixotic” indeed a couple of years ago. The works are still going on but once completed, the airport will stand a very good chance to be  modern, functional and in high demand. I was treated to a first visit of the runway, I saw the normally prohibited underground utility areas (for electricity, heating, etc.). I met 12 Romanian workers there and we were pleased to talk about their life there and the situation at home.
Then we made for the Investment Centre that housed a meeting with local businessmen and journalists; followed by the inauguration of “Global Commercium Development“, a company set up by Daniel Comanita and Ana-Maria Raducu.
I had lunch in a hotel, together with many important people, amongst which the former Rector of the University, local businessmen and political leaders.
At the headquarters of the Local MPs Community I met the President and Vice-President and made a couple of press statements.
In the evening we reached Alcazar de San Juan, where I met again the Mayor we had welcomed at the Elizabeth Palace several months before. He was waiting in the City Hall Square, together with tens of people, the night was clear and warm, the streets of the old town beautifully lighted. The meeting was held in the City Hall, we talked about the cooperation between his city and the town of  Pucioasa, I met the local councillors and businessmen who were present, a few Romanians and local journalists.
There was also a young man present, the only local councillor who is a member of the Communist Party. He is against royalty and an atheist, but said the day he was received at the Elisabeth Palace in Bucharest is one of the most important of his life.
We had a walk in the pedestrian area downtown, in the clean air of the evening, then made for the cultural heart of the city, where tens of Romanians and their children were gathered. The children sang and danced in front of the Prince, although they had hoped to see Father Christmas again, since he had come to the same hall six weeks before, with presents. Although late in the evening, I had a last meeting with local businessmen and well-known representatives of civil society.

14 February, Alcazar de San Juan, Campo de Criptana, Tomellosa.
The day started with a visit to a cheese maker, a big ultramodern dairy producing 35,000 ton of cheese a year, among which the “Garcia Baquero” – brands famous all over Spain and very expensive. Then we visited a primary school with kindergarten, the Santa Clara, which has many Romanian children; a pure-hearted principal and teachers, an extraordinary welcome and experience.
I left for Campo de Criptana, a community of 15,000 inhabitants of which over 1,000 Romanians. Everybody was a little nervous, because they had been waiting for 15 minutes before we arrived. A warm gathering of people, Romanians, the Mayor, the councillors, local businessmen, journalists, etc. Heart-felt speeches, an exhibition of Romanian paintings, very many photos.
Next came Don Quixote’s windmills, of extreme beauty. In fact, I think I had never seen before any other such blending of gracefulness, innocence and harmony in a building. They are good and quiet, white, round, with wooden wings and a tail at the back. There is so much mystery and halo around them that one cannot even begin to describe them.
From here we left for Tomelloso, to visit first a wine-maker, “Virgen de los Vinos“, with an output of 150 million litres a year. Similarly to the dairy, this wine-making plant is located in a Spanish town economically nonexistent 20 years ago. Everything has came to be, to move and to surprise these years. That makes me believe that Romania too stands a good chance to progress if its people allow themselves to be guided by courage, far-reaching vision, generosity and entrepreneurship. This is exactly the purpose of the detailed description of this visit on the blog. I would like to persuade as many readers as possible of the extraordinary chance that freedom of action has in Romania today.
We then met the Mayor of Tomelloso. He organized a press conference at the Town Hall, then a meeting with local councillors, representatives of civil society and local prominent businessmen. The entire three-day agenda was a race against time, full of speeches, meetings, dialogues, press conferences, a continuing public presence.
A walk downtown and a meeting with the Romanian community in a big house came next. There were only a few tens of Romanians, but talking to them was meaningful and inspiring. People of all ages and trades, coming from various parts of Romania, all wishing to know what’s going on at home and in the world, what the Royal House does, etc.
Two brothers coming from Maramures were very active, we shared a lot of thoughts and ideas. One of them asked me what three major pieces of advice I would give if I were asked to. I said they would be summed up in three words: prosperity, identity, love. He then asked me to list them by order of importance; I replied the order is: identity, love, prosperity.
The day ended with a reception given by the Mayor in the big conference room of a new hotel-restaurant. Lots of pictures were taken and I tried to hear and talk to each of those present. They were all excited, open and welcoming. There were also Romanians from the Republic of Moldova among them.

15 February, Toledo and Madrid
The last day of an intensive and rich in satisfaction trip was in Toledo, a museum-city grabbing you at every glance. The first meeting was housed by the Regional Government building, with lots of media, in the Vice-President’s company. I chanced upon an important moment in local politics, so the talks didn’t last long. The entire delegation and myself went then to visit a Government agency promoting Spanish investment abroad. We spent over an hour in this place, and agreed to welcome Spanish investors in Romania, in Brasov and Reghin, in spring.
Then we made for the City Hall of Toledo – a building of great beauty, comparable only to the Bishop Palace and the majestic Cathedral. The Mayor was delighted and welcomed us warmly. We held an ample press conference, where we stressed Spain’s unprecedented economic potential, as well as the significant number of Romanians in that region, the opportunities to intensify economic relations with Romania and the European partnership of regions.
I had then the chance of a short walk in the superb old town, unique in the whole world. The Cathedral houses a few works of Caravaggio, El Greco, Goya and Van Dyke – rather unusual for a place of worship.
We had lunch with Toledo authorities, in a friendly and hospitable atmosphere.
Next we visited the Infantry Academy, that is a military school. The General in command received me in the council room and we discussed the educational systems in our respective countries and the opportunities for cooperation in military education. We toured the Academy premises, the museum, courtyard, library, conference room and a couple of classrooms.
At 20h30 I went to a reception given by HE Mrs Ambassador Ligor, who joined me during the last day of the visit. An important number of Romanians living in Spain came to the reception – clergymen, journalists, teachers, businessmen, students, artists – most of them young. I talked to them, and to the diplomats and their families; the trust, warmth and mutual respect we shared should be present whenever Romanians meet abroad. We talked about the values of the Royal House, about generosity, loyalty, setting examples, the spirit of responsibility, perennial institutions and leadership of a kind other than the political one prevailing in Europe today.
The visit ended on Friday the 16th February, with a meeting with seven Romanian journalists and editors of Romanian publications in Spain.