King of Spain chose the Grand Hotel Europe

To the galaxy of many royal personages, who has ever visited the Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg was added the royal couple of Spain - King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia, who stayed from 24 to 25 February in the hotel. Majestic visitors arrived in the northern capital during a visit devoted to the Year of Spain in Russia and opening in the Hermitage an exhibition from the Prado Museum.

The Grand Hotel Europe waited impatiently for the arrival of the king and the queen and received them at the highest level - they were met by the managing director of the Orient-Express in Russia Mr. Leon Larkin and hotel manager Julia Pashkovskaya. Later Mr. Larkin has shown himself as a true hospitable host and received an order from the king, who was waiting for the queen in the lobby bar.

The royal pair was given the best luxury apartments. The hotel welcomed honored guests with the gifts in traditional Russian style - vodka, caviar, pancakes and its traditional chocolate, produced by the Grand Hotel Europe factory. The king and the queen arrived at the hotel with the escort of 80 people, who occupied the entire third floor of the hotel.

The royal couple took the opportunity to see historical interiors of the hotel, including the old "Lidval" hall, where was organized a Spanish-themed exhibition, timed to the Year of Spain in Russia. The honored public was presented the engravings by Ilya Bogdesko for the novel by Miguel de Cervantes "Don Quixote", published by "Vita Nova" publishing house.

King Juan Carlos I wrote an entry in the book of honorable guests of the Grand Hotel Europe and thanked the staff for the cordial audience.