Bienvenidos a Jamaica ...
Published:Sunday | September 7, 2014 | 12:00 AM
Krysta Anderson, Lifestyle Reporter
We recently said adíos to the lady of the house, Ambassador Celsa Nuño, and last Monday afternoon, the diplomatic corps of Jamaica gave the newly appointed Spanish Ambassador Aníbal Jiménez y Abascal a warm welcome.
Just after midday, with the heat from the blazing sun in full force, fellow ambassadors, delegates and dignitaries came out to greet the new ambassador and his wife, Filomena Ruiz, at their Norbrook, St Andrew home. Braving the heat in formal suits and dresses, the specially invited guests showered the couple with good cheer, support, blessings, and wishes of success.
The one hour vin d'honneur event sought to introduce Jiménez y Abascal in an official yet informal fashion. The man of the proverbial Spanish house ditched the regular speech route and instead engaged in a one-on-one, meet-and-greet session with everyone. With ease, he worked the crowd and made everyone feel right at home.
His wife was just as affable, standing by his side and making her own connections through conversations. Diversity exuded through the hors d'oeuvres of chicken kebabs, shrimp, cheese delicacies and other culturally prepared delights which filtered through the open patio space, tantalising many taste buds with various bursts of flavours.
The ambassador is no stranger to the tropics, having served as the consul general in Havana, Cuba from 1980 to 1983. We look forward to his exciting journey as the Spanish ambassador to Jamaica.
Here are a few highlights from the affair.
Photos by Rudolph Brown/Photographer