story416.xml

story416.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-04-15

My wife and I were attending the first Philippine Studies conference ever held in Spain sponsored by the University of Alcala in its magnficently restored 1500s buildings. We did not go with a group of delegates touring a nearby medieval village but after lunch were resting in our room at Hotel El Bedel. The phone rang. "Turn on your TV!" a fe;low delegate exclaimed. It was tuned to CNN. We watched in horror as the second plane flew into a tower. One of the tourists had a cell phone. A friend called from Manila to alert her. In the plaza outside the hotel a female carabinero (national police) woman in combat gear was climbing into her vehicle to go to the center of Madrid on guard duty. Spanish media were filled with 9/11 materials. Spaniards extended condolences and support. We waited at Madrid's Barajas airportfor two days beyond our scheduled departure home to Philadelphia. On our airport hotel TV we saw the opening of the Spanish Supreme Court session, attended by King Juan Carlos. All were in formal dress. We heard the Chief Justice express his sorrow and support and emphasize the of importance of upholding the rule of law. When we did take off all the passengers cheered. We cheered again when the pilot told us we were in U.S. territorial waters.