Yucatan is a magnet for world royalty. The visitors that our state has welcomed over the years are proof of this, from Prince Rainier of Monaco to Naruhito, Emperor of Japan, who has visited the Land of the Mayab twice, in 1992 and 2006.
Former Yucatán Governor Patricio Patrón Laviada, who welcomed Naruhito on his last visit to the state, remembers his imperial highness as a very simple person, who was in love with the Maya culture.
“The Japanese protocol demanded a very punctual care of the prince’s activities, but he left the protocol at various points in time during his visit and, in the end, the Emperor said he was leaving our state “with a broad smile and very happy for the knowledge acquired”.
The humbleness of the Japanese emperor is not new, throughout his life there have been several passages that exemplify this great quality. It is well known that he still has the Chac Mool that a street vendor gave him at the gates of the Chichen Itza site during his visit in 1992.
During his visit to Chichen Itza in theyear 1992, the son of the exemperor Akihito did not lose any detail of the Kukulcán pyramid. He climbed its 91 steps and slowly walked the top of the building. When he went down he exclaimed: “This is wonderful”.
The Yucatan Times Newsroom with information from yucatan.com.mx
