When Spanish adventurer Kitin Munoz and his wife, Bulgaria’s Princess Kalina, thought of where to announce their next goodwill expedition, they thought of the Bronx.
On Monday, October 25, Kitin announced on BronxNet that he will be leading a sailing expedition that will take off soon from the coast of Morocco and will end in Miami. The boats are currently being constructed in Bolivia out of reeds and the ship’s crew will consist amlost entirely of Muslim sailers. The trek will be a display of peace and unity between the Muslim world and the west, Kitin said.
“We’re very happy to be able to share this message of peace,” said Kitin, who is a Goodwill UNESCO Ambassador.
The announcement was made in both English and Spanish so as to reach the broadest audience. It will air on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. on ‘Dialogo Abierto’ and on ‘Open’ on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 a.m., 5 p.m. and 10 a.m.
This will be the second expedition Kitin has led across the Atlantic. He has also led missions across the Pacific Ocean for peace.
“He’s doing amazing work that connects worlds,” BronxNet executive director, Michael Max Knobbe said. “It is very fitting that they would join us here, in one of the most diverse places in the country, to make this important announcement.”
According to Princess Kalina, the pair were interested in coming to the Bronx because of its history of bridging gaps between people with cultural traditions like dance and hip-hop – though mixing the two is a little difficult, the exercise-enthusiast said.
“I think you need to be from here to be able to do it,” he said.
After spending the morning in the studio, filming the announcement, Kitin and the princess got the chance to visit the borough.
Starting at Arthur Avenue, the pair tried cheeses from Mike’s Deli and ate at a nearby restaurant, before visiting Frank’s Sports Shop and the gardens at Wave Hill.
“It’s been pretty amazing,” Kalina said. “In Europe they say the Bronx is a strange part of New York, but it’s so nice. Coming here now and actually walking through it, it is wonderful.”
It was the first time the pair had visited the borough, although they have been to other parts of the city, they said.
According to David Greco, of Mike’s Deli, it was not the first time royalty had dined at his restaurant or deli in the city-owned Arthur Avenue Market.
“My royalty is always here,” he said referring to a list of celebrities and Bronxites that frequent the establishments along Arthur Avenue. “For my chef, he serves royalty every day, but I’m sure the city would be happy to know that they came by.”
