CRAWFORD, Texas – President Bush welcomed Spain's king, Juan Carlos (search), to his Texas ranch Wednesday with a show of warm feelings in marked contrast to the chill in relations toward the prime minister of Spain.
The king and his wife, Queen Sofia (search), arrived by helicopter at Bush's ranch in central Texas. The president drove his white pickup truck to the landing site, accompanied by his wife, Laura, and his father, former President George H.W. Bush.
"Hola," the president said in greetings to journalists. Bush gave the king a hearty handshake and escorted him to the truck, holding open the door. The queen, the first lady and the former president also climbed in. Bush planned to give a brief tour of the ranch and host a lunch.
Asked what signal he was trying to send by welcoming the king, Bush replied, "Spain is a great country and good friend." Rolling down the window, he shouted to journalists: "Adios -- that means goodbye."
In contrast to the welcome for Juan Carlos, Bush has given a cold shoulder to Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (search), who has called Bush to congratulate him on his re-election but hasn't been able to get past the switchboard.
Zapatero angered the administration by withdrawing troops from Iraq after taking office in April.
Bush also met recently at the White House with Spain's former prime minister, Jose Maria Aznar, who was a chief Bush ally in the war in Iraq.
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