What a great weekend.

Finally, even though it's already way toooo late at night, I manage to write a few words about some things that happened recently. So the few of you who follow my life are updated again. ;-)

On Friday, my little brother Dani and his boyfriend Sera arrived on the IB flight from Madrid. Of course I picked them up right at the gate (hmm... for some reason Dani "knew" I would do that...) and it just felt awesome to take my little brother into my arms and hug him! I could have done that for hours but there was also Sera waiting and it felt just as good to see him again too!

Jelle stayed at home as he was preparing the dinner for us. We have had fondue and of course we talked late into the night... Us four doña's had much to talk about after we had last seen each other in Berlin. ;-)

The next day after I overslept (shame on me) and got up half an hour later than we had planned and after having a nice breakfast we all took a leisurely stroll through the city where Dani bought flowers for his Sera , where we walked into a CD/DVD shop where Dani scandalously bought DVD's for me and Jelle under my eyes and I didn't even realize... (thank you so much, but you shouldn't have done that!!!), where I once again bumped into a flickr member who's one of my contacts and who I hadn't met before* and where later in the afternoon we met Timo for a coffee. We went back home just to change clothes to head right back into the city as we had tickets for a concert of Jelle's and my favorite singer Trijntje Oosterhuis who was performing a concert in Royal Theatre Carré. Dani and Sera like her music too and I think Trijntje had a flawless and immaculate performance, I was fascinated by her voice again, it was beautiful and I really enjoyed it. I hope Dani and Sera also liked it but I think they did. ;-) After the show we went to a restaurant on Rozengracht to have late night dinner and that was a real pleasant surprise! We all just loved the ambiance and the food and the whole concept! It was arabian themed, you lay down on lounge couches without chairs or tables. The staff was friendly and sat down to us and explained everything. There was enough time to eat in between courses and I really liked the possibility to simply lay there which felt so much more comfortable than sitting in a "normal" restaurant! Before the main course was served they even offered a massage but only Jelle took the opportunity and took a foot massage. After main course and dessert they even offered a water pipe that Jelle and Sera gladly tried out. Dani and I tried one "sip" but refrained from further smoking... The restaurant stays open until 03.00 in the night, so lots of time for us to enjoy and chill out. Dani and Sera insisted on inviting us to this great dinner and I must really thank them lots and lots for their generosity - guys, you really shouldn't have done that!!!

Unfortunately it rained when we left the restaurant but luckily the bus stop was not too far away and we did not have to wait too long for the night bus service back home. 

The next day, after a good night's sleep and a nice breakfast we again headed for the city where we wanted to meet Timo again for yet another coffee... ;-) We were a little late 'cause we took a little detour from central station while walking to Nieuwmarkt to meet Timo. But eventually we got there and Timo gave us a tour of the flea market that was helt there to show us some things he found interesting. After that we really had the coffee. ;-)

Then, unfortunately, it was already time to return home to get ready to go to the airport. I accompanied Dani and Sera to Frankfurt where they would board their flight to Madrid. Luckily I was able to check them in myself and assign some nice seats for their Frankfurt-Madrid-flight. The perks of working for an airline... ;-)

At Frankfurt I had to say goodbye to my dear friends, my beloved lilbro. After we shared a last coffee and had a frozen appel cake (tasted good, but was way too cold, almost frozen) we hugged and kissed each other goodbye. I was the most happy person on earth at that moment as I left them with the feeling of thankfulness, joy, love, pride, happiness. For a change I was not deeply sad when I left my beloved friends but truly happy. Because they made me feel so special, because they gave me lots and lots of the most precious a friend can give: their love! When we parted, Sera said he hoped we can make many more of these travels together hoping they will end not like in Berlin. It meant a lot for me that he said that to me! 

Obviously Dani and Sera had a good flight as Dani called right after they landed and told me. I was glad he called as it felt good to know he arrived safely and his mom had picked him and Sera up by car and they were heading to Sera's home now. A beautiful weekend had come to an end but to me, this all is simply the continuation of a miracle called "Our wonderful friendship".

____________________________________________________________________

* Isn't it a coincidence? It's unbelievable that again I met a flickr contact by pure chance! I mean, consider the chance that you meet someone whom you only "know" by internet in a big city like Amsterdam - first I met encarneviva in Madrid and now it was Erik in Amsterdam (yes Jörg, the Erik...). Isn't it weird? ;-)