once upon a time in Porto...

It is a truth universally acknowledged that all great fairy tales begin as above, location aside, and I am hoping it rings true for the weekend that was as I found myself once again enjoying the palpable glow of two newlyweds who seemed wholly happy. But I am getting quite ahead of myself here.

I sit on my couch, almost completely broken by the weekend that was and the fun that was had. Since oversleeping between Thurs-Fri I believe I have chalked up less than 10 hours sleep but more than just a weekend of memories; once again the whole of the time so much more than the mere sum of the parts.

I'm just going to say it: WE HAD SO MUCH FUN! Granted, one small tiny element of potential slipped away quite early on but from the first link up and Schiphol to the last three Dutch kisses as we took different trains back home the weekend was incredible!! It was rated by all as one of the MOST fun weekends EVER and I was so, so, SO happy to have been able to show new people a new place with such enjoyment on both parts.

And why was this yet another incredible journey? Speculation on my part considers the ease of the company mixed with the eagerness to see new things in the spirit of fun and enjoyment, topped off by being welcomed by some of the most hospitable people on the planet! The wedding couple and their family and friends immediately and continually emanated the feeling we had known them for years, and that our presence at the wedding was so very much appreciated despite having only known the couple for mere months. We are in debt to Rodri for the BEST tour around Porto that we could have hoped for on Saturday morning and I was so thankful to have the time with him that day.

Last week I was around the world celebrating the wedding of a very good long-time friend with a very good long-time friend, and here I was one week later having the time of my life celebrating the wedding of a very good new friend with a very good new friend. The same, but different, and absolutely CRAZY that I crammed them in within one week! I am SO thankful I had taken the time and decision to make it happen with the company I kept.

And what of the wedding itself? I think I can safely say that I have not enjoyed a wedding as much, EVER!! It was a NON-STOP PARTY from three in the afternoon until the uber abundant buffet that brought us in from the dance floor at four in the morning. In all honesty the whole WEEKEND was a non-stop funfare of decadence and indulgence, from the Glorias ordered mere moments after disembarking from the plane to the final sips of port as we returned to our lives via Schiphol. I don't think I ate one vegetable all weekend!! OMG! Getting lost, getting found, FABulously trendy restaurants, cheap cabs, early clubs, late clubs, after hours, no hours, tosta mista, francesinha, champagne, single malt, dancing all night, new friends, hot hotels, dinner at midnight, and the creme de la creme, deciding to see a movie in the middle of the night mere hours before we needed to board the plane home. Say it all together with me now...GOOD TIMES!

I appreciated having travel companionship in all forms this time around and was most nervous that the commitment to come along would be regretted; but as we parted with hugs and thank yous and rave reviews to the extent of "Myr this was the BEST weekend I had SO much fun! I LOVE Porto! (a phrase I heard every half an hour hehehe) TOTALLY as good as London, Paris, anywhere!" I was so very happy to have been the catalyst to such reactions. SO happy. The sharing of time, the exchange of presents, the conversations, the city invasions, laughing and joking, drinking and smoking, and out and out CRAZY fun softened the tiny splinter of disappointment of other matters, which I will choose not to say more about now.

So, here I am, having yet another fantastic span of time permanently held safe in the memory bank. Which means of course the bittersweet sting of having it all end and wondering if and when we will ever share time together like that again...as much as I hope I also quite sadly doubt.

Ending on a happy note: CONGRATS P&R! May you celebrate most lavishly in the 5-star care of the Copacabana Palace! You wedding ROCKED the casbah!