Papa home again!

Me, Alexander and Benjamin drove down to Marseille yesterday afternoon and had a little mini vacation on our own, enjoying a steak haché frites on the way and kanelbullar and coffee at Ikea. Just enough time for a quick swing through "my swedish shop", get the necessary candy cars and liquorice shoe strings, before parking our butts at the airport, unpatiently awaiting the return of DAD. Slight delay... 30 mins (enough to glance through the Paris Match and get the latest gossip), and there appeared a limping, sun tanned face with heavy luggage, not too unshaven. Big hugs, big kisses... and home we limped/drove. Bram's probably had a little too much pressure on one knee... (rest and chiropractor will fix it). Great opportunity for story telling and catching up. And at home enough time for opening up the souvenir bag full of surprises! Wonderful gifts for everyone. I just love the indian craftsmanship, it's so beautiful! I got a prettty necklace made out of a coconut and an avocado stone and a lovely belt and buckle. The kids had necklaces, bracelets, pan fluits, belts, hats and Bram got his own personal eternal souvenir... Thank you dad for all the lovely things !!

After hearing all the stories and seeing all the photos, I can only conclude; what a fantastic trip they've had together! Bram said 3 weeks felt like 2 months, they've seen and done so many things. Comparing my blog to Bram's own words, the information received from Tim and Bram, conveyed on the blog, is pretty accurate. I've definetively exaggarated about the swimming with piranhas and dolphins though!! The dolphins were there to be seen but were not that close... and they didn't go into any still standing water where the piranhas and the caymans sit. That would have been really foolish... Like only some bones remaining of two strong dutchmen ;-))) But it was good for the story though!! (Note that at the time I wrote it, it was the impression I had at the time!!) And Bram was not THAT tired on his second summit... it was really heavy and he had no legs, but he had enough to get up there. No digging in for some extra magic strength. That doesn't really exist, does it??

I think it's fantastic Bram and Tim keep up their trips together and I envy their friendship. It's rare. Care for it well. Can't wait to hear where your next adventure will go. Tim's got bitten by climbing...

Thank you Brigitte for your reports and thank you Bram and Tim for sharing your souvenirs with us. Stay tuned...

xx Jen