New Years Eve in Amsterdam

Frank, Martin, Wendy and I rode our bikes over to Jasperina’s boyfriend’s place. Jasperina (pronounced Yasperina) is a friend of Wendy’s. But it wasn’t always that way. They got in a fight years ago and hadn’t talked for years. Then one recent day Wendy had a flight to Barcelona and who should be on that flight, but Jasperina. They’ve been friends again ever since.

This was the first time I met Jasperina’s boyfriend. In fact, I had only met Jasperina twice before. Her boyfriend’s name is Bas. He’s of medium height and lanky with a big head of floppy curls. He seemed like a really nice guy. I suspect he doesn’t have a mean bone in his body.

His brother Eric was at the party too. I would’ve never guessed they were brothers. Eric is a lot more reserved and quiet than Bas. And they don’t look anything like each other – except for the eyes. They both have very dark lashes. In fact, the first thought that went through my head when I met Eric was “Dude, the eighties are over. Take off the eyeliner.” But the next day Wendy told me it was natural.

I had picked Frank up earlier that day from the train station. I first met him during my travels in Guatemala. We did a lot of treks together, some drinking, and were roommates for a week in a Guatemalan village. He's a good friend of mine and came to Amsterdam to bring in the New Year with Wendy and I.

Annette was the last arrival to the party. There was a sense of play about her. Maybe it was the way the bangs from her jet-black hair hung in her eyes. I’ve always liked that look – mysterious and seductive. All I knew about her was that she was a friend of Jasperina.

Continued in Part II.

Tags: travel, journal, Amsterdam