I am so pleased your trip was such a joyful experience. It is almost thirty years since I met Raquel in similar fashion, and I must admit, reading your account, to more than a twinge of nostalgia.

"I spent 2 of the most amazing weeks with a friend whom I would be completely comfortable in assuming would do just about anything to make me happy"

This reaction, especially your use of the word "friend", given the circumstances, seems to me an indication of the likely strong quality of your relationship. Thank you for taking us into your confidence and I look forward to hearing more.

My wife and I were friends too, during my visit, *cough* so to speak ..... but everybody is different and for some reason I am instinctively reassured by the way you write.