I must share a magical encounter i can only accredit to this website.

i had asked for restaurant suggestions in brugges.. so on our short day trip last sunday, we decided to try to get a table at dan dyver.

luckily they had space, and asked us where we would like to sit. we chose a table not far from the entrance.
as i was taking off my coat, the table near us near the windows had four diners.

i THOUGHT i recognized one of the women.
reconfirmed by looking at her husband, and then just said their names with surprise.. i was totally in awe as i realized we had found friends with whom we had lost contact after they moved to china. we hadn't seen them for 15 years!!!
the bearhugs and tears of joy of reuniting will stay with me forever.

the chances of this happening.. well.. the whole incident is mindboggling. i still can hardly believe the coincidence.
we live in spain.. knew them here .. they moved a couple times.. then to china.. now they are back in belgium..and they decided to meet some other friends in brugges for lunch!(neither of them live in brugges either!!) and then we walk in....!!!

i just had to come back here and express my gratitude for such a helpful website, that in this case gave me the best xmas present of 2004.

merry xmas/happy holidays....

How wonderful! Thank you for sharing

What a wonderful story, lin.

Thanks for posting.

lincasanova, a great story, all the more so because Den Dyver is a special memory for us, too.

Best wishes for Christmas!

Anselm

That's a wonderful story. Merry Christmas, Fodorites!

What a wonderful thing to have happen! It reminds me of something a very wise friend of mine told me years ago:

There's no such thing as coincidence. What we call "coincidence" is just God choosing to remain anonymous.

I'm delighted for you and your friends.

Robdaddy: What a terrific response - I agree 100%.

lincasanova: Thanks for sharing this wonderful story and certainly was not a coincidence.

Sandy

well...if you really think this is a troll...sorry.
it is a true story, hard to believe, i know, but wonderfully true, and my comment to all my friends was...
"you know..if i weren't so addicted to this fun travel website.. i would never have even HEARD of this restaurant."

this prompted me to share the story, as i have a few other incidents. (one BAD one on same trip).

enough said.

the truth is.. what exactly is a TROLL? maybe i am not understanding what you mean by that. i always thought it was someone who just "THREW things out" to get opinions or something.

anyway. think what you want.

i am still grateful for having met my friends again after so many years. and i am convinced that i would never have run into them if i hadn't gone to that restaurant. (which by the way.. only holds especially fond memories for the reuniting..we were not thoroughly impressed with our menu..but that is beside the point).

enjoy the rest of your holiday.

Your magical encounter with old friends was just that, magical. It is amazing to think of all the times we have taken that road or gone through that door and our lives have changed, why? what made us choose that time or that place ? I love stories like this, thanks for sharing..trolls are just polite names to use on Fodors for ugly boring people with nothing good to say and nothing good about them. Except for muffin

I believe your wonderful report. What a fantastic evening you had! Who wouldn't want to get that lucky? Talk about serendipty!

Thanks for sharing your experience and for crediting it to this forum.

Croque, just thinking, that little girl got her Dora bike today! How wonderful was your helpful spirit to make that happen for that lovely family!

Merry Christmas to you all, and lincasanova, what a great serendipitous meeting for you & your long lost friends!

Yes, Madame, have you heard from Maelias family today?
Merry Merry ~