Use the correct form of the past simple or past continuous

Use the correct form of the past simple or past continuous
I___ to meet a friend who ____ Astana for a weekend.Unfortunately .I__ to ask him one very important thing the full name and address of his hotel.I___ any way to contact him so I just ___ to look for him in the busiest street in the city?What ___I___ Anyway I___ up and ___ my friend.He ___ straight towards me, with a big smile on his face