Feliz Navidad!

Christmas this year was different for me, being in a different country and all.  It hardly felt like it was approaching either, since I was sweating every day with palm trees all around.  The decorations up were sparse and far between, and the little tree in the computer center in Sua just felt like it had been accidently left up until April.  In my journal the days were counting up to 25, but it just didnt feel right.

I decided to take a trip to Latacunga to spend Christmas with my friend Fernando and his family.  We met in a bar during Carnival during my study abroad two years ago, went rock climbing a couple times, and have stayed good friends.  Shay and I visited him on our first trip through Ecuador, we went to a pretty sweet lake.

Since Latacunga is at 9200 feet of elevation, it was cold.  My first night there we went and walked to all the nearby churches which were lit up with colored lights.

The park under the main church was filled with lights and decorations, my nose was cold, and it finally felt like Christmas.  Not quite the same as walking around the neighborhood where all the houses are decked in lights and statues, but it was wonderful anyway.

Very appropriate with the new Star Wars movie coming out

Nothing says 'Merry Christmas' like an erupting volcano...

We went for sandwiches and hot chocolate at a cozy little bar after, which was so packed we had to start outside at a table.  We got scooted inside shortly after the food came, so it was basically just perfect for getting a sweet photo and letting my hot chocolate cool to a drinkable temperature.

The next day was Christmas Eve, and I discovered that it's a much bigger day in Ecuador than in the States. (at least for my family)  We had a giant turkey lunch with his family and his grandparents from down the street.  It was wonderfully moist, and there was a delicious cream cheese frosted cake at the end with ice cream.  Then a bit of time to rest, and at 7:00 we all piled into the car and drove to Quito to an aunt's house for another big party.

There were aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and who knows who else arriving.

There were lights and decorations

And a real Christmas tree!

Someone had brought a packet of the things-on-sticks that photobooths have.  A lot of photo-taking fun was had with those.

Another giant turkey dinner happened around 10:30.  It was also absolutely delicious, with mushroom sauce and a sweet potato sauce, rice with peppers and rasins (actually a pretty good combo), an apple-celery salad, bacon wrapped asparagus and carrot, and some sort of sweet-soaked cake for dessert.  I was stuffed.

The table before everyone sat down was beautiful

Then we stuffed ourselves around the table, and stuffed ourselves

After dinner was a gift exchange, of the variety where everyone sticks their gift in the middle, draw numbers, and open them in order, stealing previous gifts if you like that one better.  I watched since I had brought no gift.  It was entertaining, and I think that the little Strawberry Shortcake mantel dolls were *actually* popular.  Go figure.  After that was gifts for specific people, and they took pictures of the giver and recipient with the unopened gift each time.  I'm not quite sure what merit that has, but sure.  I gave Fernando the crossstitch I had done for him- he's fond of minions.

After all the presents, there was dancing until the wee hours.  I was cracked up by a couple of the elderly aunts, who still had a lot of pep in their step.  My favorite was the antler and glasses wearing gal.

Ignore the terrible photo quality and light flare, and see the antlered-dancing aunt on the left

We got home about 3am after everyone conked out in the car, and all fell into bed.

Christmas morning dawned rather quiet since all the festivities had happened the night before.  I opened the package Mom and Dad sent to Quito for me while listning to a Christmas mix on Youtube.  A headlamp to replace the one I (think) I left on a bus in Colombia, Jiffy pancake mix that I requested (I'm so so so excited for pancakes!) my PADI dive card to go diving in Central America, a bar of Theo chocolate in my favorite flavor, and a giant Peep minion that Mom just 'couldn't resist'.

At 11:00, still in bed, I had a three-way video chat with Dad at home, and Mom and Becca who were with my aunt and uncle in Minnesota.  Thanks to the wonders of technology we were all together on Christmas morning, in three different time zones, laughing together.  It was wonderful to talk to everyone and catch up a little.

The rest of the day I basically did nothing.  Fernando and I realized later we should have gone to see a movie or something.  Christmas meal for me was food court hamburger (it was pretty good though) since one of the dogs got into the leftover turkey they told me.  I worked on another Christmas project for a friend back at the beach, and watched some shows on Netflix.  Bed was early after a snack of cheese filled bread and juice.  It was a pretty nice Christmas for me.

The next day I headed back to the beach, but not before visiting their family hacienda 15 minutes out of town and hanging out with the horses for a bit.

All the nice horsies

Obligitory selfie with Sr. Morante

I rode for a little bit too.  Really it was more sitting on the horse, and if it decided to walk, then I guess I was 'riding'

All in all I had a great holiday, different from all the previous ones, but filled with friends and fun none the less.  New Years was at the beach, and that'll be one of my next posts!  Stay tuned.