A one night escape

We got out of the city for one night and rented a little cottage at a beach side resort. A lovely break. Still really hot but with breeze from the ocean and a couple of pools to lounge in you don´t feel the heat.

 Diego is practicing putting the garbage in the garbage can. It´s a new favorite game.

This afternoon we are packing up and getting ready for our overnight flight to Fort Lauderdale.

Christmas

from Wikkipedia:

Christmas Eve is the most important day of Christmas in Colombia. Families and friends get together to pray the last Novena and wait until midnight to open the presents, parties are held until sunrise on Christmas Day, kids stay up late playing with their new presents, and fireworks fill the skies. Families gather around meals, music, and singing. Because Christmas Eve is the most important day, little occurs on December 25. 

 Dinner was served at Rafa´s brother´s apartment, with Diego´s only two cousins. We compromised on the midnight tradition and had dinner at 7:00, presents at 8:00 and were home by 10:30. Good thing too because Diego was done. Playing with ¨los primos¨ may have been the highlight of the vacation. The lights went out part way through the night and we played with flashlights and light bracelets. He is still telling that story

The next day Andres was too slow to get up for Diego´s liking. Diego: ¨Andes, up, up, Andes...¨

 Then, off to the beach. Cold coco and playing in the sand. All in all, a pretty good Christmas. 

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Las Novenas

Last night we were invited to celebrate ¨Las Novenas¨with a friend of Rafa´s at their residential comles. There were a ton of kids. Diego is settling in and has figured out that there are more children here than at home. We spent the earlier part of the afternoon riding the new transit system (which is great!) and at the Museo del Caribe (full of kids). On our way home to rest before the evening Diego was asking for ¨mas ninos?¨ (more kids?)

Here is a little snipit from our friends at Wikipedia explaining the novenas:
December 16 is the first day of the Christmas Novena, a devotion consisting of prayer said on nine successive days, the last one held on Christmas Eve. The Novena is promoted by the Church as a staple of Christmas. It is a call for an understanding of the religious meaning of Christmas, and a way to counter the commercialism of the Christmas season. Individual traditions concerning the Novena may vary, but most families set up a pesebre (manger scene), sing religious Christmas carols called villancicos accompanied by tambourines, bells, and other simple percussion instruments, and read verses from the Bible as well as an interpretation which may change from year to year. Novenas serve as beautiful religious gatherings as well as learning environments for young children since kids have a central and active role in the celebration of the Novenas (they read prayers, sing, and play instruments guided by their family).

 Diego: ¨Clause, ho, ho, ho¨ - very impressed

Diego: ¨mucho ninos¨ (lots of kids) - still, very impressed

At the Beach

A day at the beach

 con el tio Andres

Santiago, Diego, Mama y la nena

mucha playa

Barranquilla

We´re here, we made it. It was a long flight, a very long flight (actually two fairly short flights on two consequative nights without a proper sleep in between. I don´t recommend it but it was half the price). Upon arrival both Diego and I found ourselves sick, or more sick and we spent two days curled up and watching TV. Fever has passed, Diego is feeling much better and I am left with a nasty cough. At least it is 30 degrees and someone else is doing the cooking. It could be worse. Way worse. Pictures to come, when the batteries are all charged.

Winter Fun

Today it is raining. It has been raining all day and we are getting pretty antsy here in the house. Diego is trying on everyone's shoes, Rafa is learning to play the ukulele and I am going to send you these great winter pictures.

And... just so that you can be insanely jealous our next set of pictures will probably include sunny beaches. We just have to get through this one horrible, rainy day without killing each other.