The furthest thing from your mind here is a white Christmas. But it is Christmas time here, just with different traditions.
We do have a Christmas tree. It is a snappy number that fills our living room quite nicely.
I'm just messing with you. We just have a little, live tree that we have decorated. Perfect for the apartment. 
The big one is the tree of our next door neighbor, in the the lobby of the Alvear Palace.We have stockings hanging in the living room and we have a nativity scene - a simple one we bought in Salta.
The big event here for Christmas is Christmas Eve. Familes & friends gather together for a very late evening with dinner, champagne, wine & presents and FIREWORKS! I like the 'mixing alcohol & fireworks' part!
Now, this is a city of ~ 12 million people and most live in apartment buildings. So, use your imagination on just how the fireworks portion of the evening is handled. We are looking around from our own 7th floor terrace (top floor of our building) and EVERY building around us is at least 5 stories higher. I am glad we wont be home that night. Instead we will be with friends who's apartment is on the 18th floor overlooking the Hipodromo (horse race track) and the Palermo Polo Fields. Lot's of wide open space if our aim is off.
This afternoon, we went to Jupiter - the Fuegos Artificiales store and we bought 750 pesos worth of fireworks with our party hosts. No sparklers, just rockets (yes, rockets!) - 35 of them in fact. Our hosts, Paul & Tracey are moving back to Houston in January, so they are going out with a bang!
It is going to be a spectacular Christmas Eve! It will be made even more special by the fact that our children (and spouses) will be joining us for Christmas. Jake & Kelli and Katie & Devin arrive tomorrow from Calgary.
To all of our friends who have been following our adventure on the blog, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and all the excitement you can handle in 2009. Although, this really low oil price is just too exciting for me at the moment!
B.
Humahuaca Hound update - well folks, we got crushed in the voting in the Living In Argentina photo contest. Some woman from Germany's picture of a dock (yes, a dock) near Neuquen garnered 629 votes, 570 more than my pooch did. It was clear that her campaign for votes was far more extensive than mine!
For those of you who voted for me, gracias!
1 comment:
Merry Xmas...I believe my mother was telling your wife that I read your blog on a regular basis. (This is Andrew Pidcock son of Gary and Sheridan) You have some talent for explaining things to people who have not seen this country! Keep it up and know that you have one loyal reader atleast! Cheers and Happy Holidays!
Andy Pidcock
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