Xmas eve we went as planned to Rancho Margo, a self-sustaining organic farm about 20 minutes drive along the bumpy pot-holed roads. This was one of the few places offering food for evening - which was lucky for us as our cooking space and resources were exceptionally limited!
We saw Nancy, our El Castillo lady-to-know, and Juan from the serpentarium, at the ranch and met some new friends during the evening. It was a quiet laid-back affair. We were presented with leaf-and-twine wrapped presents which turned out to be lovely wooden bowls made locally. That was a nice touch and we were all warmed by the friendliness of locals.
That night we all went ot sleep fairly early, but it was a restless night - more due to the very rainy, windy weather than xmas excitement I think. Santa somehow arrived during the night here in Costa Rica - thanks very much to my sisters and mum in Tennessee helping to contact him and let him know what the boys would like!
Ben woke up at 5:30 or 6 and, although he had an eye on the christmas stockings, was able to make himself stay in bed quietly until after 6 when everyone was starting to wake up. Oh the excitement! That santa guy left stockings with silly putty, bey blades and sooooo much candy among other things. Up in his bunk bed, Sam kept saying over and over 'I'm staying here all day in Christmas Heaven!!'
I'm so glad that the presents and candies went down well - it was enough to help hide the fact that we were in a very plain, basic room. The boys were quick to run across to the serpentarium to show Juan and the others their Christmas presents ... then back to visit our neighbours and show them too. All of us had a lovely, quiet morning hanging out with our neighbours and on our balcony at the serpentarium.
I felt for the girls who must've been missing their families and the Christmas tree, holiday food filled morning that would be happening back home. But if they were feeling sad about that they didn't let us know.
We had a delicious lunch at our serpentarium - spaghetti bolognaise for all the kids and my favourite dish, Casado, for Justin and me. Not turkey and ham, not christmas pudding. No christmas tree or hanging tinsel or cheesy xmas decorations ... but we did enjoy the green trees, the Blue morpho butterflies, the howling of the monkeys and the t-shirt weather. It was our Alternative Christmas Day.
Later in the day, we joined forces with our Alaskan neghbours to prepare a joint meal and pull tables together at their slighty bigger place across the way. Mimi made fresh salads and warmly spiced chicken and rice. I threw in a chili-spiced spaghetti bolognaise. We poured the wine and enjoyed our Alternative Christmas together.
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