Feliz Navidad

That´s Merry Christmas to those English speakers :)

Well, Christmas in Peru is not like Christmas in the states. It´s not as commerical and you would not know it´s Christmas if it were not for the random decorations up.

The government sponors parties for kids and gives out hot chocolate, a present and a bag full of sweets. You have to go to the government and request to have it and make a list of the kids you are inviting and take care of the arangments. So we at a party for the kids on their street. Santa made an appearance (oh santa here wears a mask and looks like a Disney character), but only after the clown made the kids and adults laugh for a couple of hours. It was fun to watch all the kids laughing and dancing even though I had no idea what the clown was saying.

Christmas eve is the party date for everyone here. And Christmas is when you give presents to children not to adults. So the kids get decked out in new clothes and spend the evening setting off fireworks while music blasts onto the streets and moms are cooking feasts in the kitchen.

The market reminded me of going to the malls Christmas eve in the states. You could hardly move through the narrow stalls. Vendors jack up the prices and they think giving you a discount of 1 soles is a deal off something that cost 25 soles (FYI 1 sole is about .30 cents).

The countdown to midnight is almost as exciting as waiting for the New Years countdown and when the clock strikes midnight everyone shouts Feliz Navidad and gives hugs and kisses while fireworks light up the sky. Everyone then sits down to eat the feast. After eating, the kids light off more fireworks and the adults stay up all night talking and drinking. I called it quits by 3 a.m.

Pisco on Christmas day in quieter than normal, I think because everyone is hungover or asleep. But the market is still busy and the fruit shake vendors are selling shakes like hot cakes (the fruit shakes are amazing!)

I hope everyone is having a great Christmas with lots of snow and cold (I´m wearing flip flops, a t'shirt and capris), no snow in Pisco. I´m off to grab some ceviche (yes I´m bragging, it´s only like $2).

Hasta Luego