¡Feliz Navidad!

Brian's idea of a perfect Christmas meal: eating a giant, caramel-filled doughnut from Doña Dona at the mall.

My idea of a perfect Christmas meal: eating blue cheese-topped steak with a port-wine reduction sauce and a glass of Malbec. (Yes! I'm drinking red wine now too).

Just a few of the things we've done to celebrate Christmas Tico-style here in Costa Rica:

• Did some last-minute Christmas shopping for B at the mall. 
• Ate doughnuts at Doña Dona. (B: caramel-filled with vanilla frosting; L: cinnamon-and-sugar cake doughnut).
• Went to the English-speaking candlelight Christmas Eve service at the International Baptist Church.
• Went to the Spanish-speaking Catholic mass at the cathedral near our house. Arrived just in time to hear Noche de Paz (Silent Night). Breathtaking.
• Took two, two-hour naps in the past 24 hours.
• B got a special video message directly from Santa. (Thanks for the tip, Breck!)
• Christmas Eve dinner: steak with blue cheese and a port wine reduction, roasted potatoes, green beans, rompope (eggnog) and peanut butter-chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
• Christmas day brunch: Swedish coffee cake (a family tradition), scrambled eggs, sausages, grapefruit, coffee.
• Watched "Elf" for the 458th time.
• Went for a walk around the town. It's practically empty! Kind of nice when the city gets quiet around the holidays.
• Called our family and friends on Skype. Thank goodness it's back up and running!

¡Feliz Navidad a todos!