Navidad

I wrote this post last night, but I had some technical difficulties......

so this is all from Dec. 23, 2010

The town of La Manzanilla is ready for Christmas.

Last night, we snuggled into our very uncomfortable sofas and random other seating for a movie, but within a few minutes we turned it off.  The Christmas music from the church and town square was all we could hear.  I should explain, that this same Christmas tape has been playing every evening since we arrived.  It was nice at first, but much of it is the chipmunks singing Christmas carols in Spanish.  After 5 nights of it, we were coming up with ideas of how to disable the large speakers blasting the music.  There are a few things I should explain, Casa Porter (where we are staying) is right behind the church , you might say in the parking lot (if they had one) and everything happens at the church.  In addition, the whole house is open air, there aren't any windows with glass in the main areas of the house.  Which really wouldn't be problem if you were deaf.

Truly, our Casa here is great!  It is an amazing vantage point for all the Navidad celebrations and ceremony.  Every night after 7 o'clock mass there is a pinyata in the church yard and music and fun!  We have a nice view and can even see the house across the valley with Christmas lights and a lit Christmas tree.  (We met the lady who lives there, at the volunteer bookstore yesterday, she's from Alberta,  super cute and not a day over 85.  It seems La Manzanilla is the place to retire, if you are from Canada.)

While we were drawing straws to see who would be sent out with the leatherman to cut the speaker wires, we  noticed that most of the town was in the square and that there was a parade.

 So,  'if you can't beat em, join em'...... right? 

 We went out to see what was going on up close.  I know you will enjoy this as much as we did.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzeLo2WZleg

Eventually, Santa's Sleigh pulled up in front of the church and all the local kids lined up to see

Santa and each one was given a ball.

 Seems Santa even visits La Manzanilla, Jalisco.