Christmas Eve In Uruguay

Merry Christmas 

Yesterday was hot and somewhat humid. The high got to 30C. This morning it is windy and 24C. The humidity is much lower this morning. Today will be a mix of sun and clouds with a high of 25C. A break before it turns hot again.

Yesterday was a day of resting and getting things ready for the evening at a friend of son's apartment. We did walk across the street to get pop and then a quick trip to the grocery store for bread. Everything closes early on Christmas Eve and opens late (if then) on Christmas Day. Life is back to normal on Dec. 26 as they do not celebrate Boxing Day. 

Lunch yesterday was hamburgers (smash burgers) and mine came with the order number blackened as it was near the fire. 

The burgers rate up there as the best I have eaten. It will be hard to eat burgers when we get home. 

We left the apartment for our evening out at 8:30 pm. I ordered an Uber and he dropped me. Daughter-in-law ordered one and we were successful. Son and grandson ordered one and were about 2 minutes behind us. 

Traffic was heavy; bumper to bumper all the way. The apartment we went to is in a quieter area but the street was busy. All the buildings are between 4 and 5 stories high and new. It is in an expensive area of Montevideo. We went up to the roof top deck which was beautiful. We met all the people and then more as they came. Language was a bit of a barrier but we managed. One of the ladies had lived in Toronto for 2 years and had enough English that we could communicate with my poor Spanish and Google Translate. 

Everyone brought food and it was good. I had to try most everything as it was their food. My favourite was the dates stuffed with a creamy goat cheese. 

There were little sandwiches, buns, sandwich meats, cheese, pork, devilled eggs, and this center piece which was full of cheese and olives or maraschino cherries.

Daughter-in-law made bruschetta and skewers with tomatoes, bocconcini, and basil. The people loved both of them and ate the bruschetta on the baguette, soft buns, and pork. They were "thumbs up" dishes. 

There were some firework displays during the evening and while it was slow, I took this picture. 

Each of us was given a small gift of a rosario de dedo which is a finger rosary. It has 10 beads (decade) on it. 

Just before midnight, champagne glasses came out along with some special wine. Everyone had a glass and at midnight they toasted and hugged each other wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. At midnight, the fireworks started and the sky was lit up with thousands of fireworks going off. 

Grandson and I left after the fireworks as we were both tired. The drive home was quiet; barely any traffic. When son and daughter-in-law came home at 2:30 am it was bumper to bumper. 

I will had a great time on Christmas Eve and we were saying it is the first Christmas we have had wearing t-shirts and capris. In most homes, the children opened their presents after the fireworks as Pappa Noel delivered them during the fireworks. 

Today we are getting ready to go back over to the same place for lunch which is probably going to be beef cooked on a wood fire. This lunch traditionally lasts 3-5 hours. It will be another experience for us. 

Until the next time.................................................................