christmas unwrapped

• I attended the midnight service at the basilica here in Quito only to find that Ecuadorian midnight services may include but are not limited to a real live burro carrying Mary down the aisle and Baby Jesus appearing to tightrope walk down from the choir loft while fireworks go off behind him.
  
• Everyone here goes crazy for those Italian panettone cakes at Christmas but the one I had was more like a glorified fruitcake, only more like a real cake and pretty dry.
• In case you should tire of the traditional turkey or ham for Christmas dinner, they sell suckling pig down here that you can have instead. Biology class, anyone?
• I purchased what appeared to be "A Christmas Story" at the dodgy dvd shop only to pop it in Christmas Eve and find that instead of Ralphie, I was now watching some Norweigian/Swedish/Russian movie about the history of Christmas.
  
• A Christmas away from loved ones can still be merry with the company of a friend, a good meal, a movie, and a cup of Christmas cheer.