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Post by Kimby on Dec 23, 2009 21:36:08 GMT
I'm here in Oklahoma having American Christmas. Being a fan of anything festooned with lights, this is pretty good too. You'd love Sanibel Island, then, bixa, as they festoon the palm trees and most buildings with sparkly lights. Even though we are never there at Christmas itself, we always string colored lights on the screened porch to enjoy during our sunset cocktail hours. This year we even had a Christmas tree, an artificial one salvaged from someone's trash pile, complete with 3 strings of working lights. We take it all down before going home to Montana in mid-December where, despite the snow, I have a hard time getting in the "deck-the-halls" mood.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 23, 2009 21:40:54 GMT
I'm sure that all of us city dwellers always see construction cranes with festive lights on them at this time of year. Here they put a tiny lit-up Christmas tree at the tip of any construction cranes that are sitting around. Also, the local equipment dealer strings lights outlining several of its pieces of equipment, usually a back-hoe excavator, a steam roller and a bulldozer... the lights on the wheels (and the roller) are the kind that light in sequence so it appears the wheels are going around. I have to make a point to drive by after dark before Christmas so I don't miss it.
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 25, 2009 2:24:13 GMT
That sounds magical, Kimby! The lighting of the construction equipment is a whimsical and charming idea, too.
I love your interim Christmas celebration of sunset & cocktails in the balmy air under the palms.
Yesterday evening, my son & I rode to the town park just as the lights were lit. Of course I didn't have my camera with me, but will definitely go back as soon as road conditions improve. It's really adorable -- a combination of fancy stuff such as the sleigh & reindeer modeled with white lights showing the reindeer taking off, and over-sized flat pictures of schoolhouse, church, etc. made from colored lights.
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Post by Kimby on Dec 25, 2009 3:21:30 GMT
I love your interim Christmas celebration of sunset & cocktails in the balmy air under the palms. We have a pre-Christmas in Florida with my husband's family and a post-Christmas in Colorado with my family over the long Martin Luther King holiday weekend. When people ask why we don't celebrate Christmas until then, I like to jerk their chains and say that in my family MLK has more significance than Jesus's "birthday", which is actually pretty close to the truth, but the main reason is that my niece gets 4 days off school for MLK. "Real" Christmas is usually no big deal for Mr. Kimby and me. Tonight he is on call and won't be home till Christmas morning. We will be joining friends later for dinner (a pot luck for which I baked 2 Fudge Pecan pies and made cranberry-orange relish), but that means that we won't have the days of leftovers to feast on and the carcass to make turkey soup from. But on this Christmas Eve, I am listening to Wyndham Hill's Winter Solstice albums, the fireplace is crackling, and the house still smells like pie. If I can tear myself off the computer, I may even dust off the piano and try to pick out a few Christmas carols. All by myself. Happy Holidays, y'all.
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Post by spindrift on Dec 25, 2009 10:17:48 GMT
Merry Christmas everyone
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Post by bixaorellana on Dec 25, 2009 15:06:45 GMT
Spindrift! I certainly thought of you yesterday morning, as your namesake blew beautifully through the icy air. Kimby, your serene Christmas eve is exquisite. I hope Mr. Kimby gets some rest before you all head out today, and that you enjoy your evening out. (maybe they'll want to get rid of the carcass ) Happy day to both of you & to everyone.
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Post by traveler63 on Dec 25, 2009 18:58:44 GMT
Merry, Merry Christmas to you all !!!!!
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Cindy from British Columbia
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Post by Cindy from British Columbia on Nov 12, 2011 20:13:44 GMT
Hello We are planning to be in Mexico from Dec 15,2011- Jan 7, 2012. We are landing in Mexico City for two days then heading out to Oaxaca and the Oaxacan Coast. We are two adults and 2 teen boys (13 & 14). We don't like all inclusives, always go off the beaten path and prefer village life to luxury hotels. We had originally planned Oaxaca and Chiapas...but are feeling like 3 weeks isn't enough time. So instead are thinking of going to Valle de Bravo and then heading to Oaxaca. Any advice on itinerary plans??
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Post by bixaorellana on Nov 12, 2011 23:11:11 GMT
Hello, Cindy -- I haven't visited the Valle del Bravo. The closest I came was going to Tenancingo, which drew me because of the rebozos, so maybe not the ideal whole-family destination. My impression of Valle del Bravo is of upscale tourism -- golf, spas, & the like -- and certainly attracts many Mexicans. However, since I've not been, do check into it further. Will you be flying or taking ground transportation from place to place? That's a consideration, as the mountainous terrain makes trips longer than you'd expect. For instance, from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido is six hours minimum. It's only 86 miles as the crow flies, but a very winding road through the mountains. As for village life, I suggest using the city of Oaxaca as your base for visiting the surrounding villages. There is always something to catch your interest just strolling the streets of the city & it's the logical jumping off point to visit other places of interest in the valley. There are market towns and craft towns and museums and hiking, birding, & biking opportunities. If you planned two things per day to do -- museum + village, for instance -- you could fill one week very easily. Much depends on how much beach time you want, in order to figure out how much time in the city of Oaxaca and how much for any other destination. Chiapas is really a special place. If you spent your two days in MxCity, then came to Oaxaca, you could go from here to Sumidero Canyon, near Tuxtla Gutierrez, then from there on to San Cristobal de las Casas. To break up the trip nicely & add something worthwhile, you could stop off for a day in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec on your way to Tuxtla. That's not a glamour destination, but extremely interesting in the way it's so different from the valley of Oaxaca. Well, those are just some suggestions, but please ask any questions you might have.
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