This is the first Christmas that Reach & Kaya have spent in the same place despite traveling together for over two years. It's hard not to be infected by the Christmas spirit on Kaya when the tree is up and Christmas music starts the Sunday after Thanksgiving!
On Christmas day, Lizz & Michele did yoga and a snorkel while Mark & Charlie went fishing ~ just like any other day but with more holiday cheer ~ and planned an intimate dinner along with Stefan (Sawadi). We had a lovely menu planned around our favorite steak, one of which we each had tucked away in our freezers. Come 6 pm over cocktails, we wondered aloud just which one of us was supposed to thaw their steak??? Ooops! After some quick thawing in hot water dinner was back on!
The big party was still to come for New Year's Eve, where we traveled to Miriadiadup to visit our Kuna friends. Guess who showed up for the party?? Liesbet & Mark on Irie returned to the San Blas for a few weeks vacation before their canal transit! Along with Becky & Denny (Kokomo) and Vicki & Larry (Rocinante), we had quite the fun & funny evening.
We were invited to ring in the New Year at the home of Prado, his friend and a Kuna couple from a different camp. He supplied rice and smoked fish and we all shared in the feast... plus beer & rum. Prado is a master mola maker and, as are most males who take on this role in Kuna families, is a transvestite. His molas and bracelets are beautiful, consequently many purchases have been made by all here.
Kunas are short in stature and can't weigh too much either, so it wasn't before long that there were a bunch of tipsy cruisers and increasingly drunk Kunas. Sito (#23) was a classic to watch as his evening progressed!
....A few beers got him comfortable, joining the crowd, bragging about the pescado (fish) that he caught on a hand-line (& taking a shine to Becky)
...His next few beers he introduced us to his effigy (whom would later meet with a final farewell in 2012)
...His first cup of rum brought him back over with the radio to dance and sway in company (note rum in foreground)
...His next few cups of rum inspired Prado to dress him up as a Kuna woman and then he really got into character with all of the ladies (his friend thought it hysterical)
Sito remained standing throughout the night (barely). His wife tended the smoked fish and certainly must have found some humor in the festivities, but it was hard to tell sometimes ...
We ended the night with a huge bonfire, a good effigy burning, good friends, good vibes for the new year... and a pig scratch (don't ask!).
