Christmas Day

25^th December

A lie in until 9 then into the hammock for me, a lie in outside until 9 then yoga for Georgia. It’s Christmas morning! Everyone at home will be stuffed or still battling through dinner and our day is just beginning.

We get off to a slow start then head to the beach, still full of panetone, but as it is Christmas I have some for breakfast. The beach is packed with Hondurans today, many coming from nearby towns just for the day. The atmosphere is one of a joyful party, families swimming or having barbecues, men getting slowly drunk, children splashing each other in the sea. We bought coconut cake and bread from women selling on the beach.

We then had our Christmas lunch – avocado, tomato and white cheese salad – completely festive in colour. We had it on the lawn in front of our room, alongside two British backpackers, one of whom opened a bottle of champagne and we shared the remaining panetone.

We tried calling and sending a specially shot video epic Christmas message at the local internet but you could get a better connection with spaghetti so gave up and returned to the hostel to open our presents. We had both gone to the nearby town, Puerto Cortes on the 23^rd to go to the ATM and had set a 100 lempira (£2.50) secret shopping mission after. Georgia got me a beach football, Frisbee, Santa biscuits and Santa lollies while I bought for her a Saints bracelet, a water pistol, a head band (she’d just lost hers), an apple and a mandarin, a wooden bracelet (actually from Caye Caulker) and the most ugliest looking n smelling fruit I’ve seen called a Noni (actually medicinal and good for stomach and kidneys – nice!) all in a Santa bag.

So, we rushed down the beach to play with the ball in the sea, and were quickly joined by a couple of groups of children, Georgia got me with the water pistol again and again and again and again and then we played Frisbee until sunset. I spoke to Rudolph on Christmas Day! It’s true, He was one of lots of Hondurans on holiday we chatted to.

A nice cup of tea and a couple more Italian cakes preceded our Christmas Dinner - coconut curry.

We have had a great Christmas. Despite the beach being dirty and a bloody great oil terminal sitting next door we have enjoyed it massively and joined in Honduran style.