Christmas with a Piñata and Cock fighting!

Christmas was great.

We started the morning off with a little home-made breakfast of pancakes, organic coffee, yogurt, granola and fruit bought from the market (white pineapple & papaya). Then, we busted out the Piñata. It was in the shape of a star, was red, green and white and filled with trinkets perfect for our little man; little farm animals, a flute, bubbles, a few not-so-toddler-friendly candies, which were quickly hidden once we realized they were a choking hazard. He wacked the piñata with a broom. His two favorite things: brooms and wacking things. He is a total boy and will hit, dig and get dirty like a total pro. So, this piñata was right up his alley. We took a million pictures, which I will post when we get home.

Mama coming home from the market on Christmas eve!

The beginning of the fun!

Henry checking out the loot!

After nap time little man and I took a cold shower.. there is no hot water, but no hot water is needed. Its hot. Showers, a word which he can now say, are super fun with little man. He now runs through the stream of water only to come out the other side looking so pleased and proud of himself. Its adorable.

I mean honestly... too cute for words!

Once clean and cooler, a taxi picked us up and after some searching for the right place we went to a cock fight. It was crazy cool. It was all locals, mostly men, was a little off the beaten path. There was a ring, stadium seating and went much like a boxing match. The roosters were weighed in and opponents were of equal weight. Each cock had a holding area in which they were caged and next to which their owner sat (like in a boxing match how each fighter has their own dressing room). Once the two opponents are matched to fight each cock has a single blade tied onto one of its toes. Right before the match started the ring was full of men edging people to place their bets. On-lookers shouted out their bids; it was loud and chaotic. Then the roosters started fighting. It was violent. Poor little Henry, I will say, did see it. And, he looked at me as if to say ¨Wow, Mom are you seeing what Im seeing?!¨ We didn´t stay till the end of the fight. Not only did we feel like Henry didn´t need to see the death and dying of one of his favorite animals but also we had dinner plans and had to run.

Center ring!

For dinner, as I mentioned in my last entry, we bought tickets to a traditional Nicaraguan dinner put on by a local tour company. It was really sweet. Some local women, who work to preserve their culture through cooking traditional recipes, prepared a great meal. There were about thirty or so tourists and ex-pats and we had great juice and rum drinks.

Overall, it was an amazing day. We have decided that Piñatas will be a part of our celebratory future (either birthdays or on Christmas).

Henry is napping and then were headed out to get a frappuccino.