Christmas Day

On Christmas morning we had before 12 to check out of our resort, and we used our time wisely. We had our free breakfast, which unlike the cornflakes and jam I’d predicted, was your choice of any full meal (eggs, meat, rice, fruit, coffee, etc.) at the restaurant. Kelly’s been eating meat here non-stop, even though I still can’t tell the difference, other than the fact that there’s less bones than in China.
We laid and read in hammocks and on chairs by the beach. Then we took out one of the two-person kayaks into the nature-preserved section of the ocean. It’s meant for snorkeling, but even from the boat I could see through the beautifully clear water to the ocean life below. I saw fluorescent fish and intricate reefs. I saw coral of all different shapes and sizes, blooming like flowers, flat like mushrooms, and spikey like hundreds of starfish. Even walking around near the shore we saw so many starfish and sea urchins (which made us step lightly!)

From the kayak I saw little blue fish, ones with a glowing yellow tail and bright blue fins, fish that were zebra-striped and flat. They came right up to the kayak in schools, swimming around our oars. Looking at their dazzling colors, I remembered for a moment why black lights had been a fad. There is something awesome about blue lighting of water and sharp yellow, red, and white details.

We drifted, holding an anchor rope set in the middle of the reef, watching the world below and listening to the beach blare “The Little Drummer Boy” and Maria Carey Christmas.

After a dip in the pool it was time to pack up. We were brought to our new hotel, free of charge. It was sad to leave.

Our new hotel, though much cheaper and a hotel, not a resort, is closer to stores and restaurants and Alona beach. We walked down to the beach, (about a 5 min. walk) and had a San Miguel, THE beer of these islands, and went swimming.

As you can tell from my rambling, it was a very long day! Without traveling and family and gift-opening, there are a lot of hours to fill on Christmas day. We swam in the pool, played rummy in our room, played pool (billiards), and had a nice Christmas dinner too!

Then we watched TV for the first time in…a long time, considering neither of us had cable in NY. I’d forgotten what it was like to flip through channels, especially since the invention of the “guide” button. (It’s slightly alarming to see “Pentagon Hour” from outside the US, which chronicled a young towny from ME who raised however much for US soldiers by walking across the country, and then more footage of soldiers and military. Do the conservatives run all of our media?)

After channel surfing for a while we actually managed to catch the end of “Four Christmases,” with Reece Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn, and then called it a night. I’m not complaining, mind you. I am loving the weather and the food and the relaxing time on the beach. But Kelly and I agreed at night that Christmas day away from everyone and everything familiar is a lot like how people don’t really have fun on their birthdays. Damn you, memories and expectations!

Merry Christmas to our loved ones! We are thinking of you!