December 25,

I awoke at 0400! Finally, I was able to go back to sleep at 0645 until 0800. Yay!! Jeff awoke at 0600, but did not go back to sleep. When we did get up and about we had our Javas to total clouds – covering the sky. Breakfast was our Muesli, yogurt and milk.

We set out around 1030 for a trek around the lake, but detoured to a Catholic church. It had two nativity scenes set up- one inside a Christmas Tree base, and the other set up in what appeared to be a cave. Here at the second scene, a grandma was taking photos of her two descending generations. Then they were trying to swap the kid with grandma. I offered to take a picture of the three of them. It’s Christmas!!! We parted, wishing each other a Merry Christmas. That was fun! On with our walk, lakeside.

It was a great temperature even though the clouds still covered the sky. Those tents that was set up, is finally occupied and we strolled around. It is local stalls selling wares – everything from clothes to condiments, dishes, foods – of all kinds, to herbs, karaoke mics, shoes, toys, to wood carvings. No souvenir stuffs — totally local! Some questions answered, but now more were raised. Why here and now? Is it about Christmas or linked in with the Festival? How long will it last? Anyway… We meandered though the tent taking it all in. We left and continued our trek through a park of sorts, then going to the Go grocery store. Items bought we walked back to our place and unloaded.

We did our resistance bands and cooled off, then showered and went out for Christmas lunner. We opted for SteakViet. We had been here before – our first trip in Da Lat in September. We had pretty much the same things: Smoked Goose Breast cooked in Wine Sake with Mustard Sauce with salad and baked potato half; and Grilled Steak – but we had the American steak this time, medium cooked with baked potato and sauteed veggies. Then we changed and had the Pumpkin soup and Garlic bread. We also had the Chilean Merlot. Another fine meal. We was 769,000 Dong ($30.24). Jeff gave 800,000.

We now went back to our place. We had some of our home made chocolate – that’s dark and creamy, more like a fudge. We watched our Christmas Eve service from back home. Then I blogged and Jeff read.

We will have light French supper. We wish all glorious day, praising our Savior!