This Christmas was a special one for our extended family; we all gathered to spend Christmas at my dad's brother's ("Kani") home in Weisbaden. There were about twenty of us, mostly from Finland but also from Denmark and America. As soon as we arrived we headed to the appartment where we were to spend our evenings, barely stopping at the hotel to drop off our bags. At the appartment we greeted and made merry with the guests already there, and helped ourselves to the Christmas ham. This was a particularly good "sauna-smoked" ham, made by hanging the ham in a hot sauna for days. Appart from the few people staying at the appartment, the rest of us stayed at a hotel nearby. The hotel was a brilliant, quaint place great for a Christmas holiday.
On Christmas eve we spent the morning  walking around Weisbaden. 

Going past a fish bar, we couldn't resist. Delicious! 

After the walk we went back to the hotel to don some smarter attire, then headed back up to the appartment. I say "up" because it is situated on a  high hill which did a god job of turning most legs into mush, not mine though of course. The early evening was spent milling around the splendid bar Kani had built between the living room and open kitchen, after which it was time for Christmas dinner. Once all had indulged to their hearts content, we gathered around the living room, in anticipation of the arrival of Santa Claus. Unfortunately for Kani's son, Santa arrived just as he went to take out the trash, and left just as he returned.

Later we played a game where everyone took a numbered slip of paper from a hat. These would show the order in which everyone would take a random present from a bag, into which everyone had previously contributed a present. Whenever someone took a present from the bag, they would open it, and then choose either to keep it, or trade it with someone else's present. Most hotly contested were various Harley Davidson items, our extended family being avid fans of the motorcycles. I myself picked a fine Harley shirt from the bag, and thought I would be able to keep it after a long time of hiding it behind my back. It was not to be however, as someone did remember it, and in it's place I received an ornamental glass thingy. Kani picked from the bag an awesome, soft leather Harley Davidson toilet seat, which he guarded dearly, despite taunts from his son waving the number "19" slip, which meant that he would eventually be able to take his pick from all the presents. However, when his turn came, he picked out a stylish Harley Davidson hat, and after careful deliberation decided to keep it. So in the end all were happy, except me who lost a fine shirt.

Later in the evening the (relatively) young folks, including me, headed off for an afterparty at Weisbaden nightclub. Despite being slightly hesitant, I did not regret it, I had a great time. This was my first time at a nightclub, and a fine one at that. It did however seem that the little effort I had made in trying to preserve my hearing had been in vain.

 My favourite kind of Christmas spirit.

Having predictably slept a while longer than the rest of my family, I arrived at the appartment to find myself in far better shape than some *cough* others, who had taken perhaps one glüwhein too many.  The day was once again spent enjoying good food and good company. As was the following day, which began with a group breakfast at a good local restaurant. Then it was a day of farewells as one after another people headed to the airport, people I probably won't see again until after Japan.

This was a Christmas I will always remember, and I hope there will be more like it.  It was great to see everyone, and I am truly glad to have such great relatives.

By the way, all the pictures in this post are taken with my new phone (Nokia N76) which I got for Christmas, hooray! I really do appreciate the convenience of a camera in a mobile phone, beacuse it's a camera you always have with you.