Christmas in a different way

Christmas on the other side of the world is definitely an experience worth having!

The weather forecast was more than reliable with the announced 36 degrees, sometimes the thermometer even rose to 43 degrees. Without air conditioning, nothing was possible.

On the eve of the 24th and 25th (Australians celebrate on the 25th), everyone is still rushing to do their shopping and the shopping centers are sometimes open all the time. If you still need flour or whatever in the middle of the night, you can still get it. Poor people in retail. For fun, I went to the center one evening at 11pm just to see how busy it really was. And yes, it was packed. Many shops already offer discounts before Boxing Day (26th December) here, when everyone really starts hunting for bargains because crazy discounts are waiting. I don't have time to spend money because I have to work on that day. In a cafe, in a shopping center by the sea. I assume people will come running to us ;)

Back to Christmas: the houses are also decorated here - especially on the outside - but I would describe it as rather kitschy. Everything is blinking in a thousand colors and somehow it doesn't fit together in my mind with summery temperatures. It's light for a long time too!

Christmas itself often takes place here with a Christmas Lunch, people usually meet for a barbecue.

On Christmas Eve, we invited Pete's family and a few friends and grilled at our place. Of course, I couldn't resist baking cookies at 30 degrees the night before. Certain traditions simply have to be - no matter where I am and how hot it is.

Then we had Nadine and Pete's German colleagues, whose families are also in Germany, as guests. Since no one should be alone on Christmas, we simply invited them all to our place. 18 people on the terrace and in the evening the neighbors came too, to finish off the leftovers.

Definitely a different kind of Christmas.

And what else do you do on Christmas when it's so hot: of course, go swimming :)

On the 1st Christmas Day, we were invited to a friend's house for Christmas Lunch and then we went to the beach. When else do you have the opportunity to jump into the sea on Christmas!

In this spirit, Merry Christmas and see you again very soon!