Christmas at the Northern Lodge

 

Ho, ho, ho it was Christmas at the Northern Lodge.  That's the nickname given to David and Matt's apartment in Balți.  Their hospitality is well known among their fellow Peace Corps volunteers and Balți happens to be in northern Moldova.  I began my Christmas Day journey in Orhei.  You can see our giant Brad Frumos (Christmas tree) which has ornaments hung in the shape of grape bunches.  This is Moldova!  Santa is wishing you "La Mulți Ani !"  which literally means "many more years" which is something you may connect to a New Year's wish.  You see this whole deal of having a split Christmas here makes it a little confusing as to what to say on December 25th.  Anyhow, there's the church in Orhei where I joined people to celebrate the liturgy of Christmas Mass.  Then it was off to Balți by rutiera which is a trip of about 90 minutes.  When I arrived there in the land of big snow, I noticed a funny scene.  A tourist sign for a trip to a sunny warm beach paradise.   Orhei is a bustling urban area.  David and Matt live in a tall apartment building.  Yes it has an elevator.  4 people max.  Well there's the Brad Frumos here in the Piață here in Balți.  How about Merry Christmas in Russian.

Don't forget Moldova is bi-lingual.  Christmas Day and a vendor is still selling decorations at the outdoor market.  And inside the piață a wondrous display of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Now that really made me feel in the Christmas spirit.  Fellow PCV's were shopping for a new axe to chop wood at home for the sobă.  The sobă is a stove that's built into your house's wall.  Well back to the Northern Lodge.  David was there to greet you with his Santa hat and new Christmas sweater on.  Matt and David put in hours of prep time in the kitchen for today's feast of pulled pork and baked beans with cole slaw.  Not to mention the home made cinnamon rolls.  Santa looks a little sleepy eyed as Janna holds her hot tea thermos with a gloved hand.  A little OJ and Cricova Champagne helped the day along.  Oh Brad Frumos here at the Northern Lodge with gifts piling up ready for a Yankee Swap.  Teresa and Mary, Dan, Matt, Julie, Joe all ready to open presents.  One of the most unique was an electric heated mouse glove/pad in the shape of an angry bird.  Erin got a good one! It came in a bottle.   We're all ready to eat!  Everyone gather round.  After we got a good start on our food, we did some Christmas caroling around the table.  Then everyone got busy skyping their families back in the States.  Most of them were still in their pajamas or looking at presents recently opened.