An Enchanting Finca Navidad

I didn't realize it when I took the picture, but if you look closely, it appears that Joseph is signaling to the Holy Family that it is time to head out.  He probably has the same idea as many of the people in Colombia, because the week between Christmas and New Years is happily spent on the small farms and in the country homes that line the mountainside. These rural or agricultural homes are commonly referred to as ''fincas'' ... which I came to realize translates nicely to ''happy places''.

We gratefully accepted the invitation of Doug's college roommate and friend, Luis to join him and his wife, Piedad for Christmas at their lovely Colombian finca just outside of Bogotá. Located near the small town of Tenjo, their charming home has spectacular mountain scenery serving as a backdrop.

Now just to make it happen. Driving between major cities in Colombia is not usually a great option because of poor roads and mountainous terrain. But flying between cities in Colombia is relatively easy and quite inexpensive. Our round trip tickets cost $90 each, and that was during a peak travel week. Any other time it would have been less than $60. Getting to the airport is also easy using the Metro and bus system ... which set us back a whole $4.

Now, getting from the Bogotá airport to our finca was a little more complicated due to the fact that everyone seemed to be heading out of Bogotá on the day before Christmas Eve.

And the slow-moving horse in front of us didn't seem to help matters!

With the sun setting as we reached our destination, we were ready to experience the comforts and delights of a Colombian Navidad at the finca. But would we be able to sleep without all the music and street noise that we have become accustomed to hearing in Sabaneta??

We suspected that it would be no problem!!

Christmas Eve is the big day of preparation and a big night of celebration, so Piedad and I got started early that morning. She wanted to learn how to make some American favorites like banana bread and Christmas cookies. Despite the language barrier, I was able to explain the process as well as convert my recipe measurements from cups into grams. Our hungry boys were very happy with our success!

The preparation of the main course, pollo relleno (stuffed chicken), was a new experience for me. I watched and learned as Piedad processed, seasoned and re-stuffed the meat inside the chicken's outer skin,

... and, like a skillful surgeon, sewed the opening shut,

... baked it for about three hours,

... and let it ''rest'' on the elegant table until it was time to eat.

The Christmas Eve meal, like most Colombian dinners, isn't eaten until late at night ... often after 10 pm.

First there would be plenty of fancy appetizers and wine,

... followed by Christmas prayers and music,

... and the Colombian version of my family's Polish tradition, the sharing of the Christmas wafer (Oplatek).

After our late night feast, we all gathered around the Christmas tree to receive a small gift from Niño Dios (Child of God). Even Valentino, our adorable golden retriever guest, seemed to think that there may be something for him since he didn't beg (too much) during the meal.

After a full day of cooking and a late night of eating and celebrating, Christmas morning activities started closer to noon. When all the dishes were washed from the night before, we took a ride to a beautiful outdoor restaurant and finca further up in the mountains. Parque Monarca is a family-run business that serves delicious traditional meals in a park-like setting.

After our meal, we were invited to see the various farm animals and give them a Christmas treat. Patos (ducks), pavos (turkeys), gallinas (hens), flamencos (flamingos) and ovejas (sheep) were all interested in my container of leaves, carrots, and corn.

 

But the real treat for us was to enter the Bosque Encantado (Enchanted Forest)

... where beautiful flowers,

... and colorful butterflies greeted us.

The owner is a biology professor at a local university who led us on a tour of his Mariposario (Butterfly House). What a great experience to learn all about the world of mariposas (butterflies) while also getting a Spanish lesson!

Our trip to the finca in Tenjo,

... with all the outdoor fun,

... and views of magnificent churches,

... unique flowers,

...  and colorful birds,

... solidified the friendships that blossom in spite of language barriers and produced beautiful memories of how enchanting a Finca Navidad can be!

Wherever your special finca or happy place may be, we wish you a holiday week filled with relaxation and wonderful memories!

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