Day 6: Christmas at the Villa

12/25: Buon Natale everyone! We spent Christmas at the villa, opening presents in the family tradition. Emily, as the youngest, had sorting duties, and then we each took turns opening our presents. We had some weird weather for about an hour, where it was nice, then poured, then was really windy. Gregg took off for a run while Mom and I walked the dirt road around the mountain. Kyle cooked what we thought was a Christmas goose, but actually turned out to be a duck. Oh well, it was still delicious.
This year, my "stocking" was a Guinness pint glass celebrating the 250th anniversary of the brewery. It was filled with kangaroo jerky, a block puzzle, a Cadbury bar, a Greek alcohol called Ouzo, Guinness luggage tags, and Smarties! Under the tree I got two T shirts from Mom and Dad, one of Carcassone and one of the first newspaper advertisement for Guinness, an Ohio Places calendar from the McGinnis family, the New Super Mario Bros for Wii from Gregg, a Wiimote charger from Emily, a $50 Visa card from Auntie Mona and Uncle Rick, a $50 Papa's gift card from Uncle Alan, and a black pepper shaker in the shape of a bishop chess piece as a lagniappe gift from the parents. Most importantly, I got a trip to Italy! Dad received Bob Dylan's Christmas album. It is fantastically terrible, he and I enjoyed listening to it but I think it got on Mom's nerves quickly.
Dinner was delicious. Kyle cooked us duck, potatoes, leeks and beets (which I didn't care for), and brussels sprouts. For desert, the villa owners had left as a pannnetoni, which was like a raisin cake. Mom and the bright idea of soaking it in brandy and having Kyle lighting it on fire. It was really anti climactic. Instead of a big flame, the cake just absorbed the booze. The cake wasn't very good, but was also had champagne and Christmas biscuits to finish the meal.
It was a very laid back day.