St. Maarten Vacation, Day 2

Merry Christmas from the warm and sunny Caribbean island nation of St. Maarten! It is over 100° warmer here than back home in southwest North Dakota, and we are not sad to be missing out on the typical white Christmas. (Well, the clouds in the clear-blue sky are white. The sand on the beach is white. The foam on the waves in the ocean is white. Our sun-starved Scandinavian skin is white.)

After we had eaten brunch and opened Christmas presents, Abigail took us to her medical school and gave us a tour of some of the buildings and classrooms where she learns. Later we went to the beach (about a five-minute walk from Abigail's apartment) and frolicked in the water and drank margaritas on our beach blanket.

Our family usually makes a Nordic meal for our Christmas Eve supper. However, because yesterday was a travel day for most of us, we delayed that until this evening instead. We were all "cozy" working together in Abigail's apartment-sized kitchen!

(Click on any photo to enlarge it.)

Brunch ... notice the pastry dough laid out in the shape of a Christmas tree!

Family selfie outside Abigail's apartment.

A couple views of what Abigail experiences every day when she goes to class.

Family selfie inside the rotunda of one of the buildings on campus.

Family selfie on Mullet Bay Beach.

Scandinavian supper: Norwegian meatballs and gravy; mashed potatoes and carrots with nutmeg; peas with dill, pimento, and cheese; sliced cucumbers in a lemon/dill sauce with shallots; and wine.

And dessert: "lemon-scented" rice pudding with raspberry sauce.