My apologies to those of you who read this article. I am having more trouble than usual receiving contracts from hotels, bus companies and attractions. Without those contracted prices, I am unable to quote the trip cost.

Even the local transportation companies are late in answering my requests for the rates. Could it be that so many want to travel that everyone is behind in mailing out their contracts? All of us were not able to travel for so long that now we are anxious to be out and about. My suggestion is that you schedule your trip well in advance and be sure that your tickets and seats are confirmed.

My oldest daughter who has retired in San Miguel de Allende will soon arrive in Texas for the Christmas holidays. We will be driving to the Hill Country to spend Christmas with the rest of the family. Driving across Texas is always a treat - the Texas landscape changes so much from one area to another. Just the change in scenery will keep you entertained. And the Christmas decorations along the way always add to the enjoyment.

If you want to see Christmas decorations at their peak, just travel to the Hill Country. They go all out with strings and strings of lights on all the houses and trees. San Antonio is another city that turns on all the lights especially on the River Walk.

If I look back at all the places where I have celebrated Christmas there are some that were extra special. The two that come first to my mind would be the celebration of the Posada at a private home in Rio Hondo and the other would be in Bethlehem at the Church of the Nativity.
If you are ever invited to celebrate a Posada be sure to attend. A Posada is the re-enactment of Mary and Joseph as they searched for a place for the birth of Christ. Almost 27 years ago, I went to my first Posada. My son in law carried my only grandson on his shoulders so that the little one would be able to see all the procession. How special that was.

The other memory of Christmas is also very special. The Church of the Nativity is built over the stable where Christ was born. I had always imagined that the manger was a wooden trough. At that time the cattle troughs were not made of wood but were hollowed out large rocks. As the group traveling with me sang Silent Night, I gazed intently at the hard, cold hollowed stone that was the bed where the Baby Jesus was placed. Quite a difference to the baby cribs we use today.

My prayer for all is that you have a merry and blessed Christmas. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!