Christmas morning overlooking Xico, Veracruz is socked in. Not with hanging Christmas stockings, but with dense fog. Christmas Eve day was sunny and spectacular so we can’t complain – much.

Even though we live alongside a terrible surface of the moon road some 2 miles and about 1000 feet up from the cemetery in Xico, yesterday we had visitors including Bonnie and Charles, Rafael, Doctora Veronica and her sobrino (nephew).

We all enjoyed some Christmas cheer (save the young sobrino who enjoyed a couple small gifts and orange juice). Samples of our jamaica (ha-MY-ca) sorbet were distributed. Recipe to follow next week.

Later Bonnie and Charles, Anita and I cruised the rest of the way up the road to see the little village of Micoxtla – about 2 more miles of rough roadway.

We noted in the little village a new church has been constructed. Quite amazing to find in a very poor  ejido village at the end of a terrible road; but then not really that amazing – we live amongst the very faithful.

Just a couple blocks up the road from our Rancho del Cielo we discovered one of our neighbors has built a new capilla (religious shrine). We don’t drive beyond our place very often.

I seized the opportunity to capture a photo. Aside from the remarkable showing of one’s personal faith at the top of her property and the tremendous view of Coatepec looming off to the north, there was what we thought to be the perfect Christmas tree.

The Perfect Christmas Tree Overlooking Coatepec, Veracruz (ENLARGE)

Aside from the amazingly perfect symmetry, the tree was in the ground and a natural occurrence rather than having been spawned in a farm like a pellet fed trout.

Christmas trees on sales lots are available here in Mexico, at a pretty peso I might add.

We have a lovely two foot lighted and decorated plastic green tree at the rancho – just right for two without children at home. The tree is actually a last year’s gift from Doctor Veronica having taken pity on us for our not having a tree at all.

I put the lights on and Anita and I decorated it with tiny ornaments.

But that magnificent solitary tree made me realize Mother Nature can’t be beat. The huge White House Christmas tree has nothing on our neighbor’s tree overlooking the little town of Coatepec in the state of Veracruz, Mexico. O Christmas Tree indeed! Merry Christmas to all! Stay Tuned!