The days before Christmas in Victoria

Spending the holidays in a new country of course is always a new experience.  You never really know what to expect and what traditions from back home you will be missing...  or what new ones might be added....

 I was quite happy to find that Advent Calendars have indeed made it over here - and come with the regular 24 doors.  Ah, the christmas fun!!

 New christmas lights and my "old" Christmas decorations brought the festive spirit into my new home.  I do admit I felt intimidated by the decorations my neighbors put out - they do take Christmas seriously around here.... and now way I could keep up...

 So much fun making Christmas cookies (thanks for the recipe, Claudia!!) and my colleagues were very impressed and loved them.  Evne if they did mistake the Ampelmännchen for gingerbread man....

 Even if it seems not quite cold enough outside, I was super happy to find all ingredients for making Glühwein!!  Danke Nikolaus!  :)

 The Christmas tree at Hatley castle - sooo pretty!!  And no worries, there were about at least 5 more in the castle and another bunch in various corners of campus...

 The lights on "the Ledge" (that's what they call the Parliament or Legislative Building) kinda look like Christmas all year round.  However, for Christmas they exchange some of the lights to be red and green and add a few Christmas trees.  Makes the inner harbour look all nice and pretty and festive!  (Did I mention that they do take their Christmas lights really serious around here??!)

 Of course on 21 December I had to be out and about and see if the world would come to an end - which it did not.  But that was a great excuse to have a drink with a new friend out here.  And to enjoy some yummy Grimbergen, which made me (almost) feel like back home and remembering the good old Brussels' times.

 Trying out the fireplace for the first time proves that it works...  and looks great!  Just need to get some wood now...

Chocolate chip cookies dressed up with some Christmas spirit!!  I do admit that adding some red sugar to the dough didnt have the effect of making them sparkle...  Rather it turned the dough an odd shade of pink - which faded as I baked them.  But red sparkle on top worked awesome!  :)