Life: an adventure, a journey with Jesus
No scamming these Gringos!

It's Jesus' Birthday! Our family tradition is to bake a birthday cake for Jesus. We put a candle on it, sing at the top of our lungs, Happy Birthday Jesus every Christmas eve. Our grandchildren have grown up with birthday cake being part of our family celebration.

Being separated from them, we decided we would enjoy a quarter of a cake from the local bakery since there would only be two of us to celebrate this year. However, an invitation came from our dear family at Pat's Place to join them for Christmas eve dinner. We accepted and decided to share our family tradition with our 'family' here in Peru.

Baking is a problem in our oven. You may have heard (or read) of this before. We chose to go to a local bakery, where we have made purchases for AWANA cakes, to make our selection. We visited this bakery before with a Peruvian friend. The cakes were only 15 soles each. ($5.00 US). We walked the mile to the corner and there are two bakeries side by side. We "shopped" to see what each offered and determined the chocloate cake with fudge icing dripping down the sides would be the choice of the day. Knowing that they would write on it "Happy Birthday Jesus" for us.

We asked the young lady at the bakery how much the cake was. She didn't answer me. I asked a second time. Still no answer. She was thinking and I noticed a little smirk come across her face. The third time I asked, she told me 30 soles! Thirty soles? I asked. Yes! I repeatedly asked her if she was serious. I told her we came here with a friend and paid only 15 soles before for that very same cake. No, she said 30 soles, and tried to hide her smirk. Don and I knew right there and then that she was trying to take advantage of us. After all, we were Americans! We said, thank you, but no thank you, and exited the store.

The bakery next door offered many selections, but no plain ones like the one we were looking to purchase. Their cakes were decorated with fruit, flowers, swirled whipped cream, detailed lattice work and basket weaving from a tiny frosting tip hand applied. These cakes no doubt would be much more! However, we already decided we would make our purchase here and not let another Peruvian take advantage of us.

We asked the young man at the counter about two different cakes, what they were under the frosting, and their prices. Believe it or not, they were less than the plain chocolate from the neighboring bakery!

We paid our 25 soles, they made a sign to stand on the top of the cake for us, boxed it up carefully and we were on our way back home. Carrying a cake seems like it would be no problem. But we actually had to take turns as it was heaavier than we anticipated, we had to be careful not to let it shift in the box, and a mile is longer when you are attempting to avoid sidewalk potholes, dog poop, other walkers, etc.

Back at Pat's Place the excitement at even seeing a box from the bakery was unbelieveable. It was later in the evening that we gathered together and shared our family tradition with the family here who has welcomed us with open arms, lots of love and laughter.

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday Jesus!