January brought about the end of the Christmas season, but that didn't mean that season wasn't something that was enjoyable. Though, in some places, the end of that season was more about lowering the level of work that went around managing these things. Vilcabamba was one of those places, for as with many Animalian Colonies, its economy rested on tourism and served as an island in Brazil's rainforest on the Amazon River. And at times it also meant having Animalians come down for Christmas to celebrate the holiday, though some also might stay longer and that would mean additional work for the staff running the hotel/apartment building that the Vilcabamba colony was centered on, though Cranio and Mandibula were more than up to the challenge.
"Well... the season went fairly well, don't you think?" Cranio asked to Mandibula while the two of them stacked things that were part of the official decorations to go into storage until next December.
"Yes, all the guests were polite, and we could provide some degree of warmth for some of the ones that came down to get away from the cold," Mandibula responded with a chuckle.
"And we have the room for it," Cranio nodded and looked over the foyer in front of the front desk and with one eye looking over to the doorway to what was normally a conference room in various large hotel chains and then thought back on the Christmas party that was held there.
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The decor was a bit different from Christmas in other places, at least from what Cranio and Mandibula had seen from photos of Christmas in other parts of the world, but then, Vilcabamba, being in Brazil and in the Amazon was going to mean snow wasn't in its forecast. Thus, snowscapes weren't going to be part of it, but there were some things that she was sure would be recognized by the guests, even if they'd come from outside Vilcabamba. In one corner of the room, they had a large Christmas tree set up. It was an artificial tree, and some of the colors of the decorations fit a more Brazilian taste to them, but it was still recognizable. They then had two rows of long tables near the tree and another set of two tables on the opposite side of the room and near the main entryway to the "conference room."
There was then an open space between the sets of two tables that would allow for dancing and socializing, if was desired, and Mandibula could see a fair number of the guests there were there and at least talking. Others were seated at one of the tables that were on the ends of the room and were eating from the food that had been prepared and set up in the main hotel's kitchen. Mandibula could smell all that and it smelled good, which drew her attention to the last two long tables that ran along the wall and between the windows that let them look out on the front lawn. On every table, including the ones that guests, Human or Animalian, were small nativity scenes of small wooden statues that included having Animalians take on the roles of some of the characters, it was all something that set up a very Brazilian Christmas, though as much as Mandibula wanted to get something to eat, she was also having to play host at the present time.
"So... this is a Brazilian Christmas?" Lexia, the Yellow-Headed Amazon Parrot Animalian, asked to Mandibula.
"In a way," Mandibula answered and looked back to Lexia and noted the small camera that Lexia held to provide for some coverage of Vilcabamba's Christmas Party and celebration. "We've gotten a lot of influence from Brazil because of our contacts with Manaus, but a lot of it is also local with all the uplifted Animalians that also live here."
"Though most of the ones that live here, full time, have their own private kitchens, I believe you said?" Lexia asked again.
"Yes," Mandibula nodded, "though that goes all the way back to when Vilcabamba was first established, and when Cranio and I were uplifted."
"Amazing," Lexia said slowly and then moved the camera to look over everything and then waving to some of the others that were present, many of whom were on the flight from Lyre to Manaus, "and it's all part of this holiday?"
"For Christians, yes," Mandibula answered, "and it has some nice touches... celebrating the birth of one here to save us all, a nice touch... for those that believe."
"Yes," Lexia agreed, "it's one of the things that I found curious when I was uplifted... but there is a lot to it that I like. Particularly in being able to cover things where it's warm."
"I'd imagine it is getting cold in Lyre this time of year," Mandibula chuckled, "how long will you be staying?"
"Until just before New Year's," Lexia answered, "WSA's Christmas Break ends around then."
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"I think you enjoyed talking with the Animalian that came down just for the Christmas break more than anything else," Cranio teased to Mandibula as they kept up their work in cleaning up after the Christmas season.
"Well, she was polite and was here to give us some coverage we really haven't gotten since the colony was established," Mandibula answered her mate with a chuckle, "and a lot of that will be good for business when the summer tourist season starts again."
"For Animalians that'll be lower as they get into their IAC coverage," Cranio answered.
"Maybe," Mandibula answered, "but then the coverage from Animalia Ambassadoria on all that will make for good television that we can then put on for guests to view."
Cranio nodded at that and smiled a bit. From there the two Black Caiman Animalians resumed their work with good humor and in expectation of some good things to come.