We were so lucky to spend Christmas in such a wonderful and exotic destination. One year we spent Christmas Day on the beach in Sydney, scuba diving with manta rays in Bali for Christmas, and even cruised around the Canary Islands.
But you know what? My favorite place in the world to spend Christmas is at home in the countryside.
Christmas is about family, friends, and family traditions that are so unique to everyone.
I love wearing lots of comfortable layers to stay warm and going for long walks in the mountains. These walks always tend to end in old pubs with wonky beams and roaring fireplaces. I like visiting Welsh farmers’ markets. There you can buy local delicacies and truly unique handmade gifts. I love walking through the village and seeing the lights twinkling in the cottage windows and the trees lit up so that they are filled with stars.
There’s nothing better than when it snows and everyone goes to town to build snowmen and play outdoors. Adults of all ages suddenly become children again when they throw snowballs and get into the festive spirit. One of the family members (in my case my mother) is always home and keeps the fire burning while the mince pies are baked. There are hot drinks waiting for your cold hands and delicious treats when you finally get inside.
As I grew older, Christmas stopped being about presents and surprises under the tree. Nowadays, we value beautiful traditions that bring people together, and I think this is even more true in rural areas.
People in the countryside are friendlier and have more time for each other.
While in London, I didn’t meet any of my neighbors. I live in the countryside now, and I know all my neighbors like old friends. They stop by for mulled wine and seem to have a different Christmas party every night. I think it’s because people’s homes are getting bigger and they have more space to welcome friends and family into their homes. It’s really nice to have everyone together, even if we’re all crammed into the living room, sitting on cushions on the floor, lounging in front of the fireplace.
I love London, but nothing beats Christmas in the countryside.
Last weekend, I used the Huawei Mate S to capture the start of Christmas in the countryside.
It looks like this.
Fires, Christmas wreaths and candles
That’s all! There’s nothing better than relaxing in front of the TV and watching a Christmas movie while the fire is roaring and the scent of Christmas candles fills the room. This is usually accompanied by a mince pie that my mother gives me and I enjoy it with.
Walks with my pooch
It’s been unusually warm this year, and to be honest, it’s disappointingly warm. But I enjoy walking my dog through fields with blue skies and bright sunshine. I would love to have some more snow…
Christmas Shopping
Christmas shopping in the countryside is very different from Christmas shopping in the city, but in a good way. I love visiting small villages and finding independent shops with unusual gifts.
Welsh countryside
Living on the outskirts of Wales, I’m really lucky to be able to visit places like this not far from home. This is his two lakes, Rinauminville, in the Valley of Snowdonia. It looks beautiful at any time of the year.
Boardwalks through the forest
We walk through fields, over mountains, past lakes, and now through forests.
Betws-y-Coed
This is one of my favorite little villages in North Wales. There are tea rooms, cozy pubs, twinkling lights and lots of shops selling lovely gifts. It is busiest during the summer, but Christmas is the best time to visit.
About the Huawei Mate S
All these photos were taken with the Huawei Mate S, a smartphone with great photo capabilities. It is a mobile phone that provides a professional photography experience as it allows you to control shutter speed, exposure, light saturation, etc. It has a 13MP camera and features that are usually very difficult to capture on a mobile phone, such as water flow, night lighting, and starry sky photography!
This post was written in collaboration with Huawei.
Which do you prefer: Christmas in the countryside or Christmas in the city?