Panama takes Christmas very seriously. Millions of dollars are poured over this small country during the last month of the year. Stores are full of people making all kinds of purchases for their loved ones. Supermarkets are loaded with customers buying food to put on their tables during Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It’s a month of frantic activity. I’s almost impossible to drive on the congested streets.
Albrook Mall is no exception. It has been full to capacity with Christmas shoppers since late November. Its administrators made sure the mall was properly decorated for the occasion. During my recent visit to its premises on November 28, 2009, I was positively impressed with what I saw except for one thing. I’ll tell you and the end of the post.
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at some of the Christmas decorations at Albrook Mall in Panama City, Panama. Here we go.
A richly decorated Christmas tree at Albrook Mall in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
Photograph of a colossal Christmas Tree located at the entrance of Albrook Mall in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A closer view of the Christmas decorations at Albrook Mall. Notice how big the toy soldiers are. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A view of a Christmas tree at Albrook Mall taken from the second floor. I stared at this tree for several minutes, in awe. Digicel is a cell phone company operating in Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
A close-up view of the Albrook Mall Christmas tree. The toy soldiers were mesmerizing. For a short while I felt like a six-year old kid. Maybe I never ceased to be a kid. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)
Remember what I said about missing something? Well, I didn’t see a nativity setting in the whole mall. Here we are in the midst of the Christmas season, and no where did I see a sign of baby Jesus. We are celebrating the birth of an invisible child. When I was young, there were nativity decorations in every home and most commercial places. Nowadays, you can barely see them. Baby Jesus has been replaced by Santa Claus and the Christmas Tree. This is unfortunate. Good Day.
