After visiting Mayin’s Bazaar at Parque Belisario Porras, we continued with our adventure of exploring other places in Panama City which were Christmas decorated. That was Parque Omar in the neighborhood of San Francisco de la Caleta.
Parque Omar is named after General Omar Torrijos, a military leader who has left an deep imprint of his political ideas in the country. He is mainly responsible of negotiating the Torrijos-Carter Treaty with the United States in 1977. As a direct result of this treaty, the U.S. relinquished full jurisdiction of the Panama Canal to the Republic of Panama at midday of December 31, 1999. It was the last day the United States raised its flag in the Panama Canal Zone.
Parque Omar is under the supervision of the First Lady, Marta Linares de Martinelli. This year she decided to enhance the appearance of the park with gorgeous Christmas decorations. They now compete head-to-head with those of the Cinta Costera.
At Parque Omar, we found several free entertainment machines which were the delight of all the children there. I was impressed with the high number of children with their parents at the park. I rode of these machines called The Dragon with the Abdiel. I almost pissed in my pants. That machine was rough to ride, but Abdiel was raising his hands and laughing throughout the ride. I guess I’m getting old.
Below are several photographs depicting our stay at Parque Omar on December 8, 2009. For young children, there is never a dull moment. Here we go.
Photograph of one the many electric Christmas decorations located in several parts of Parque Omar. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)
Santa Claus goes fishing in a Christmas decoration at Parque Omar in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)
A special stage was built at Parque Omar for daily Christmas events. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)
Photograph of one of the angels which decorated the Christmas stage at Parque Omar. The structure was donated by Cable & Wireless, a British cell phone company doing business in Panama. You can see a C&W's mobile phone in one of the angel's hands. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.
Photograph of another angel decorating the special stage built at Parque Omar. This time the cell phone is being held in the angel's other hand. You just can't get business out of Christmas nowadays. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)
Abdiel and Carol ride a firemen's helicopter carousel at Parque Omar. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)
Abdiel smiles at the camera on board a firemen's helicopter carousel at Parque Omar. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)
Carol and Abdiel receive a hug by the red-and-white Ho Ho man himself. (Credit: ©Omar Upegui R.)
Just about 9:00 p.m. we decided to call it quits. Abdiel had to get ready to attend classes the following day and he’s a late sleeper. We had a difficult time detaching both of them from the park. I felt a little bit guilty, but “a man’s got to do what a man’s got to do.” Good Day.
