Unlike most Christian countries where Christmas is celebrated, in Venezuela today's Xmas Eve (technically)!
Families meet on the 24th for their Xmas dinner, wear their new clothes (estrenos) and by midnight kids (if they're still awake) open their presents (brought by either Santa or el Niño Jesus). The 25th is just a day off when most of the towns and cities are "dead." People oversleep, keep drinking and have soup to battle their hangovers, while those children who got presents brag about them and play around.
I have always dreaded to have to run errands downtown on Xmas Eve. It's total chaos (I guess it is the same everywhere). Most people here buy their kids' presents just hours before they are supposed to be delivered.
Today, I saw myself going through this stressful ordeal, even though the errand I was running had nothing to do with Xmas.
My girls are already back home. They will spend Xmas and New Year with their relatives. I have not yet made up my mind. I know I will have dinner with my nephew's family downstairs, but I have no plans yet for New Year.
In the meantime, I had to run this errand around Plaza El Venezolano/San Jacinto and it could not have been more chaotic.
Most street vendors or buhoneros were selling toys. At some point I was reminded of the old days thanks to some cheap, traditional toys.
There were also a fair share of fancy expensive toys.
There was something for every age or taste.
Now, whoever sees that may have the false perception that people must be doing well economically, considering all this outpour of products in the streets. The fact is that most people are still struggling to make ends meet.
The difference they may experience in their purchasing power is just the result of the remittances sent by their relatives abroad. Just as a trivia update: there are now about 8 million Venezuelans scattered all over the world as a direct result of the political crisis.
Block after block around that area, it was just impossible to walk without stumbling against someone or being honked by some motorcycle.
At some point, I went to the bus stop to try to get a bus back to the apartment.
However, traffic was so bad, I decided to walk.
I stopped by this statue, which I am guessing is relatively new here (it does not have a plaque identifying artist or name of the work).
It is right in front of the Bolivar museum
Which is next to the house where Simón Bolivar was born.
We have passed by this area several times now, but have not had the chance to enter. It does not seem to be available for tours and there was no one resembling a curator I could ask.
That will be all for now
wow, so much diversity of things, the streets are always a fair at Christmas time
Greetings 😊
They are Indeed. Greetings