Mall & Hall

We went to the major shopping mall here today. Maintaining my lively interest in cultural differences, I was fascinated by the concept of having to pay for the privilege to park in the shopping center parking lot. The entrance ticket booth is shown below ...

 Carol outside the Center. As you can see it was an overcast day.

We arrived early so had to wait a few minutes for the stores to open at 11:00 a.m. As we entered we passed a policeman, dressed in black uniform, carrying on a shoulder strap his standard automatic weapon. To a casual observer such as myself it seems over the top to have this kind of police presence as one enters a modern department store, but then again I'm just a visitor. One thing I do know is that nobody needs to waste time here with controversies over the use of Tasers.

As for the merchandise in this center, it is all first class. For those interested here is a sampling ...

Considering it was the day before Christmas the shoppers were remarkably few as the photo below reveals. Perhaps Christmas gifts are purchased in greater abundance from the vendors on the road at stop lights.

 The above photo was taken around noon. By 1:00 pm the population had increased to about twenty persons. I wonder if this center has ever been tempted to experiment with free parking - you never know what might stimulate business.

All this notwithstanding we had a very enjoyable lunch here although we did feel a tad isolated as the only two souls occupying a table in the ten-acre food court.

At least these pet shop creatures weren't as lonely as the pet shop owner.

 Open air transport. Note the hoodie. It was cool today.

 Show me the electrical drawings! This cannot be according to plan!

This evening we attended a meeting and, due to extremely limited seating in the English mid-week meeting (on Wednesdays they occupy the second school which is the size of a bureau drawer) we sat in on the Spanish meeting. I believe Carol absorbed quite a bit. The main thing I learned is that there is an eleven-year-old girl here named Ruby who knows how to deliver a ministry school assignment brilliantly. She hardly looked at her notes, she spoke freely from the heart, and used expressive gestures. Her masterful performance nearly moved me to tears although I understood not a word. Afterwards I was able to communicate my heartfelt commendation easily because she speaks Spanish, English, and French. I'm sure glad she's on our side.

Ruby