Toyland

Today marks the end of that holiday season which Mexicans refer to as "Guadalupe Reyes".  It begins on December 12th with the Feast Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe and extends to January 6th with the Day of the Kings (Epiphany).  Today is the day when children in Mexico traditionally receive gifts from the Magi Kings - "Los Reyes Magos" (although Santa Claus bringing gifts on Christmas has been added to the mix).

During this gift-giving season, the World Trade Center for the last 20 years has been the venue for the "Expo Tus Jugetes", the largest toy exposition in Mexico.  The show opened on December 18th and lasts until today for those last minute shoppers who procrastinated in buying toys for the Day of the Kings (or whose children procrastinated in writing their letter to the Kings).

Alejandro and I had no plans to go shopping there since our nephew, now a high school student, is beyond the age of receiving toys.  Nevertheless, before Christmas, we walked over the the World Trade Center to look around.

At the entrance there are always some displays that are good for a funny photo op.

Inside the largest of the exposition halls, there is row after row of every kind of toy imaginable.

Santa's reindeer and helpers dancing to an old Christmas carol from Spain called "Los Peces en el Río" (The Fish in the River).

Last Friday when we were at the family house, Alejandro mentioned the toy expo.  His sister and nephew said that they wanted to go.  So, that very afternoon, we got in the car and drove to the World Trade Center.  Even though our nephew is in high school, I thought that it was really cool that he enjoyed looking at the toys.  I had not intended to buy anything for the family for Day of the Kings.  However, I was carefully observing the things that he and his mom were looking at with interest.  So on Sunday, Alejandro and I returned (for the third time) and bought a Snoopy thermos for Ezra and a Snoopy mug for Sandra.  And just so grandpa wouldn't feel left out, we bought him a Homer Simpson mug.