We were surprised to see the Kuna vendors hiding from the sun in Casco Viejo (Spanish for Old Quarter) Panama. If they were not used to the hot Panama sun, nobody was… A little awkward we thought.
It was a hot day in January, but totally acceptable for tourists and people from outside the country.
Walking a little farther on the Casco Viejo boardwalk we noticed some foreign youngsters. They selling their crafted jewelry to tourists as well, but without the need of a shelter.
… so what was the mystery behind the scene of the Kuna vendors hiding themselves under the vending tables?
Suddenly I had the idea to look at my watch: it was around 2 ‘o clock! Oh,…coming from North America, we completely forgot about the well known custom in the Latin countries: Siesta 🙂
The Kuna vendors in Casco Viejo Panama
The Kunas were hiding from the sun, not because they couldn’t bear the heat – they just wanted to take a nap 🙂
A little cultural information:
- Kuna people are native Panamanians originating mainly in the  San Blas Islands of Panama (Kuna Yala) – which is a beautiful place almost inaccessible and untouched by tourists.
- They are talented in crafts and clothing and also good in agriculture.
- They are also very good merchandisers with a long history in trading goods.
These skills and the willing to increase their rather thin income brought them to places like Panama City and Boquete – It’s nice seeing them as part of the urban landscape 🙂
- Kunas like to wear their traditional costumes –  and often ask for money from the tourists willing to take photos of them ( more in Panama City than in elsewhere.
One of the most popular crafts they’re making are the “Molas”which Kuna women use to decorate their dresses. * I uploaded this photo to my Panama gallery at Fine Art America, and it’s available as art print. Click on it for details:
However, Molas can also be used for pillows, or house decor, and this is what tourists are buying them for.
Friendly Friday Photography: Working Together |
Casco Viejo Panama (also called Casco Antiguo – Old Quarter in Spanish) is full of history. Some of its doors, windows and walls are as old as 300 years – They all have some interesting stories to tell, which I hope will not disappear too soon.
This archaic colonial building with its old doors and balconies attracted my view, and I couldn’t stop wondering: “what if the doors could talk – what story would they tell?“….
Once somebody’s home, I could easily assume that these doors have seen much better days.
The green wooden shades where certainly once beautiful. You can also notice the balconies with wrought iron railings… And hey, there was still a living plant growing on one of them – hmm, weird! * Note the three different methods for securing the doors at the bottom… I’m wondering what they are hiding inside those dingy enigmatic spaces.
I made this picture as a painting for a more vibrant look.
 A little History
- Built on a peninsula, the district was founded in 1673 with the purpose of defending Panama City from pirates attacks and repress the enemies.
- This historic district of Panama City, a gem of art and culture, has become a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.
Panama and especially its capital are full of history. One of the buildings dating to the 17th century is the convent of Santo Domingo with it’s “Flat Arch” (Arco Chato). – Today it’s under restoration.
Another beautiful building dating in the 17’th century is the Iglesia San Francisco de Asis in Plaza Bolivar, restored after two fires:
More Doors in Casco Viejo, Panama
I love to see and take photos of doors and windows, and this is what I did in Casco Viejo Panama too.
As I was walking on the streets of this old city looking left and right, I kept thinking the same thing: What if the doors could talk…
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…Â But some people are people still living on some of these rather crappy buildings with broken walls and dingy spaces. They’re waiting patiently for the day of restoration.
Casco Viejo restoration
More and more old buildings have been renovated into nice clean even luxurious apartment buildings and hotels.
The process continues, without destroying the original character of the construction. Hopefully the history behind these antique walls will not completely disappear.
I uploaded some of these pictures from Casco Viejo in my Panama gallery at Fine Art America and they are available as art prints. Check them out!
Lens-Artists Challenge #20 – Open Sesame: Doors and Doorways | Weekly Challenge: Photograph When One Door Closes….
Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is almost a symbol of Nova Scotia. Situated in the historic fisherman’s village with the same name, the building is one of the most photographed landmark in the Maritime Canada. The whole historic fishing village is very picturesque with lots of things to see, but the lighthouse literally stands out.
Here is the famous lighthouse in the fire-red light of the sunset. I took it right before the sun was completely gone.
Wandering on the rocky Atlantic shore of the village, it got quite late, but I wanted to take this sunset shot. Unfortunately, by the time I climbed a rock nearby, the sun disappeared and I was quite sure I missed it.
My husband encouraged me to wait and see what happens – he was right 🙂 Suddenly the last rays of light appeared from behind the horizon spraying an incredible red color on the sky! – What a great good luck 🙂
I didn’t have the tripod – I almost never use it, therefore, I tried to fix my legs as hard as I could on the ground and got the shot.  I like the fact that I captured the man standing nearby the lighthouse – it shows so nicely the scale of the structure. I can call this “Minimalism” in landscape photography using the “Rule of Thirds“
This historic building has been photographed in all light conditions, from all possible angles and points of view. However at sunset it’s just magnificent, especially with the cloud formations above the water. It is quite amazing to see and the continuously changing sunlight – No two instances are the same.
Peggy’s Cove lighthouse is definitely a popular place, and not only for its beauty, but also for its position on top of those big boulders entering deeply into the ocean.
And here is the lighthouse on a beautiful September blue sky:
If you want to see more pictures from this picturesque village, I have them in my Peggy’s Cove gallery
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Photo of the week: Red