Carnival Masks

CARNIVAL MASKS


Panama isn't a big handicrafts place, but one thing they do make here is beautiful paper mache demon and spirit masks that are worn during parades during the Carnival season. On the way to Pedasi, we stopped at Parita and visited the home of a famous mask-maker named Sr. Lopez. His entire family was hard at work making the masks, but his stock was depleted as Carnival season just ended. We bought the pictured mask, but he told us he would have to come back for his awesome devil mask.

Sarigua National Park

Sarigua National Park is a bit of a strange national park - it consists of many acres of wasteland created by the clearing of forests many years ago. The good news is that the area is finally recovering, as evidenced by the little green you can see, and the cool birds.

Cemeteries in Panama

On our trip to Pedasi, in the Azuero peninsula, we saw some beautiful cemeteries - most of them are overgrown but occasionally you find one that is being cared for very well. Here is one shrine from a cemetery outside of Pedasi. We would love to know what the eyes the woman is holding are all about.

Pedasi beach

PEDASI
We stayed on the beach at Pedasi, in a little resort that was practically abandoned, we guess, because it is rainy season here. Although it poured down rain for 30-60 minutes every day, we had a nice porch where we could escape from the rain. We had the resort, and the beach, to ourselves.

Iglesia Nata

IGLESIA NATA

Nata is the oldest village in Panama, having been founded by the Spanish in 1522. This church was built in the same year so it is considered the oldest surviving church in the Americas. It has gorgeous wooden altars, but the photos didn't come out.