One Beautiful Day in Panama

Who? Athena Where? A young and timid Embera girl hides in the shadows while in the background construction for their community center is in process. It is said that indigenous groups live a simple life but not without tons of hard work.

Who?  Jeff  Where?  El Palmar (The Palm Grove) is an area to the west of Panama City on the Pacific coast of Panama province.   But it obviously has a lot more to offer than just palm trees.  The Pacific is the surfing side of Panama while the Caribbean is the snorkling side.  How fortunate to have two oceans to choose from and less than fifty miles (eighty kilometers) separating them.

Who?  Bob  Where?  People who have never lived in the tropics may think the only trees, especially along the beach, are palm trees.  Not so.  In truth, although palms certainly exist in large numbers on Panamanian beaches, there is a much greater variety.  Above, you see a very common example, but more importantly, you see more than a tree or a beach.  You see a sample of the warm tranquility that we so much love in Panama. This photo was taken near the little town of Pedasí on the Azueros peninsula of central Panama.

Who? Jeff Lane  Where? Other nations have their kings and Presidents, we have ours.  And isn’t he regal?  This peacock’s castle is the La Playita resort near Pedasí in Los Santos province on the Azuero peninsula of central Panama.

Who?  John  Where?  Whether you say “Hogar, dulce hogar” or “Home, sweet home”, it carries the same emotional power.  Homes in Panama are as different from each other as they are in any nation.  The one above on the Pacific coast ofCoclé province in central Panama is not at all uncommon, but it is only a shell.  Inside, you will find the real spirit that makes a home a real home, not just a house.  If you can provide the spirit, Panama can supply the house and, together, we can create a new home.

Who?  Terry Phipps  Where?  No matter where you are in the world, fun looks the same.  In this case, a fund-raiser is being held for the SOS Children’s Village near Penonomé, the capital of Coclé province in central Panama.  We do not know who won this race, but the odds are that everyone did!

Photographer: Terry Phipps  Where?  Dance competitions are a big hit in Panama and the style usually is based on our nation’s Spanish heritage.  The competitions start at an early age and here we see two eager young participants at a competition in Llano Grande in the province of Coclé in central Panama.

Photographer: Bob Where:  Most northerners think of palm trees when they think of Panama, but that is far from the whole story.  And our trees can be as impressive as any “spreading oak” in North America, as is clearly demonstrated here at this home in Punta Barco Village near the Pacific coast of Coclé province in central Panama.

Photographer: Alan Hawkins Victoria Where? Like so many nations, Panama’s country folk love their fairs. One of the most popular is the Azuero Fair (Feria de Azuero) held in Villa de Los Santos in Los Santos province of central Panama. Azuero is the name given to the “hump” of central Panama that sticks out into the Pacific. Along with all the standard country fair events, there are plenty of vendors selling crafts. Here’s one kind of craft that is well appreciated by all of us!

Photographer: John Moses M. Where? You might be surprised to know that salmon is a popular fish in Panama. Of course, our native varieties, especially corvina, are the most common, but salmon has its place in the market too. We even have a local producer of a variety of smoked salmon specialties whose products are also exported. Where do the salmon come from? From fish farms like the one above in Cocle province in central Panama.