Panama and Molas

This is the Airport building in Carti. No "newfangled" stuff such as electricity or control tower. The "waiting" area is a couple of benches under the roof on the left where the man is standing. That is where the barefoot airport manager with his little orange vest checks you in with his clipboard, listing your name, age, weight, nationality and passport number. (You worry that some of this might be so that they can notify your Embassy if there is a crash. Actually there was one a few years ago near one of the Islands with all hands lost) . The manager gives you tickets for your bags but no boarding pass so you are pretty much on your own till the plane comes. This also appears to be the waiting room for the Overland route through the jungle to the main road to Panama City. A group had gathered for this and one pulled up ( a very sturdy four wheel drive with a huge baggage carrier on top) which people piled on for the jarring trip. When we heard the "plane wasn't coming" it was very tempting to take it. The sort of restaurant was in the right hand door but didn't appear to be open. The "new" trend in Molas. Using a print for the base and then embellishing it. I found this on a number of molas around various islands. Usually it was an abstract print, such as the one below, with just one of two areas containing fabric appliqued over the design. They were easy to spot even from a distance. The one below fooled me. I didn't realize it was a print until I began taking the blouse apart. On the other hand the work on this is absolutely expert. A piece of orange fabric was overlaid on the print and then cut away over the design. And the other colors were added. The only "print" showing is the black and white. Click on the photo to enlarge it. While this one is wonderful I see it as a disturbing trend.