Trip to Panama, Part 1

 Spring means its time for my more or less annual trip to the San Blas Islands off Panama to purchase molas.  The lodge where I stayed had a gorgeous (spoiled) pet parrot. 

 Garbage on the next lot which was part of the view from the lodge balcony (as well as the ocean)

 A young boy fishing (actually bailing  at the moment) from a boat near the lodge

 A typical dugout canoe

 A house had burned down here and not been replaced leaving an open area

 Allmost every island has a school where the children learn in Spanish.  Many of the older people don't speak it.

 This is what you get for $90 a night.  That's tape on the floor between the boards.

 The toilets and cold shower are downstairs.

The inland view from the top floor of the lodge.

Trip to Panama

 Ok.  This trip was about 2 months ago.  But due to my problems learning to use this camera I didn't unload the photos until tonight.  My computer guru (commonly known as Michael, my son-in-law) came over and solved my user error problems. 

 For my first night I chose to stay in a hostel for a number of reasons.  Its cheap. (Panama City is expensive) It is a short night.  And my ride to the San Blas Islands was booked through the hostel and left from here (at 5:00 am)

 My room wasn't much and had a shared bath.  I had originally booked it for the three days when I returned and luckily changed my mind and booked another hotel.

 I can't imagine being cooped up here for three days working on molas.  It was fine for one quick night.

 The next morning it was off in a comfortable van to the edge of the city, through the countryside and over the steep hills to the dock where I caught a boat to the San Blas Islands.  Before you hit the dock you have to go through Army Security and check out of the country.  A couple without passports were turned back there.  At the dock you have to check in and pay a fee to visit.  They are a territory.At the dock a boat picks you up and takes you to the appropriate island.

 This is common for one of the boatmen to stand in the front.

When I arrived the hotel owner's wife organized a display of molas in front of her house.  The Kunas are a matriarchal society and she had just built a new wooden house across from the hotel.

 My room.  No screens or glass.  Electricity from dark to dawn.

I usually have a room downstairs so this was a treat to have a bathroom with light.  Try combing your hair and putting on lipstick in a dark bathroom sometime.  No hot water of course.

 A soccer field by the school.  Basketball is their other big sport.

 This is a hotel which takes up the whole island.  It is a former Smithsonian research station.

 A playing field on another island.  That is a store in the front.

 Dinner.

 The view from my window.

 The hotel owner's wife and mother.  It was a treat to be able to photograph them.

 The street in front of my hotel.  The restaurant is to the right, the hotel to the left.  As streets go here it was quite wide.

 Back in Panama City I had splashed out and had a suite.  Boy was I glad that I did.  Terrific air conditioning and really comfortable.

 With a nice little kitchen.  The hotel furnished a nice breakfast and I stocked up for my other meals at the local supermarket.

 Tons of space.  I sat and worked at taking apart mola blouses for three days

The end of the toilet paper roll the way the maid folded it.

Molas For Sale

I personally selected all these molas on the San Blas Islands off Panama, the home of the Kuna Indians who are famous for them. Almost all of them are from blouses, which meant the maker took extra special care as she was making it for herself. All prices are plus $4.50 postage. You can enlarge the photos by clicking on them. If you would like more photos or additional information please contact me at: pkibbee@aol.com.




Two squash. Beautiful double layer applique and tiny stitch embroidered trim. $37

The flowers are triple applique with holes punched in the black layer which are then all appliqued down! Beautiful workmanship. $34

Two happy angels playing marimbas. Great applique and exquisite tiny stitch embroidery on this piece. $44

Whimsical teapots which I assume are crabs. Beautiful tiny embroidery details. $44

Two fat cats. Exquisite tiny embroidery stitches trim this one. $29

Two birds with a clock. I have never seen a clock before on a mola. The double applique wings are all trimmed with an exquisite feather stitch in tiny embroidery. $39

Traditional style mola. Double applique X's and ric rack like applique. $37

Binoculars in beautiful double applique with rick rack style trim. $37

Vibrant flowers on this beautifully embroidered piece. $34

Parrots are a common theme of the Kuna, but usually on the smaller appliques, This one has beautiful tiny stitches trimming the faces and flowers. $27
SOLD

Two doves in beautiful double applique with tiny embroidered trim. $21 SOLD

Four leaves. Beautiful double applique, rick rack type trim and tiny embroidery stitches. $39

I am assuming these two graceful birds are swans. The usual beautiful applique and tiny embroidery stitches on the birds faces. $29

I have never seen pipes used as a design for a mola before. $29

Semi traditional mola with a beautifully embroidered duck in the center. $19

Beautiful fish with two tiny fish in the corners. Lovely double appliques and tiny embroidery stitches. $27