Shop for The Molas and visit Amador Causeway.
Today you will leave
Playa Blanca and head back to Panama City.
Wear
comfortable clothes and shoes (shorts-T-shirt, sandals will be ok) since you will be
shopping at the Kuna Market. You may want to have some cash available too.
As you
travel back to the city, go across the famous BRIDGE OF THE AMERICAS, the link
between two Continents, North America and South America!
You
will arrive to one of the most popular indigenous markets in Panama: The Kuna
Market.
The Kuna
people live in three politically autonomous Comarcas of Panama: Kuna Yala,
Madugandí and Wargandí.
The Comarca
de Kuna Yala comprises the San Blas Islands, an archipelago of over 360 islands
along the coast. A big number of the
islands are inhabited by Kuna communities.
The
Saila is the political and spiritual leader of each community.
The Kuna
are famous for their colorful Molas, an
art form made with the techniques of appliqué and reverse appliqué.
Kuna
women create Molas by stitching several layers of different bright colored cloth
together, and then patterns are cut through the layers exposing the cloth
underneath. Designs include geometrical illustrations of animals, plants and
ritual objects. These panels are used to make the traditional blouses which are
worn daily by the Kuna women, together with the cotton skirts, the red and orange head scarves
and glass bead strings on wrists and ankles.
Molas
have their origin in the body painting. After the Spanish arrival, the Kuna
started to transfer their traditional geometric designs on fabric, first by
painting directly on the textiles and later by using the actual technique.
The
Kuna represent the largest indigenous group in Panama. They are still
engaged in agriculture and fishing.
They grow bananas, plantain corn, tubers
and avocados.
In
modern days, tourism has become a very important income for this communities. By
selling their Molas, the women are responsible for the main part of the family
income.
After
shopping you will drive to Amador Causeway for a delicious lunch. Fort
Amador was a former USA base that protected the Pacific entrance to the Panama
Canal.
During WW2
fortifications were constructed on the islands to protect the canal but were
never used.
The
causeway is as a huge breakwater that protects the entrance to the Canal and
prevent sedimentation in the Port of Balboa. It was built with rock and
material from the excavation of Culebra Cut during the construction of the
Canal. This joined the four islands of Flamenco, Perico, Culebra and Naos.
The
Causeway offers a fantastic views of Panama`s skyscraping and the Bridge of the
Americas.
Throughout
history, Amador has been considered an important protection setting for the Spanish
Conquistadors, for pirates, during the First and Second World World, and for
the modern days.
Today the Causeway is a panamenian pride, a tourist destination where port facilities, marinas,
shopping, restaurants and hotels are now being developed.
After
lunch you will check in at your Hotel. Prepare for an unforgettable Farewell
Dinner.
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