Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Darien

 




Golfo de San Maguel
where Balboa claimed all of the Pacific
and the lands bounding it for the King of Spain


 












 
 
 
 
 
 
  

                          

The arrival of four ocean going boats off La Chunga caused
a lot of excitement in the village.  We were asked when we would be
visiting the village.  When we arrived at the landing we were greeting by
village children who were to help us navigate the hazardous walkway through
the marsh.



This log had already passed through the anchored
boats once when the tide was rising and again when
the tide was ebbing.


We pushed it ashore and tied it to some trees.  It was not
the right type of wood for madding canoes, so the
villagers had no interest in it.


 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
Arriving at the outskirts of the village, we were greeted with music.
 
 
 
 






 
 


We were formally welcomed in the "town hall".  Attending was
Charles who provided translation.
 
 
Charles "The Horse"
A Peace Corps volunteer living in La Chunga is
helping introduce low elevation coffee
growing.  The man next to him was from tribal headquarters in
the next village up the river.  He wanted to charge us $15 per day
for use of the anchorage.  We refused and eventually we reached
an agreeable figure, $15 per week. 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
After the dance we had an opportunity to purchase
some of the crafts made in La Chunga.  Everything was
incredibly beautiful.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our son Kris who went for the henna "tats" in a big way.
They washed off within a week.




 
 
 
 
The Chief
La Chunga Village
Rio Sambu
 

5 comments:

  1. Beautiful photography Paul, did you take these? If so, Kris comes by his talent honestly. I always regretted not doing that Darien trip. What are you guys up to? Are you leaving for Ecuador? Will you be able to get Kris out of the interior? Our love, Lauri and Dois

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Guys, Thanks for the comment. We all shared photos, and I can't remember who took what, but I'll be glad to claim them as mine. We have just finished our repairs, and nothing new has broken yet so we hope to leave Panama soon for the Marquesas Islands. Glad you have finished your bash back north.

      Delete
  2. Nice photos. Wow. Say a bit more about them.
    Are you going to wait out the hurricane or head out now?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I was going to do a write up, but don't know what more there is to say, except they were amazed to see four ocean going sailboats parked off the village dock, and that they were as happy to see us as we were to see them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great post, guys!!! Wow, you've really gone off the grid!!! Happy to see your mechanical issues getting crossed off "the list", and hope you'll be joining us in the sopac soon!!! Cheers from Fiji, Adam and Cindi.

    ReplyDelete