Showing posts with label SAN BLAS. Show all posts

Memories of San Blas

san blas mola by the kuna indians
Working a bit on the interior of our boat at the moment, I regret I didn't purchase more of these brilliant colorful slightly psychedelic artworks, hand sewn by the Kuna Indian ladies. I know I can get them in any tourist shop in Panama City but I'd rather support the designers right where they're made. Maybe we should make another trip to the beautiful San Blas sometime soon, it's anyway just a day of sailing away.
san blas kuna indians
One day in one of the pristine anchorages over there, these guys rowed out to us to ask if we were going to Porvenir (the capital island), five miles away, any time soon. We were, as a matter of fact, going later that day, and these gentlemen asked if they could hitch a ride. Claro que si, we're leaving at two, where shall we pick you up with our dinghy? No no, the man said, we're bringing our canoe!
san blas islands kuna indians
At two o' clock they returned and we tied their canoe to the stern of our boat. We realized pretty quickly it was easier to have one of the men staying in the canoe to steer it in right course to avoid a capsize.
san blas kuna
The Kuna indians we met on our two weeks in the islands were all very kind, polite and friendly. As they try to keep their gorgeous natural islands calm and as simple as they've been for thousands of years, it is a bit of a shame the amount of charter boats packed with hundreds and hundreds of (often drunk) people that bring noise and litter with them. But on the other hand, the (good) yacht tourism gives the kunas an opportunity to make money from their molas, lobster and fishing. It is a tricky balancing act. 
san blas kuna
Later on, we became friends with the sergeant coast guard of the San Blas archipelago who told us that in a manner of maintaining a healthy environment for both nature and locals alike, they're trying to limit the number of yacht/charter visitors by raising custom and immigration fees, particularly so for backpacker boats. 

It was refreshing to hear, not only from our friend Atentio, but from many other kunas we had the pleasure to speak to as well - that they do not care too much for neither the money potential visitors could bring in, nor for a modern progress in their society - but all they really want is to live in peace and harmony.
Who can blame them, with all this surreal natural beauty surrounding them.

Check here and here for more photos from our stay in these stunning, tranquil islands. 

5 comments

Holiday mode

Can't remember the last time Alex hasn't touched a tool or had his headlamp on sweating away in the evenings for more than a day at a time. Or me being off the computer for this long for that matter. We've got almost two weeks of proper relaxation now. Feels like being kids on summer holiday. Soon time to head off to mainland Panama though. Just a bit more snorkeling to do...

7 comments

Greetings from San Blas

We are officially in the most beautiful island chain we have ever encountered since crossing the Atlantic two years ago. This is what a paradise looks like, what we had hoped for the Caribbean to be but what we've never found before now. There are almost 400 islands in the San Blas archipelago and only one of them has Internet so forgive me for not being in touch. It is also the first time in several years that I haven't been aware of anything else than what is showed before my eyes. No skype, phone nor internet connection for what now, nine days? It's not an extremely long time but still pretty new to me after seven-eight years of working online. 

Having so much time on my hands, our small library onboard feels like a candy store. Where should I start? Devouring cooking books and having time to begin reading those classics that I've left for a more peaceful day. Obtaining the time and peace to write down (on paper!) all those thoughts and words that has been boiling in my mind, waiting for a noiseless clutter free day to get typed. Do I miss being connected? No. And it almost frightens me how wonderful it is to feel like the only few humans in the world and not having any longing, need or lust for coming back to being in touch. No stress, no worries, no obligations: this is what this journey was all about, but we've been amazingly effective in attracting dutiful projects and heavy challenges on the way. It sure does feel good to at least being able to pretend no obligations and worries exists in the world. One seem to forget about the other existence when surrounded by natural beauty like this.

Feeling inspired by the life of the Kuna Indians who live here in peace and quietness on islands consisting of only a load of golden sand and forty-five palm trees. Each morning they're paddling their canoes to mainland picking up fresh water and fruits from the mountains and with the help of the land breeze, sailing back in the afternoon. Then lazying around in the hammock with the sound of birds singing in the trees and the gentle ocean breeze lapping against the reef. It sounds so simple, but to simplify life is the only good way to collect ones thoughts and the fragmented pieces and multiple layers of impressions that's floating within us all. We'll definitely be staying here collecting energy for a while longer. 

15 comments