Panama and Guatemala 2023 - Day 2

Nope.  Not a Nazi flag on the car window.

The Guna flag was adopted after the 1925 rebellion against Panamanian suppression.  Horizontal stripes have a proportion of 1:2:1 and the central swastika is an ancestral symbol called Naa Ukuryaa.

 According to one explanation, it symbolizes the four sides of the world or the origin from which peoples of the world emerged.  In another explanation, it symbolizes the octopus that created the world, its tentacles pointing to the four cardinal points.  Also known as the flag of Guna Yala island today, the flag was used for the province of San Blas until 2010 and also is used as the Guna ethnic flag.  The central stripe, meaning peace and purity, is white on the official flag of the reservation, officially adopted by Guna National Congress, while yellow stripe is used on the ethnic flag (it was introduced on the flag at about 1940). 

In 1942 the flag was modified with a red ring (representing the traditional Kuna nose-ring) encompassing the center of the swastika because of Nazi associations; the ring was later abandoned.

A quick breakfast snack break.

Hojaldre.  Basically the Panamanian equivalent of fried dough.  Delicious.

Double rainbow!  Always a good omen in my book.

Private boat.  Tiny porter.  Large suitcase.  Lots of blue.  Heading to the San Blas Islands in the The Guna Yala archipelago.

A peek back at the shore.

A VERY bouncy, VERY wet commute to the first island.

Our lodging.

There are a total of 378 islands and islets, though only 49 are inhabited. Almost all of the archipelago's residents are Kuna Indians, living in Kuna villages spanning entire islands. 

Accommodations for travelers are extremely basic throughout Kuna Yala, typically in huts on private isles, with meals consisting of whatever the fishermen bring in. But if you're seeking the definition of idyllic, these Panama islands are it.​

This is the view from our cottage window.

And looking down the beach.

Heading to do some swimming at a neighboring island.

I'm IN the ocean.  The water temperature is about 85° F.

I don't think those offer UV protection, Jirafita.

Puffy clouds, swaying palm trees, gentle surf, salt water . . . paradise.

Rafa trying to drown Jirafita, I guess.

Our home base in the distance.

Borracha!

See what happens when she gets drunk?

Our private boat has returned.

Back at home base.  This shows almost all of the island.

Time to dress up.

Adventure walk around the island perimeter.

Panorama in Panama!!

With her afternoon's collection of coral.

The swimming place from earlier in the day.  Such a nice commute.

See the moon?

It's not a drowning porcupine.  It's a palm stump and roots.

Sunset is coming.

 

Before the sun sets, it will only be us and ten other people on the island.  INCLUDING workers.

Tiny sunburn.

Brain coral.

You gotta love a place that serves made to order breakfast until 10 a.m. and made to order dinner until 9 p.m.

"We Have Lobster!"

This mop was scary and endearing at the same time.

The island entrance.  All boats have stopped for the day.  I kept looking for Mr. Roarke and Tattoo.

Pondering life.  It gets dark fast, like in the desert.

Photo from the bed in our cottage.

Dinner time!  The entire night's population is in the dining hall.

Local fare.