Cartagena to San Blas Islands

sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 11:04:

$800US, is that for a boat trip? I see fares as low as 372.92 R/T (Per person, Panama City) on Copa. Most flights are direct, and take about 50 minutes. San Blas is about 45 miles away from the airport.

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 22, 2008, 11:44:

When you go, please take lots of pictures of "The Cuna Indians" They are fascinating. I collect, sell "MOLAS".

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 12:35:

Lisa, if you like Molas, we've gottem! This is a huge craft fair at the convention center across the street from where I live.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 22, 2008, 12:42:

WOW
That's a lot of artesanias. I have a few molas too and the parrot bags in the first picture.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 22, 2008, 12:47:

WOW! THEY ARE GETTING SO COMERCIALIZED!. I hope they are made by hand and not a sewing machine. The ones I have are very old, 35 years.
I never thought I see this, just like hot cakes!. I wonder how much now days??.One from a blouse?. They look beautiful framed.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 22, 2008, 12:58:

Lisa, not all of those molas in the pics that sloopy posted look hand-made. Of course, it's almost impossible to tell from a photo. The molas I have don't have those bright colors, they have different shades of brown, orange, black and pink. The molas hanging down from the edge of the table in the third picture have similar colour patterns.

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:00:

I think they still mostly sewn by hand, as i seem they doing them, at times. I though I had made a foto of the prize-winner, but can't find it.

The blouses? I'd be guessing maybe $25-30.

But, it is a huge show that you'd probably both enjoy. I don't remember when it is, but I can look if you'd be interested.

JAJA, I just looked and those fotos were made June 22nd., of LAST YEAR!

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:02:

There are several different indiginous groups (seven, I think) who make them, and perhaps each might have different patterns and colors. But most of all I saw were quite bright. Older ones may be a bit faded also.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:07:

If I remember, I think the panels were probably $20, or less. But in Panamá, most things are negotiable, even a TV or refrigerator.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:13:

WOW Desi, Those are yours?

beautiful!

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:13:

Those are the colors I was thinking about. Look at the background of the reception at Decameron Cartagena

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:15:

Polleras, same name as the dance.

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:18:

Is that you sloopy in the hamaca?

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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jorgegdiaz says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:21:

That´s a funny piece of tile !

"To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so."Robert Orben

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:29:

Nope, but this is.



Yeah, I like liked the tile

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Desideria (Moderator) says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:36:

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain?"(First Witch in Macbeth)

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 13:38:

Children dancing the Pollera.

I didn't realize until I uploaded these fotos that my automatic camera did not like the lighting, although I can not imagine why. It was plenty bright, but I discovered that many of the fotos were not sharp, due to slow shutter speed, and a wide open aperature.

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beisbollover says on Jun 22, 2008, 14:01:

Where is this place with all of the art?

Is there a place like this in Bogota?

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 14:23:

It is actually an annual craft fair in Panama City, mostly indiginous artisans.

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 22, 2008, 14:58:

Yes Desi, the older the better the work.
The Cuna culture is very interesting, they are a matriart society. They believe, the more intricate the work on the Molas, the easier to get to "heaven". Sorry I can`t write very long, my right hand is hurting .
I have studied the Cuna Indians for many years. They also live at the golf of Uraba, Antioquia.
Posting pictures became difficult again, otherwise I would post some of my beautiful Molas.
I might write a post one day about the Cuna Indians in Colombia.

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bigtexas1974 says on Jun 22, 2008, 14:58:

Pixie,

Contact Ludwig at http://www.stahlratte.org/

You can contact him direct through that website, as he is usually at sail and responds from his computer onboard. He is German but knows English. He runs beautiful trips all over the coasts of Central and South America, including itineraries focused on Cartagena and the San Blas islands. I have not headed out on his ship yet, but I hear great things and am thinking of a Panama City - San Blas - Cartagena trip that is about 6 days long and only runs $350pp.

Good luck!

"Sex is one of the most wholesome, beautiful, and natural experiences money can buy." - Steve Martin "You don't appreciate a lot of stuff in school until you get a little older. Little things, like getting spanked every day by a middle aged woman."

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 15:51:

Continuing further off topic Lisa, that is also true of the Amish and non-Amish, Pensylvania Dutch ([Deutsche], German, not Holland Dutch) where the women prided themselves on their tiny, nearly invisible stitching (which also created part of the decoration, not only to attach the fabric pieces). I have one that a great-aunt made for me in 1953. She was already old and wanted to do it while she could still see well enough. But I have never seen small ones there, only bedspread sizes.

I was surprised to here that these folks are also in Colombia. Here they are known as Kuna, and I think I usually see Kuna Yola(?).

I did remember correctly that there are seven recognized tribes of indigenous people in Panama. They are the Nôbe-Buglé, Teribe, Kuna, Embera-Wounaan, Guaymi, Talamanca, and the Bokata. Are any of the others in Colombia also?

Here in Panamá they actually have autonomous governing rights to their ancestral land, like the San Blas Islands.

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 22, 2008, 16:07:

I just know about the Cuna Indians, and they live in Uraba. We have many tribes all over Colombia, specially in the Amazon region. The Cunas,( never sow spelled with a K), got my attention, with their culture and colorful clothing of the women. Men dress like a men, shorts, pants a shirt, very simple. but I like that the women "rule! LOL
That is very interesting sloopskipper about the Amish, well most women in the old times would embroider and made their clothes, but the believe of Cunas achieving higher spirituality by making Molas, that is super interesting.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 16:25:

I wonder if Cuna and Kuna are the same, or only somehow share the Mola type of handcraft. I have foto of Kuna woman in traditional garb, I'll search for it.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 22, 2008, 17:11:

This was during Carnaval. The Kuna women appear on the street dressed this way (without head-dress), but I think maybe the men don't. Seems I see most women with the leggings, but I'm not sure that that signifies, perhaps married?

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 22, 2008, 19:22:

Nice pic, but this must be the new millenium Cunas! Thanks.

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 22, 2008, 19:28:

http://www.angelfire.com/tx/CZAngelsSpace/CunaIndians.html

I see at Google: Kuna , Cuna?

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pixie_belle says on Jun 22, 2008, 21:25:

thanks for that

Yes the price of 800 US $ is from Cartagena to San Blas and back. Unfortunately I´m not doing what most people are doing and just going in one direction. So I have to pay double (there and back) and also pay the full price even though I´m not going all the way to mainland Panama, as I want to meet my cousin in San Blas and then come back to Colombia and carry on travelling through South America. I´m guessing that flying is going to be my only option.

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el flaco says on Jun 23, 2008, 01:33:

So a five days all inclusive trip of a lifetime is too expensive at $400 well the choice is yours. If you are really that tight fisted you could try haggling, I ended up giving the captain and crew a large tip.

It's a single fare because you fly back, there is no point in doing the trip twice.

The price even includes immigration fees (if there are any).

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dwmte7 says on Jun 23, 2008, 09:08:

go to a restaurant, 'el mar de juan' and ask for juan iglesias...the owner. pose your question to him, if anyone knows, he will.

that's in cartegena by the santa clara hotel. say hello to him from douglas martin.

dwmte

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august says on Jun 23, 2008, 12:15:

I went one way from Kuna Yala (the indigenous reserve of the Kuna - spelled with a "K" in Panama, at least) to Capurgana for $50. Cartegena is only a short boat ride from there. That was on a dodgy cargo boat, but I think the cost of your trip is going to depend on what sort of conditions you are looking to travel in and how much time you put into scrounging around for deals.

Also, in my opinion, scratch the earlier advice about taking "lots of pictures" of the Kuna. First of all, that is rude with any people, but especially with the Kuna, that´s just not their style and it makes the photo snapper look like they are treating the Kuna like wild animals. If you must, the (mostly) unstated rule is $1 per picture. I support that.

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pixie_belle says on Jun 23, 2008, 14:05:

Thanks again for all the information, it´s really given me something to look into and different options to the more travelled routes.

As I´m travelling for a year 800 US $ is a lot of money just for transport to the islands, even 600 US $ for flights to panama and back and that dosen´t include transport to the islands or accommodation, and maybe that´s being tight fisted, but unfortunately I don´t have an endless supply of money.

Once again many thanks for your help guys, and trust me I won´t be taking photos of people without their permission, it´s a huge invasion of privacy and it´s not something I generally do.

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sloopskipper says on Jun 23, 2008, 14:30:

pixie_belle says:

" . . . I won´t be taking photos of people without their permission, it´s a huge invasion of privacy and it´s not something I generally do."

Very considerate, pixie_belle, there seems to be a different feeling about that in Latin America, and not only among the indiginous, especially concerning the children.

I hope that you have a great trip, whatever you decide!

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sloopskipper says on Jun 23, 2008, 15:30:

and some like a few centavos.

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 23, 2008, 17:47:

I would like to take photos of the Island, from their homes, from them, I would be very glad to offer them money, I would make friends with them, and tell them, how much I admire their culture. To me they are art, they are beautiful.
A friend of mine was there in a private big boat, and the Indians came to him in many canoes, they sold him a turtle, and they said "good to eat" and my friend said NO, not to eat, gave them the $10,US and threw it back in the water!, the Cunas were shocked!

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sloopskipper says on Jun 23, 2008, 19:22:

Lisa, but acts like that can also be an insult, trivializing what they offer.

I was on the road to Cuzco, in Perú and a young boy (perhaps 11 or 12 YO) offered a plastic strip, with his own captions, of the different types of corn from Departmento Cuzco.

This generous gringo THOUGHT that to give him the money, and return this item for him to resell, was a generous act. We drove away and I asked the driver if I had insulted him, and yes I had.

We turned around and I tried to graciously accept his offering.

I still have it, and will never forget this little Peruano, with tears in his eyes, on the roadside.

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Lisa Zee says on Jun 23, 2008, 22:37:

Well this Cunas, SOLD him the turtle, it was not an offering from their God, and this Gringo friend, acted upon his believes!. My friend said he kiss the turtle and told them, this are creatures from the see. Anyway, *I* would have waited and do it when they were not looking!.

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lpdiver says on Jun 24, 2008, 01:29:

Me I would a stewed that sucker down and made a sauce piquante!

ts

"cook some rice!"

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