WELCOME TO THIS POST!
LOVELY FLOWERS FROM PANAMA FOR MY READERS
LOVELY FLOWERS FROM PANAMA FOR MY READERS
FLOWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, PANAMA'S NATIONAL FLOWER
Click to enlarge
Source: Orchi, CC BY SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons
PANAMA FLAME TREE
Click to enlarge
Source: Geoff Gallice, CC BY 2.0. Flickr
PANAMA ROSE (RONDELETIA)
Click to enlarge
Source: Jayesh Patil, CC BY 2.0. Flickr
ABOUT PANAMA
Panama,
known as the Republic of Panama, is situated on the narrow isthmus that
connects North and South America.
This narrow
strip of land has Costa Rica to the West and Colombia to the southeast.
The isthmus
also has important coasts on the Caribbean to its north and on the Pacific
Ocean to the south.
Panama’s
most important claim to fame is, of course, the Panama Canal, that great
engineering feat that joins the Atlantic Ocean (through the Caribbean) with the
Pacific Ocean.
PRESENT DAY CONTAINER SHIP ENTERING THE PANAMA CANAL
Click to enlarge
Source: gailf548, CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons
PRE-COLUMBIAN PANAMA.
The Isthmus
of Panama is a very old land bridge. It
was formed about 3 million years ago, and has witnessed the traffic of animals
and humans that have crossed this narrow bridge in both directions.
Very little
is known about the prehistoric period of the isthmus. There are some traces of beautiful
pottery that have been dated to about 2500 – 1700 B.C.
THE SPANISH
CONQUEST AND COLONIZATION.
When the
Spaniards arrived there were groups of indigenous inhabitants in the area, but
these were completely exterminated by the Spaniards, who later brought in
African slaves for manual work.
As the Spanish conquest and colonization moved
ever south and especially after the discovery of gold and silver in Peru in
what had been the Inca Empire, the Isthmus of Panama became the strategic place
for the trans-shipping of bullion and other valuable cargoes as they were transported
from the Pacific towards the Atlantic and then on to Europe.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN PANAMA.
As was
traditional to the development of the Spanish colonies, the various religious
orders soon established their presence in Panama and started building their
monumental churches.
Constantly
under attack by the English privateers and other unofficial renegade pirates,
not all of these rather fabulous structures have survived to the present day.
LA COMPAÑIA DE JESUS (JESUITS) IN THE OLD SECTOR OF PANAMA CITY
Click to enlarge
Source: Mel O.R. CC BY 2.0. Wikimedia Commons
THE CHURCH
OF SAINT JOSEPH AND ITS GOLDEN ALTAR.
This
fabulous colonial structure is now in the old sector of the city of Panama.
The
majestic Altar is made of mahogany and shows many priceless carvings which are
a mixture of European and indigenous influences in the style known as colonial art.
The surface is covered with leaves of gold and there is a skylight right above
that lets the light from outside shine down on the altar. A really fantastic
spectacle!
Here are
various photos of the Old Sector of Panama City.
GOLDEN ALTAR IN SAN JOSE CHURCH
Click to enlarge
Source: Editorpana, CC BY SA 3.0 Wikimedia Commons
ANOTHER VIEW OF THE GOLDEN ALTAR
Click to enlarge
Source: ADelBarrioB, CC BY SA 3.0. Wikimedia Commons
CLOSE-UP OF THE GOLDEN ALTAR
Click to enlarge
Source: Caropi, CC BY SA 3.0.Wikimedia Commons
SPANISH
VERSION
(This Blog is bilingual)
ALGUNOS DATOS SOBRE PANAMA
La República de Panamá ocupa el istmo del mismo nombre, esa
angosta franja que une América del Norte con América del Sur.
Su mayor fama reside en la presencia del Canal de Panamá,
una zona estratégica que permite la navegación entre el Océano Atlántico (a
través del Caribe) y el Océano Pacífico.
Desde el punto de vista geológico, este puente terrestre
surgió hace unos tres millones de años
atrás, y fue testigo del paso continuo de animales y seres humanos en ambas direcciones.
Se sabe muy poco sobre los habitantes pre colombinos del
istmo, y lamentablemente con la llegada de los españoles, los habitantes
autóctonos fueron exterminados.
LA IGLESIA DE SAN JOSE Y SU ALTAR DE ORO.
El valor estratégico de Panamá aumentó considerablemente cuando
se descubrió la existencia de los metales preciosos en la zona que correspondió
al Imperio Inca.
En efecto, los cargamentos de oro y plata llegaban por el
Pacífico hasta el Istmo de Panamá y eran transbordados por tierra hasta la otra costa, para de ahí continuar su viaje
hacia Europa.
La importancia y el valor de estos cargamentos trajo consigo
la presencia de los corsario que continuamente atacaban los galeones españoles.
De esta forma, la antigua ciudad de Panamá fue saqueada e
incendiada, logrando salvarse sólo unas pocas obras arquitectónicas de gran
valor.
Entre éstas destaca la Iglesia de San José con su gran “Altar
de Oro”, una enorme estructura de caoba enteramente tallada en el estilo del
llamado arte colonial, y luego recubierto con pan de oro.
Hoy en día es una importante atracción turística y es muy
bella.
More about similar topics in a future post. Más sobre temas similares en un próximo post.
LANGUAGE TIPS FOR ENGLISH
Words that go together! * Do her a favor - * Do
your homework - * Break my heart - * Take the child’s temperature – * Catch his attention
LANGUAGE
TIPS FOR SPANISH.
Expresiones
de uso frecuente: * A rey muerto, rey puesto - * A todos les llega su momento de gloria - * Como quien oye llover
How is your level of comprehension? ¿Cómo
está su nivel de comprensión?
© 2013
joanveronica (Joan Robertson)
I will be very happy to receive your comments! Just
click the word “comments” lower down.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please leave your comments here! Thank you!