8th February 2012

Sailed abut 30 miles to Snug Harbour.  Kuna Indian village can be found on Playon Chico and the air strip that Annie will arrive at on is across a small bridge to mainland Panama.  Kuna Indians occupy San Blas island and make these things called molas.  Either totally embroidered or patchworks of cloth and embroidery.  You get hassled until you buy one.  The Kuna village of playon Chcico occupies an entire island.  In some places there was not enough room to move between houses / straw huts.  Lots on interbreeding going on so we saw albinos and Patrick caught sight of mongal children.  we were surrounded by children the whole time, lots with sores and all asking for one dollar for picture.  According to guide books Kuna saw postcards of themselves in Panama city and so request a dollar a picture now. 

 

The ‘official’ Kuna who arrived, with papers to charge us 10 dollars to anchor off Playon Chico.

 

 

The Kuna take to seas in dug out canoes which they are constantly bailing out.  Some have sails – well patchwork of cloth others not.

 

 

Kuna lady with selection of molas.  I purchased the bright blue one bottom left hand corner.

 

 

Me trying to decide which mola to buy.

 

 

Typical Kuna houses.

 

Looking grim:

 

 

Near where we anchored in Snug harbour there was small hotel.  This is all of us (minus Annie) having a beer.  Stephen, Paul, me and Patrick.  Notice Paul is still trying to smile whilst I try to give him a smacker rooney.

 

 

Here we are again:

 

View from hotel veranda – you can see Karacool and Oyster Moon in the background.