You know the microsoft screen saver on your computer with the palm tree on the island in the middle of the pristine ocean??? Yeah, I was there. I think it was one of the most beautiful places I have been in my life. I traveled to Panama over Semana Santa and took a small plane to the San Blas islands, about half an hour from Panama City. There I learned about the Kuna Yala, an indigenous community, who live on more than 300 islands off the Atlantic coast of Panama. When a girl gets her first menstrual period, she goes through a ceremony where her hair is cut and she is given her traditonal dress. Most of the women also wear a gold ring through their septum and beads on their ankles and wrists that they call chakiras. Most of the women only speak the indigenous Kuna language, but the men speak Kuna and Spanish. They are fishermen who paddle around in wooden boats carved out of enormous tree trunks. I ate fresh fish (corvina, and tuna) and rice for every meal. The Kuna have their own laws, own police and immigration agents and a chief in every village. They don't believe in prison and are only allowed to drink on special days that have been set aside. Most Panamanians have not visited the islands, however you will find tourists from every country imaginable. The Kuna have grown accustomed to the influx of tourists and charge $1 for each photo taken. They embroidery intricate designs with bold colors on fabric and also carve boats and statues out of wood.
