The weekly Photo Challenge: Changing Seasons
Changing Seasons? We are in Panama. There are no seasons. Well OK yes, in a way there are. We are going in to summer when there is less rain, and maybe more wind, so I am told. But, there is no guarantee of anything. Sometimes the dry season isn’t very dry. Sometimes it is. Either way though the length of days will remain the same, and the temperatures will fluctuate slightly more but still average out to just about the same as well.
How do we know there is a season? LIGHTS! Parties. Fireworks. Decorations. Shopping. It’s HOLIDAY SEASON! Mother’s Day was Saturday and this is a HUGE holiday here. Friday evening the streets were jammed with shoppers and there was no space in any parking lots. It seemed like the whole city was out buying gifts for mothers. Saturday was a national holiday. Even the corner fruit market was closed.
Saturday was a big family get together day. The neighbors across the street had their parents, the kids, the grandkids and extended family for a BBQ and much laughing and fun well into the evening. The people on the corner are Colombian, and they celebrated a Colombian holiday – Day of Candles with an evening of fireworks, lights, candles and fun both Friday and Saturday night. They are the ones who surprised us with treats which prompted my recent post The Kindness of Strangers.
Then, of course, it’s almost Christmas. There are every bit as many decorations, lights, and festivity as I remember in the US. Since this is supposed to be a picture post, I suppose I should post some pictures!
Our Colombian neighbors with lights, candles, fireworks, and many friends and family celebrating their Day of Candles.
A store has Rudolf hanging out on the roof!
We may not have snow here, but that hasn’t stopped the Nissan dealership from having a big holiday snowman out front. (Yes, we have McDonalds here, and KFC, Pizza Hut, TGI Fridays, Domino’s Pizza, and more. One day I will have to post about how the US is taking over Panama with fast food)
Our neighborhood has many houses decorated with cheerful Christmas lights, and others can bee seen all over town.
Feliz Navidad! Here in Panama, it is the season to have fun and celebrate.
The Panama Adventure 
Hey, l found the time today to start catching up on the fantastic blog posts out there and I must say you are coming along spectacularly! I can’t wait to get my new camera that we ordered and my inlaws are bringing from Canada. The little point and shoot is good but sometime I just want to take it that one step further and your photos are inspiring!
Read your post on the leaf cutter ants. My advice? Get rid of them or they will start stripping your garden. Read here http://panamashippingcontainerhouse.com/%20/chop-shop for more info.
In regards to losing your enthusiasm for Panama…we have a pact with our good friends to never forget why we came here and to remember that we are guests. They’ve been here a year and a half and we’ve been here seven months. We still pinch ourselves every day at how fortunate we are even when some days are more frustrating that others.
Best!
Karen
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Thank you so much! I have a little Panasonic HDC-TM90 video camera that also takes still photos, and I use that a lot because it’s small enough to fit in your pocket or hand. When I’m feeling serious I get out my Nikon which does more than I can even understand at this point.
Neighbors have warned me about leaf cutter ants. At the moment they are working on my weeds though, so I’m just watching them but I have powder if they get out of line. It looks like your friends had a heck of a time with them! Thankfully we are right next to the woods so ours have plenty of other places to go where no one will care.
I think we are going to love it here. We’re pretty happy anywhere though. We liked Florida too but it just got too expensive. We were ready for a change and adventure, and here we are! I like your pact with your friends. We’ll have to do that too.
Kris
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