BRENDAN REGAN
PHOTOGRAPHY EXPEDITIONS

PANAMA 2008

SATURDAY JULY 26TH THROUGH MONDAY AUGUST 4TH

EMAIL BRENDAN REGAN AT BRENDANMR@MINDSPRING.COM

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RUINAS DE PANAMA LA VIEJA

Day 1: Saturday, July 26th, 2008
Lodging: Country Inn Suites
Meals included: Welcome dinner
Activities: Traveling day.

Day 2: Sunday, July 27th, 2008
Lodging: Country Inn Suites
Meals included: 1 Full Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Activities: Ruinas de Panama La Vieja
Today we will visit the birthplace of Panama's capital, and photograph the Ruins of Old Panama or Ruinas de Panama La Vieja. The city was founded in 1519 and was a frequent target of pirate raids. When the city was looted by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671, the governor ordered powder magazines destroyed and the entire city burned to the ground. We will photograph the ancient ruins, the countryside, the people we meet along the way and learn the history that will define the rest of the trip.

PANAMA CANAL

Day 3: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Lodging: Country Inn Suites
Meals included: 1 Full Breakfast, 1 Lunch, 1 Dinner
Activities: Panama Canal-Casco Antiguo
The first part of the day will focus on one the major engineering feats in history, the Panama Canal. Connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, this vital shipping lane permits over 14,000 ships' passage per year. Bring your tripod to document urban landscapes, environmental portraits, historical constructions, and the workings of this modern-day vital resource. During the second part of the day we will visit the historic part of Panama City, Casco Antiguo also known as Casco Viejo. This part of the city was declared a World Heritage site in 1997. Narrow brick streets, old churches, cafes, wrought-iron balconies, and old Colonial Spanish buildings are just some of the photographic opportunities that await. It is truly one of the most photographic parts of the entire city.

Day 4: Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
Lodging: Country Inn Suites
Meals Included: 1 Full Breakfast, 1 Lunch, and 1 Dinner
Activities: Embera-Wounaan Indian Community
Today we will be visiting and photographing the Embera-Wounaan Indians in their jungle home. We will travel to the northeast portion of the country and venture by canoe to the Embera Village. Here we will step back in the time and observe a fascinating culture and people that have remained unchanged for centuries! About 8,000 of these semi-nomadic Indians live in Panama surviving on hunting, fishing, and making crafts. We will also take a ride down the Chagres River to a pristine waterfall in the heart of the rainforest.

EMBERA-WOUNAAN INDIGENOUS TRIBE

Day 5: Wednesday, July 30th, 2008
Lodging: Country Inn Suites
Meals Included: 1 Full Breakfast, 1 Lunch, and 1 Dinner
Activities-Province of Cocle, Nata de los Caballeros (Oldest church on the Pacific Coast), Penonome, and La Pintana.
Our travels today take us inland to photograph mountain communities whose livelihood is focused on agriculture. We begin with the city of Penonome. Penonome is the capital city of the Province of Cocle. It was founded in 1581 by the Spanish. After Panama City was destroyed by pirate Henry Morgan in 1671, Penonome served as the country's capital while Panama City was rebuilt where it stands today. We will then visit Nata de Los Caballeros. This is the oldest Spanish church located on the Pacific Coast, founded in 1522. In the town square, we will also visit the Basilica of Santiago Apostol with its 8 carved wood altars and 5 naves. It is then onto La Pintana. La Pintana is about 20 kms north of Penonome and is particularly known for its wonderful Sombrero Pintado. This “sombrero” is the hat used in the national male dress of Panama. We will also visit artisans at the local market.

PANAMA CITY

Day 6: Thursday, July 31st, 2008
Lodging: Hotel Bahia
Meals Included: 1 Full Breakfast, 1 Lunch and 1 Dinner
Activities: Travel day to the Caribbean.
Early this morning we are picked up at the lobby and go to Albrook Airport. We depart by small plane to Bocas Del Toro. Situated next to Costa Rica in western Panama, Bocas Del Toro is a place of unspoiled and unpolluted nature; it is emerging as the Galapagos of the 21st century. In this ecological paradise find an array of attractions, white sand beaches, and clear warm waters surrounded by lush rainforest and palm trees. After landing in Bocas we will have a day filled with many options. We will photograph Bocas Town, an old Colonial Caribbean town. You also can choose between snorkeling, diving, taking a sunset cruise, and many other fabulous choices. This will be a day to recharge before we head out on our next adventure.

WHITE SAND BEACH

Day 7: Friday, August 1st, 2008
Lodging: Hotel Bahia
Meals Included: 1 Full Breakfast, 1 Lunch and 1 Dinner
Activities: Boat excusions to the Gnobe Indians.
Today we will take a boat excursion to visit our second indigenous culture, the Ngobe Indians. The Ngobe Indians are the largest indigenous group in the Bocas del Toro Archipelago. They inhabit several islands in the region including Colon, Bastimentos, Solarte, Cristobal, Popa and Water Cay. The Ngobe's chaquira, or necklace, is made with colorful beads and is one of their signature crafts. We will head to the island of Bastimentos, which is home to several Ngobe communinities. Basitmentos is also a national park with rainforests. So, in addition to documenting the Gnobe culture, we also will get to capture both landscape and wildlife photography.

GNOBE FAMILY IN DUGOUT CANOE

Day 8: Saturday, August 2nd, 2008
Lodging: Hotel Bahia
Meals Included: 1 Full Breakfast, 1 Lunch and 1 Dinner
Activities: Boat trips to Gnobe Indian villages.
Today we set out on a boat excursion to the Gnobe villages of Valle Escondido and San Cristobal. Both of these communities are located on Cristobal Island. Here, the Gnobe people live in wooden houses with roofs made from palm leaves. We will explore their agricultural way of life, farming and fishing. Get ready for a day of amazing portraits and a once in a lifetime interaction with a native culture that dates back thousands of years.

This is an interesting link on the region:
http://www.bocas-del-toro.org/indigenous-frame.htm

Daily boat excursions are subject to weather. If the sea is too rough in one direction we will make arrangements to visit other communities.

BOCAS DEL TORO REGION

Day 9: Sunday, August 3rd, 2008
Lodging: One of our select hotels
Meals Included: 1 Full Breakfast
Activities: Travel day back to Panama City and our last day to capture our final photographs.
We will spend our last morning on Bocas Del Toro. Then we travel back to Panama City for a final day of photographing, souvenir shopping, lazing by the pool or whatever stirs you. Our last day is usually a free day where a variety of opportunities are available.

Day 10: Monday, August 4th, 2008
Meals Included: 1 Full Breakfast
Activities: Departure day to USA.
We travel back to the United States with a plethora of memories and lots of digital files to edit or film to develop.