Artwork in the making. |
No visit
to the Azuero peninsula can be complete without stopping at La Arena.
Although this small town has little to offer in terms of "five-star"
facilities, it has a strong reputation of being the "Pottery
Capital of Panama". Its main thoroughfare is lined with dozens
of establishments offering colorful pottery handicrafts of all shapes,
uses and sizes.
The residents
of La Arena are also known for their delicious bread –considered
a delicacy among Panamanians and the growing expat population of the
region. The bread, baked in old-fashioned adobe ovens, is the result
of a secret recipe invented by Mrs. Eudosia de Santana sometime in
the 1940's, according to a local legend.
The month
of July is party time in La Arena, which pays homage to its patron
saint, San Pablo. The ocassion is marked with folklore dance performances,
public dances, and the humorous tricks of the "Parrampanes"
--local citizens dressed as women wearing animal masks.
Located
four hours southwest of Panama City, La Arena is only five minutes
from the city limits of Chitré, the bustling little capital
of the province of Herrera.
