Statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa

Situated along Balboa Avenue, is the Vasco Núñez de Balboa’s statue,  a historical monument paying tribute to the Spanish adventurer and first European to glimpse the Pacific Ocean  in 1513.   Holding the Spanish flag in his left hand and a sword with his right, the Vasco Núñez de Balboa bronze statue overlooks Panama Bay.  The statute is held by a sculpture of four nude men which represent the four human races.

The statue was sculpted by Miguel Blau and Mariano Benlliure and later donated by King Alfonso XIII of Spain to the Republic of Panama. With representatives of some 15 Latin American countries present, President Belisario Porras inaugurated the monument on September 29, 1924.

The park is popular with locals and foreigners alike. From the park you can shoot nice photos of Punta Paitilla’s high-rise buildings to the left, and Casco Viejo to the right.

Vasco Núñez de Balboa (1475-1519) was a Spanish explorer, governor, and conquistador.  He is best known for having crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513, becoming the first European to lead an expedition to have seen or reached the Pacific Ocean from the New World.

Balboa started his journey across the Isthmus of Panama on September 1, 1513, together with 190 Spaniards, a few native guides, and a pack of dogs.  After traveling more than 110 kilometers (68 miles), he arrived at the Pacific Ocean on September 29, the feast day of the archangel Michael. He named the new sea Mar del Sur, since they had traveled south to reach it.  Ferdinand Magellan later renamed the body of water the Pacific Ocean because of its calm waters.

In 1518, Pedro Arias de Ávila or Pedrarias the Cruel charged Balboa with treason, arrested him and had him beheaded.

Below are several pictures of the historic monument of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa for your enjoyment.  Here we go.

Phototograph of the statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa towards your left, almost drowned by the new modern buildings in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

The statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa located at the Coastal Strip in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Photograph of the bronze statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa donated by the King of Spain to the Republic of Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

View of the statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa claiming the Pacific Ocean to the Kingdom of Spain in 1513. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

An artistic version of the statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa created by our collaborator, Michael Moore of Dallas, Texas. (Credit: Omar Upegui R./Michael Moore)

Another patriotic creation of the statue of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa by Michael Moore. (Credit: Omar Upegui R./Michael Moore)

I am ancient land of legend.

In my veins run golden rivers.

Gods and heroes tell my story.

I am Panama.

I hope you have enjoyed these pictures of one of the most emblematic historic structures in Panama.  Good Day.

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Photograph of the Day: Cognition

Photograph of our grandnephew, Karol, in deep thought. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

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A Quote to Remember

Courage doesn’t always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I’ll try again tomorrow.”

Anonymous

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Feet

Photographers usually like to take pictures of faces.  I would say that portraitures are one of the most popular segments of modern photography.  People like to contemplate their own pictures; it’s part of the human vanity.

However, there are other beautiful parts of the human body besides faces which make great photographs.  For example hair, lips, eyes, ears, torsos and feet also have beautiful lines, shapes and tones worth capturing.

On a recent visit of my wife’s two grandnephews, I decided to take pictures of their feet.  Feet are beautiful.  They are the ones that make us stand up and challenge  our obstacles.  They are the ones who make us move forward and fulfill great feats in life.

My wife decided to join the group.  The following pictures include three pairs of feet of persons 63, 2, and 6 years old.  This is what came out of my Birthday camera’s lens.  Here we go.

Three pair of feet of young and not so young persons. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Two generation of feet whose responsibility is to make us move and get things done. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

View of three pair of feet with different shapes which constitute a beautiful composition. Some fingers resemble tiny balls of flesh. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Yep, feet are also beautiful.  The monopoly of photography should not only be attractive faces.  Good Day.

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Photograph of the Day: A Fashion Super Model

Photograph of my wife's grandnephew Karol who wants to be a super model like Russian star like Anna Kornikova. Here she poses to the camera. Do you think she will make it? (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

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The Current Status of Panama’s Metro Project

One of the major political themes of Martinelli’s election campaign was a  brand new mass transportation system for Panama City.  Panama’s public transportation system has collapsed and nothing had been done about it.  Martinelli said it was time for Panama to have its own subway or metro.  He looked at the Dominican Republic for guidance.  He even traveled there several times to see with his own eyes how it worked.

Winds of change are blowing over Panama.  You can see it blowing everywhere.  Transportation is one of them.  A big change I might say, with a price tag of approximately one billion dollars.

The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Corporacion Andina de Fomento (CAF) chose six international consortiums to participate in the solicitation to become an adviser of the Panama Metro Project.

Robert Roy, Executive Secretary of the Panama Metro, released the information last Friday. Roy said that the selection of these six companies within a group of 48 consortiums that formalized their aspirations to the IDB and CAF, was based on “the proven experience of comprehensive technical assistance for development of Metro type projects.”

The Panama Metro Executive Secretary also announced his intentions to provide next Monday, August 31st, the Metro’s Terms of Reference to the six consortiums selected, and that in approximately four weeks, the final selection would be made.

Yeah, winds of change are blowing over the Isthmus.  Good Day.

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Insults With Elegance

The exchange between Churchill & Lady Astor:
She said, “If you were my husband, I’d give you poisoned tea.”
He answered, “If you were my wife, I’d drink it.”

A member of Parliament to Prime Minister Disraeli: “Sir, you will either die on the gallows or of some unspeakable disease.” That depends, Sir”, said Disraeli, “whether I embrace your policies or your mistress.”

“He had delusions of adequacy” -Walter Kerr

“He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire.” -Winston Churchill

“I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure.” -Clarence Darrow

“He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary.” -William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)

“Thank you for sending me a copy of your book; I’ll waste no time reading it.”-Moses Hadas

“I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” -Mark Twain

“He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends.” -Oscar Wilde

“I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend… if you have one. “-George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill.  “Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second… if there is one.” -Winston Churchill, in response.

“I feel so miserable without you, it’s almost like having you here.” -comedian Kip Adota

“He is a self-made man and worships his creator.” -John Bright

“I’ve just learned about his illness. Let’s hope it’s nothing trivial.” -Irvin S. Cobb

“He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others.” -Samuel Johnson

“He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up.” -Paul Keating

“In order to avoid being called a flirt, she always yielded easily.” -Charles, Count Talleyrand

“He loves nature in spite of what it did to him.” -Forrest Tucker

“Why do you sit there looking like an envelope without any address on it?” -Mark Twain

His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork. -Mae West

Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go. -Oscar Wilde

“He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts… for support rather than illumination.” -Andrew Lang

“He has Van Gogh’s ear for music.” -Billy Wilder

“I’ve had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn’t it.” -Groucho Marx

How did you like them green apples?  Good Day. 

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El Hospital del Niño (The Children’s Hospital)

El Hospital del Niño de Panamá is the biggest public pediatric hospital in Panama.  The first stone in the construction of this hospital was placed during a solemn ceremony held on November 1, 1947.   The actual construction started on May 14, 1948 and finished on January 31, 1950 by Constructora Martinz, S.A. and turned over to the Lions Club of Panama on that same date.

The Hospital del Nino de Panama has been caring for the sick children of Panama since it was officially started in 1950.  It is a beautiful building located at Avenida Balboa in Panama City, Panama.  Let’s take a look at this iconic structure loved by all Panamanians.

The front section of El Hospital del Niño in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

A front view of the entrance of the beautiful buiilding that houses El Hospital del Niño in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

An artistic version of previous photograph created by Michael Moore, a professional photographer from Dallas, Texas.

A side view of the building that houses El Hospital del Niño in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

View of the attractive columns that ornate the structure of the Children's Hospital in Panama City, Panama. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

Hundreds of young lives have been saved by the dedicated staff of this pediatric hospital embedded in the hearts of the Panamanian population.  Good Day.

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Photograph of the Day: Togetherness

Brother and sister water the plants together. (Credit: Omar Upegui R.)

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State of the Art Candle Light Compact Cameras

These cameras are shirt-pocket gadgets containing new sensors that are specially designed for low-light photography. (Credit: The New York Times.com)

For many years Madison Avenue was telling us that pixel crammed digital cameras was the way to go if you wanted attractive pictures.  This created the myth that cameras with the most pixels would take better pictures.  This myth has been debunked.  Now we know that pixel packed cameras are only needed if you plan to print large pictures.  For normal postcards and web images a 5 MB pixel digital camera will do just fine.

Currently the trend is to cough out cameras with redesigned sensors that are specially designed for low-light photography.  These new cameras mark an important step forward in personal photography.

Recently (at long last), camera companies have begun diverting their research efforts from “how to get more megapixels” to “how to get better photos.” They’re working on things that really do matter in a consumer camera, like sensor size, stabilization — and fixing low-light photography.  This is the case of the the Fujifilm FinePix F200EXR and the Sony DSC-WX1 ($320 and $350, respectively, before discounting).  With these state of the art cameras you can practically say good bye to the ubiquitous tripod.

Both cameras can choose the correct mode (close-up, twilight, portrait, landscape and so on) automatically. Both have only a screen—no eyepiece viewfinder—which makes them tricky to use in bright sunlight. Then again, both cameras are tiny enough to rattle around in a shirt pocket. Both offer excellent face recognition, meaning that portraits are almost always focused and properly exposed. Neither offers manual focusing.

For my blogging activities my Canon A720 IS is just fine, since most, if not all my photographs are taken in broad daylight.  Even though I have taken some photographs in dim light, the results have been satisfactory.  However, I know persons that like to take pictures at night and are having problems with their Canon digital compact cameras.  If this is your case, then this new option could be helpful to you.

I’m glad that camera manufacturers are now looking at other improvement areas besides more mega pixels.  Good Day.

Source:  Low Light Becomes a Highlight - The New York Times

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