As far as I know, Finca Lérida displays the only warm Scandinavian architecture in Panama. The design of the original building was created by Mr. Toleff Boche Monniche, a Norwegian engineer who worked for the Panama Canal, and after suffering four malaria attacks, decided to retire and retreat to the cool mountains of Boquete full of clean and fresh air. He recovered his health and built one of the first coffee mills in the country. The original mill is still working and its current owner is using it to export high-altitude organic coffee to the United States, Canada and Europe.
The estate later evolved into a mountain hotel complex after the same warm architectural style used by Mr. Monniche to build his home. The structures have steep slanted roofs, wide boards and dark brown and white colors to absorb the heat from the sun.
Below is a picture gallery depicting several buildings of Hotel Lerida’s complex in the best tradition of Scandinavian architecture style.
PICTURE GALLERY
Snapshot of a landscape view of one of the buildings of Hotel Lérida in the shape of a bird with its wings expanded. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Snapshot of a comfortable hammock on the porch of a suite of Hotel Lérida where you can cuddle up and enjoy a good book with a magnificent view of a coffee plantation and a tropical rainforest. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Take notice of the fireplace chimney on the roof. The lodge where I stayed had two fireplaces; one inside the suite and one outside on the porch. There was plenty of wood on both places. I thought it was nice display of European style. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
If architecture is your cup of tea, I encourage you to return tomorrow for more stunning pictures of this one-of-a-kind Scandinavian spot in the mountains of Panama. Good Day.
Parece un poquitito nórdico verdaderamente.
Aqui es cómo es la arquitectura nórdica en su mejor:
Casas en madera de Pispala
¡Un saludo grande¡
Hola Sartenada:
Gracias por sus maravillosas fotografías de esas casas nórdicas de madera de Pispala. El color de las mismas y de los árboles adjacentes aumentan aún más la belleza de las fotografías.
Ojalá continuemos protegiendo nuestro medio ambiente para el disfrute de las futuras generaciones.
Atentamente,
Omar.-
Just splendid. I think I like the photos in this post best – no reason, they’re just very appealing and make the place shine. I love that the original coffee mill still is working. I’ll bet you can taste a slight flavor of history in every cup!
Hello Linda:
It makes me feel so good that you have developed a taste for my pictures. It’s easier for me to take a picture than to describe it in printed words due to my linguistic limitations.
Paraphrasing the classic song, “I left my heart in Lérida”. I tried to express those feelings and emotions through my pictures. I hope I have succeeded. If not, I’ll keep on trying.
Thanks a bunch for your words of support.
Regards,
Omar.-