Perspective: Towards a Vanishing Point

Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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A Building With a Gracious Dome in Casco Viejo

Snapshot of an edifice with an eye-catching dome in the old shell of Panama City. This area is called “Las Bóvedas” beside the Pacific Ocean at the entrance of the Panama Canal. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Incidently I’m presently enjoying a book—Brunelleschi’s Dome: The Story of the Great Cathedral in Florence, authored by Ross King—about the construction of a cavernous dome in Florence for the cathedral Santa Maria del Fiore built by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1436.  A replacement for the ancient and dilapidated church of Santa Reparata, the new cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore was intended to be one of the largest in Christendom.

The foundation stone for the new cathedral had been laid in 1296.  The designer and original architect was a master mason named Arnolfo di Cambio, the builder of both the Palazzo Vecchio and the city’s massive new fortifications.  The designer of the large dome was the Capomaestri Neri di Fioravanti who refused to use flying buttresses to support the walls of the cathedral for political reasons.  He hated French and German architects who commonly used these supporting structures.

The decision to adopt Neri di Fioravanti’s design represents a remarkable leap of faith.  No dome approaching this span had been built since Antiquity, and with a mean diameter of 143 feet and 6 inches, it would exceed that of even the Roman Pantheon, which for over a thousand years had been the world’s largest dome by far.  And the cupola of Santa Maria del Fiore would not only be the widest vault ever built: it would also be the highest.

Of course our building pales in comparison with the great cathedral of Florence, but still it is an aesthetic edifice built during the early days of our nation.  It represents the elegance of our colonial Spanish architecture as depicted in the picture above.  Good Day.

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Framing the Metropolis With Flowers

Snapshot of Panama City’s modern skyline. The body of water in the foreground is Panama Bay in the Pacific Ocean. 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.

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Under The Blue Dome

Snapshot of the skyline of Panama City under bluish skies. On the left, the old section of Panama City; on the right, the modern section of the metropolis. Old and new, side by side under a bluish dome. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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A City by the Bay

Snapshot a a hazy skyline of Panama City by the Panama Bay one lazy overcast morning in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Frolicking in the Playground

Snapshot of a group of young children cavorting inside a playground in Panama City, Panama. Their happiness is contagious. Photo by: ©Omar Upegui R.

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Getting Ready For Business

Snapshot of a young women getting ready for business at Paseo Esteban Huertas within the area of Casco Viejo in Panama City, Panama. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

This picture was taken about 07:00 a.m. on a lazy Sunday morning.  As you can see, the sales spot beside her is empty, as well as all the rest.  This woman was the only early bird this morning.

Above the walkway you can see a very popular flower in Panama which is commonly known as “Veranera“.  The proper name is Bougainvillea (pronounced buːɡɨnˈvɪliə).  Bougainvilleas are popular ornamental plants in most areas with warm climates. Locarno in Switzerland, with its mild Mediterranean climate, is famous for its bougainvilleas.

The growth rate of bougainvilleas varies from slow to rapid, depending on the variety. They tend to flower all year round in equatorial regions. Elsewhere, they are seasonal, with bloom cycles typically four to six weeks. Bougainvilleas grow best in dry soil in very bright full sun and with frequent fertilization; but they require little water once established, and in fact will not flourish if over-watered. As indoor houseplants in temperate regions, they can be kept small by bonsai techniques. They can be easily propagated via tip cuttings.

In Panama you will find this flower almost everywhere enticing the well trimmed gardens of its citizens.  Good Day.

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Photograph of a Photograph

While strolling through the Old Shell of Panama City, I happened into two enticing photographs embedded in large aluminum ads.  The images looked great and shot with great taste and style.  I guess they were to be used to promote tourism in Panama by the Tourism Authority.

I thought it would be interesting to see what would be the final result of taking a picture of a photograph; a copy of a copy so to speak.  This is what finally came out of my image experiment.  Here we go.

Snapshot of a large photograph of the “Arco Chato” of the Church of Santo Domingo in Panama’s Old Shell, a.k.a. Casco Viejo. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

The old section of Panama City, commonly known as “Casco Viejo”, was founded by Spain in 1673 after the original settlement of Panama Viejo was pillaged and torched by Welch pirate Sir Henry Morgan on January 28, 1671.  His wealth is estimated to be the equivalent of $13.9 million today.  Not bad for a buccaneer.

The Convent of Santo Domingo (shown above) was built in 1678, five years after the foundation of the old section of Panama City.  It was partly destroyed by two large fires during the XVII century.  A sturdy brick arch used to hold the wooden beams of the church is still standing.  It is known as the “arco chato”; a main attraction among the abundant monuments of Casco Viejo.

Snapshot of the picturesque photograph of a nostalgic walkway known as Paseo Esteban Huertas at Las Bóvedas in the old section of Panama City. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

Looking at the image, it’s difficult to distinguish the difference between the framed photograph and the real buildings in the background. Both are almost identical in their appearance.  The optical illusion is interesting in this picture of the city.  Good Day.

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The Old Shell of Panama City

Snapshot of the old section of Panama City known as “Casco Viejo” or Old Shell in English. The is the area where the Presidential Palace is located. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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Church Tower With Gravitas

Snapshot of the tower of the cathedral of San Francisco de Asís situated in the old section of Panama City. It’s one of the most photographed areas of the metropolis. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.

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