La Feria de las Flors en Boquete

La Feria de las Flors is not a fair to be taken lightly. This is a major event in Panama. People & vendors stream to Boquete... pouring out of buses and taxis; flooding the area with color, sound and energy. Boquete literally swells in population for ten days. The vendors pop up along the streets in the square leading to the fair. Vendors with items such as: winter hats, scarfs, gloves, wraps, sunglasses, and various candies and treats. There are flower and plant booths, and booths that sell various food items. Throughout the day you will hear a variety of music.. and throughout the night, as well! And this is all before you make it into the fair. 

Once in the fair, you are led right into the vendor area. Again, the same items... including headbands, hammocks, hats of all styles, and trinkets from many Central and South American Countries. 

It is exactly the same as you would find at any fair in any county in the United States. Except that it's more fun to communicate. Plus I got to sit on a bull named Nino, and I'm not sure how OSHA would have felt about that! The colors are amazing. (One year we were at the California State Fair and the main exhibit was for the food and wine theme. The exhibitors went all out with the flowers.) I really like it here because the flowers are already everywhere, so the fair is an enhancement of the existing state. 

this is an advertising van that drives through the streets

This is Juan Carlos and his daughter Dianna. They are from Panama City (Diana goes to school in Columbia)  and really enjoyed talking about the Bible. 
We were able to make a return visit.

This is not a butterfly... it is a plant that grows among the flowers.

hummingbird

butterfly for real

we look like little kids!

The people from other parts of the country are freezing.

This is Ivy. She makes jewelry and hair accessories from fish scales.
It is a traditional method.

Outside the fair entrance. This man will take your picture while his horse eats all of the flowers. Might be why they don't let him inside. 

It's so beautiful. This is where the friends had the Assembly this year.

  

This is Sylvia Robinson. She's a sister who's recently moved here from California/Arizona. She lives right near us and joins us for family worship. She's a real kick. I'm not sure if she's giving this man the "what-for" or a good witness!

This is Nino (small boy) the bull. I didn't realize it was a bull until after. He kept threatening to stand up! It was very hard to appear ladylike. I ended up trying "side-saddle"

But Then I was able to place a tract with him. It was awesome. He was very grateful. And while I was talking to him, a lady grabs my arm. I thought I was taking too long and she wanted the man's attention... but NO! SHE WANTED A TRACT FOR HERSELF!! She said the Bible is very important. So I was able to direct her to the website, where she will find alot more wonderful information about the promises in the Bible. 

This is a return visit with Ivy. She speaks excellent English and really enjoyed the tract I had left her. Her mother speaks broken English, but understands English really well. We had a great conversation and she told her mother she had a new friend now. We've exchanged email and phone numbers. I look forward to hearing more from her. Maybe I can have an internet study. She lives in David... 45 minutes from here. There are plenty of friends in English down there. 
While I was talking to Ivy the lady at the next table got very excited, but she didn't speak any English. As it turns out ... she is a sister named Rosa from the San Pedro Spanish Congregation. Really sweet.