Teatro Nacional - Costa Rica

A source of cultural pride for the performance arts, Teatro Nacional in San Jose, Costa Rica still stands like a grand dame even after being rocked by an earthquake.  Coffee plantation owners through their tax contributions financed the construction when it began in 1891 and completed in 1897.  As of 2014, major renovation is in progress to improve the quality of the auditorium, shore up the building structure to withstand earthquakes and preserve the ornate frescoes, murals and other art works created by European artisans. The interpretation of the work life of coffee plantations depicted in the murals was based on what an Italian artist envisioned at the time.

Peruvians Love Hats - Cusco, Peru

Peruvian Shaman

Vendors with woven belts

Unmarried Quechuan Woman

Quechuan children

Machu :Pichu Overlook

Spinning yarn by hand

Post-Funeral Gathering - White hats mean these women rule the roost!!

Quechua Family - Cusco, Peru

Brightly adorned with woven motifs of animals, birds, flowers and anything of significance on their shawls, skirts, hat bands, etc., Quechua families head down from their villages higher up in the mountains into town during market day or whenever they come for supplies.  The flowers on the women's hats indicate that they are not married and they are also hiding places for their money.  Nowadays, Quechuans are very enterprising in charging tourists like us a sole per person for any photo taken!

Mustard Yellow & White

Making Taffy in Banos, Ecuador