THE GUIDE - The Rough Guide to Panama - page 130

craftspeople who spread out their wares on the pavements along Vía Veneto, or in the plazas
of Casco Viejo, and who can often organize you a trip to Guna Yala too. In the city's several
craft markets the stalls are generally run by members of the community who made the crafts,
with more money usually trickling down to the artisans.
Casa Latina Av “A” at C 5 228 9828; map . Very pricey offerings but of exquisite quality:
the absolute very best of Panamanian handicrafts as well as a range of beautiful Peruvian
alpaca knitwear. Daily 10am-7pm.
Centro de Artesenías Amador Causeway south of the Centro de Convenciones Figali
6674 3071; map . Offers some of the better crafts available in the markets: hammocks, molas
made into place mats, glasses cases and the like, basketry and earrings. Mon-Sat 9am-6pm,
Sun 9am-5pm.
Galería de Arte Indígena C 1, Casco Viejo 228 9557; map . The best selection of Woun-
aan and Emberá basketry in the capital at suitably elevated prices, alongside high quality
tagua and cocobolo carvings. Daily 9am-8pm.
Mercado de Artesenías Maggy Plaza de la Catedral, Casco Viejo; map . A dozen stalls
squeezed into the corner of the plaza selling a range of decent crafts alongside the usual tour-
ist tat at prices that are not far off those in the fancier, more formal shops. Daily 8am-6pm.
Mercado de Buhonería y Artesanías Av 4 at Av “B”, behind the old Pacific railroad ter-
minus just off Cinco de Mayo; map . Numerous stalls that attract few shoppers, including a
couple selling a good range of hats and hammocks. Mon-Sat 9am-6pm.
Reprosa Av “A” at C 4, Casco Viejo 228 4913, reprosa.com ; map . Beautifully crafted
gold and silver reproduction pre-Columbian and Spanish colonial jewellery. Also at Av
Samuel Lewis on the corner with C 54, Obarrio ( 269 0457). Daily 9am-6pm.

La Ronda C 1, Casco Viejo 211 1001; map . Excellent selection of arts and crafts at Casco

Viejo prices. Daily 9am-7pm.
BOOKS
Exedra Books Vía España at Av Brasil 264 4252, exedrabooks.com . The largest book-
shop in Panama City, with selections in Spanish and English. Also has a coffee shop and hosts
occasional talks and events. Mon-Sat 9.30am-9.30pm, Sun 11am-8.30am.
Gran Morrison Vía España, next to El Rey supermarket 202 0029. This small department
store has a reasonable selection of books in English on Panama. Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun
9.30am-6pm.
STRI Earl Tupper Research Centre Av Roosevelt 2212 8029, stri.si.edu ; map . The
Smithsonian bookshop stocks an excellent selection on wildlife, ecology and environmental
issues in both Spanish and English. Mon-Fri 10am-4.30pm.
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