Slide Show Online, Chiriquí Artists

One of the really nice things the Panamanian government has done for its people is to set up a series of what they call Infoplazas, where, for 25 cents an hour, kids can use (OLD) computers, both for schoolwork and for personal use (adults, 50 cents).  They're more or less like Internet cafes run by the government and often either next door to or in the same building as what passes for public libraries here in the rural areas.   We used the Infoplazas when we first moved into our house before we were able to get Internet service at home.

The one in Potrerillos Arriba is managed by Marisin Espinosa, a very capable young woman, daughter of our friends Maritza and Ricardo Espinosa.  She is quite computer literate.  The family represents to me the difference between the older and younger generations.  Ricardo and Maritza do not have a computer and I think really don't want one.  Marisin doesn't have one--I imagine she can't afford one-- although her brother Ricardito, who works for one of the banks in Bocas del Toro, has a small laptop.

Not all that long ago, Marisin started a blog for the Potrerillos Arriba Infoplaza.  I finally got over to the site yesterday after a long time away, and discovered that Marisin has uploaded photos of an exhibition of Chiriquí artists that was showing from June 1-8 at the Potrerillos library right next door (we, naturally, missed it).  It's set up as a slide show.  

Worth checking out.

Added later:  I should mention that, naturally, the Panamanian government for one reason or another (and I tend to have dark thoughts about why) didn't allocate sufficient money for the infoplaza in Potrerillos.  So, local  officials went around asking for donations from various people, including ex-pats--who gave.  This occurred before we arrived in Panamá; the Infoplaza itself opened on June 11, 2004--exactly one week after we arrived in Chiriquí.