Early Morning Dianas (Reveilles)
Nov 3rd, 2006 by Don Ray
At 3:20 AM a reveille playing in front of the house across the street awakened me. It is traditional for these Dianas (Spanish for Reveilles) to be played in front of the homes of previous high officials of Panama on the anniversary of Panama’s Independence from Colombia. A past governor of Chiriquí lives in the house across the street. Since I have lived in my current home for over a year, this was not unexpected. However, last year it was much louder and more reveilles were played.
Yesterday on the radio, President Martín Torrijos Espino requested that this year’s reveilles to be played lower and only one time at a house in respect for those that have died recently in the country’s bus and medicine tragedies.
I lightened the photo above a little to provide you a better view.
The two videos are all part of the same reveille. I just broke it apart to allow for a faster download faster. This should give you an idea of how I arose this morning.
All that and a hangover too…wonderful! I like the youtube postings great idea, what kind of digital video camera do you use? Does it take long to upload? I find the youtube site interesting but frustrating too, most videos posted are only like 15 seconds to 1 minute, not really worth my time to watch, too short! Tons of repeat postings too, people have literally uploaded the same video 100 times. I like Google Video the best has a ton of LONG video content.
I may have to check out Google video. Wonder if it will change now that Google bought YouTube?
My video camera is my digital camera. It Is a Canon S2. Since I only have a Gig of memory and take both video and photos at the same time, I never take very long videos.
>I’ve got to try that myself, I have a Canon PowerShot A75 digi cam with video (never used it) Love the cam… HATE the lousy software for your computer. To me its the most convoluted photo software I have ever used! I at least 5 other photo apps from other companies that are 10 times easier to use than Canon. Thats probably why I have never used the video feature, TOO frustrating, whats your take?
I use the Canon software only to get the photos from the Camera to the PC. Then for any photo modifications, I use IfranView. It is free software, but very good.
I took some videos with My Canon A80 camera and they were as good as the S2. However the A80 got dropped and I have waited over 6 months to get it fixed in Panama City.
Canon service in Panama is not known for being very good and I have to agree. I personally like the Canon cameras better than many others, even though I would really like to have a Nikon digital. Oh Well. My S2 does about everything I want it to.
Don,
I just wanted to thank you for bringing a little of the sound of Panama to my home in Holland. It had been a long time since i heard a “diana”.
Gr,
Mirethy
Hi Merette,
Thanks for leaving a comment. I have several more videos that I took at the parade yesterday. I will have them all loaded in a couple of days. Be sure to check back.
Oh yes, it’s been a long time for me too. I love the drums. I wonder, if there is a CD with drums songs from Panama…Uhmmm…lol
They do love their drums. Thanks for dropping in Edgar.
Don Ray
Thank for sharing with us, I cry watching the videos , I miss everything in Chiriqui so much. I haven’t seen my brother in 10 years, he lives in Bugaba and he works in Coosetrap in Bugaba also.I live in a Army base in Ft Sill Oklahoma.
Mimi
It is my pleasure to share my experiences here. I enjoy my time here. I am going to a wedding this evening and the bride and groom are from Bugaba.
They have asked to take photos and perhaps a couple will find their way to my blog.
[...] neighbor was serenaded just like usual on this holiday. Here is last year’s post, which included [...]
I live in Varital Barrio in David. Mine happened at 1:15. Hi Mini..I use to live across the river in Wichita Falls. Cheers.
Hi John. Thanks for dropping in.
The best, the very best, photo program is called Pisaca2 from Google. It is absolutely FREE. Give it a try, you have nothing to lose.
Patrick