I’ve wanted a Panama Hat all of my life, especially after I saw movies like “Casablanca” and “The Maltese Falcon.” It seemed to me to be the only hat that was made for me and my head, but I never saw one that looked right or that I thought would fit me until I was on Etsy looking for a present for Maria and came across this maker of Panama Hats.

Mr. Pappa was in a village in Greece, and he used Ecuadorian Toquila Straw – the best straw for making these hats – and took weeks to make a hat and ship it to the United States.

The hats I was looking at here on various websites cost $50 or $60 – I have been looking at Panama hats for years online –  but they didn’t feel right or special to me, I have a big and oval-shaped head, if I was ever going to get a Panama Hat, I wanted one that was special and custom made and that would fit, especially if I was getting one from Greece.

I sent Mr. Pappa, the maker, a photo of my head and I even measured my head.

I can’t tell you how excited I was to be this close to a real custom-made Panama Hat. It cost $211 (gulp)  including shipping. It came to our Post Office this morning in a beautiful round wooden box, it was inside in a felt cloth with Greek lettering.

Mr. Pappa wrote thanking me for sending the photo. There were other  beautiful hats on this site and I hope to get a Wine Fedora one day. If fits perfectly, and when I opened the box and saw Maria’s face – she just loves it – I rushed outside to let her take my picture.

Panama Hats entered my imagination a long time ago, it may have been because Panama Hats have a rich history in classic Hollywood Movies, (Gregory Peck wore one in To Kill A Mockingbird) )and also in books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez and Hemingway and others. I love movies and they have always shaped my imagination and emotions.

I am happy to have this hat, it is an odd but lifelong wish, and it was even better than I thought it would be.

I actually never thought I would have a hat like this, if not for Maria and Etsy, I probably wouldn’t.

A rare fantasy whose reality exceeds expectations.  I will wear it often and until it wears out.  I hope Mr. Pappa is around for many years. It is important in life to pursue some dreams and achieve them. In the scheme of things a Panama Hat is not a big deal.

It is a big deal for me.