Panama City surrounds
Time for a bit of a break from yacht living, so off I go to Panama City for a few days. First night's sleep in a bed on the land since February and I must admit, have got accustomed to yacht sleeping – feel as if I would fall out of the bed, so will be good to get back to Valdolese.
Comparing Colon and Panama City is like comparing chalk and cheese. No comparison at all. Panama City is a thriving and busy city with lots of banks, casinos and high rise buildings with plenty of building construction going on.
The street scenes near where I am staying and a view back to the city from Casco Viejo or the Old Compound. This was one of the earlier sites of the old town of Panama and was formed after the English pirate Henry Morgan and his men marched into Old Panama singing “there’ll be a hot time in the Old Town tonight”.
You will note the black bird sitting there – it’s actually a Vulture and looking hungry.
Also in this area are some wonderful old buildings that are being restored.
As my time was a bit limited here I decided to enlist the aid of a tour guide and she proved to be a gem. She is from an area known as Chiriqui on the border with Costa Rica. Without hesitation I would recommend that anyone visiting here contact her for one of her wonderful tours.
Her name is Judith Tovar of Easy Travel Panama, seen here in the photo with some delicate Indian handicraft.
In this area is the Presidents' Palace, French Consulate and other buildings of note, particularly the Golden Altar of Saint Joseph.
It's good to see the presence of the police and on their bikes. Very friendly.
A nicely kept secret is the hill in the suburb of Ancon. It was a US military underground bunker during WW2 and a part of the Canal Zone.
The drive to the top affords a sweeping view of Panama City and the Panama Canal and is a must see. The two photos below are left looking towards Panama City and right towards the Old Compound.
Below: top centre are the Miraflores Locks, bottom left the railway station to Colon and just to its right is the end of the Airport runway.
Of interest also is the old home of Noriega, which has been confiscated by the Panamanian Government and is soon to be put up for sale. Here is yours truly at the gate.
Insert of the name plaque near my head just to prove I was there.
And below is a parting shot of what I have to go back to very soon!!! Colon and the smog from ships being unloaded and chemical waste burn-off around the Panama Canal Yacht Club.
