Day Two!
Each day is packed, so wake-up calls are always at or before 8:30am. Without this early start, you will not be able to see all that Panama has to offer. To start the week, visit some less intensive tourist destinations first, starting with a tour of Casco Viejo, a World Heritage Site, and thus a treasure trove of history. Visiting this site will allow you to stand where all the goods and resources plundered by the Spanish past through on their way back to the motherland. One of the most famous incidents of its history was the one that left it in ruins, the sacking and consequent fire led by Henry Morgan, the infamous pirate. The history and remaining fragmented buildings are not all this area offers. The entire area is now a place to experience the cultural mixing that takes place in the Caribbean and coastal areas of Central America, as geographers say, “the Rimland.”
Each day is packed, so wake-up calls are always at or before 8:30am. Without this early start, you will not be able to see all that Panama has to offer. To start the week, visit some less intensive tourist destinations first, starting with a tour of Casco Viejo, a World Heritage Site, and thus a treasure trove of history. Visiting this site will allow you to stand where all the goods and resources plundered by the Spanish past through on their way back to the motherland. One of the most famous incidents of its history was the one that left it in ruins, the sacking and consequent fire led by Henry Morgan, the infamous pirate. The history and remaining fragmented buildings are not all this area offers. The entire area is now a place to experience the cultural mixing that takes place in the Caribbean and coastal areas of Central America, as geographers say, “the Rimland.”
The area designated Casco Antiguo is distinguishable by its urban complexity. The tightly packed and varied buildings resemble the streets of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Hanging balconies with cascading tropical flowers complement the variety of colors of each building. Within every block, you can see French, Caribbean, Art Deco, Spanish, and other types of architecture.
When you are facing the church, turn to your right, and at the corner there is a small restaurant. Inside, you will find only a few tables and an open kitchen to the right. Delight in this local culinary charm and have whatever they tell you to have, as there is no menu. But, as you will repeatedly read… have the Corvina! Or, as we know it, Sea Bass. It is served everywhere and was always incredible.
The wonderful restaurant with the wonderful Corvina!
Just stay if you cannot pull yourself away from the historic Spanish settlement and old colonial downtown. Walking the streets and looking down the alleyways, there is enough entertainment to fill any one’s day, watching women hanging up laundry and children paying alongside all the other daily activities of this community.
If you are ready to move on it is time to visit the Canal. Even though the Panama Canal has two entrances, the visitors’ center’s locks, or Miraflores locks, get the most attention. This is the side you can visit today, based on its proximity to Panama City. Because these locks are the most visited expect lines and crowds, the museum is well worth it.
Because this day you are staying close to Panama City take this as your opportunity to get dressed up and hit the town. My favorite nightlife area was Calle Uruguay, for a lack of a better word it’s “happening!” This strip of new and eclectic restaurants and bars was fun to walk down, but the natural pull for me was the dancing. I love to dance socially, and salsa is second on my list. Venture down this street and let your adventurous side do the guiding.
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