Panama City, Panama

Although Tim and I stayed on the ship last evening, I was glad to hear that many of the crew and Expedition Team members took advantage of our overnight in port to go out and have a good time. They deserved it.

Welcome to Panama

This morning, Tim had selected an optional excursion, “Emberá Indian Village,” for an authentic encounter with Panama’s Indigenous people, who are the keepers of the Panamanian rainforest.

I opted for the included tour, “A Leisurely Exploration of Panama City,” a panoramic tour of Panama’s scenic wonders. This was the description:

Enjoy a panoramic excursion to discover the captivating history of Panama City, Panama Viejo and Amador. Meet your guide and journey to Panama’s capital to explore its rich history and breathtaking views. Appreciate the city’s beauty while delving into its heritage as you glimpse the remnants of churches, colonial palaces, bridges and military structures in Panama Viejo. Enjoy intriguing stories shared by your guide, who will recount legends and Panama’s maritime heritage. Relax in comfort as you enjoy a scenic tour of Panama City, navigating the Cinta Costera 3 and the waterfront boulevard. Admire panoramic views of the Bay of Panama and the historic Casco Viejo, Panama’s colonial district. Finally, take a moment to capture the scenery in Amador, an area formed by the four small islands, marking the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal.

We traveled along the causeway in Amador, where we had a daylight view of the Panama City skyline and Frank Ghery’s Biomuseo, or Biodiversity Museum. Numerous monuments marked the traffic circles.

Daylight View of the Panama City Skyline

Frank Ghery’s Biomuseo, or Biodiversity Museum

Lots of Monuments

Ever since our visit to Panama, last year, I have been interested in the architecture of the Panama Canal Zone. Today, we saw the landmark Administration Building, designed by Austin W. Lord. This building was planned to overlook both the canal and the first permanent settlement in the area, known as Balboa, the layout of which he planned.

Panama Canal Administration Building

Lord laid out the city of Balboa around a central avenue, although the plan was later modified, and he established the architectural style of the Canal Zone, a simplified Italianate type. He designed the iconic Control Houses at each of the three locks, which we saw yesterday, as well as many of the residential buildings. Concrete facades and red tile roofs are distinguishing characteristics of most of the buildings in the Canal Zone.

Mostly Residential Buildings of the Canal Zone

The Control Houses in the Three Locks We Passed through Yesterday

Our route took us by the archeological site of Panama Vieja, or Old Panama, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This area was the first permanent European settlement on the Pacific Ocean and includes the remaining parts of the original Panama City, which was destroyed in 1671 by privateer Henry Morgan. Unfortunately, we could only catch a glimpse of the ruins of some of the original stone buildings through the trees.

Terrible Photos of Old Panama

Our excellent guide explained that Panama City is three cities in one. These include Old Panama, the colonial city, and the modern city. Panama City reflects the legacies of the Spanish, the French, and the United States.

On our way to the modern city, we drove through the Bella Vista neighborhood, where we saw groups of high school bands waiting to perform at a festival.

High School Bands Ready to Perform

We next made our way to modern Panama City, which dates back only to 2004 and includes the financial and hotel district. Skyscrapers dominate this area, including the F&F Tower, previously known as the Revolution Tower and locally nicknamed the Corkscrew.

The Corkscrew

Later, we saw the station for the Panama Canal Railway, a historic passenger and freight line that runs the length of the Isthmus of Panama. Passenger service began in 2001, offering scenic views. Maybe next time I can take a ride.

Panama Canal Railway

Our final destination was the colonial city, known as Casco Viejo, which was founded in 1673. The district was built on a peninsula for defensive purposes and is characterized by colorful Spanish and French colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and plazas. Since we were on a panoramic tour, we were able to see only the buildings along the perimeter. A walking tour would be the ideal way to see this district.

The Colonial City

The Colonial City

Despite the limitations of a panoramic excursion, I enjoyed this one because we were able to see many of the sites I had hoped to see. In addition, our guide was not shy about presenting both the good and the bad about Panama City. She was great.