Stark contrasts and rich diversity define
Panama City. Here on the Amador
Causeway (built from material excavated
from the Panama Canal) a young San Blas
Kuna woman rides in a pedicab, while
recently built skyscrapers loom in the
background.
Traffic stops at a red light at the Gatun Locks where
ships are lifted or lowered in the Canal.
When the light turns
green and you drive
ahead, to your right
and above you a
lock is lifting or
lowering a ship. Not
a good idea to run
red lights in the
Canal Zone.
Transportation on the canal provides 80% of
Panama’s gross domestic product. Hence, the
country’s economy depends on the global economy
remaining global.
Yes. I photograph newspapers. This pic shows how little temperature diversity there is. This is because, although
rugged, elevations are not extremely high in Panama. The whole country is tropical lowlands, tierra caliente.
Panama has a lot
of monuments that
commemorate the
many monumental
happenings in that
small space. This
is a statue of
Columbus, who
never actually
landed on the
Central American
mainland.
This statue
honors Vasco
Nunez de
Balboa who
came to
Panama in
1510 and
“discovered”
the Pacific
Ocean in
1513.
Watching the sun rise over the
Pacific Ocean in Panama City.
Yep. That’s odd. We watch the
sun set over the Pacific Ocean
in California. However,
Panama is oriented in an eastwest direction, while our
coastline is oriented northsouth. In the mid-right of the
photo you can see a mosque.
Muslim Arabs are one
ingredient in the country’s
interesting cultural mosaic.
There is also a large East
Indian population who practice
Hinduism.
Modern Panama City is
bracketed by colonial
settlements in various
stages of preservation and
restoration. This image
shows the second Panama
City, known as Casco
Antiguo or Casco Viejo,
which was built after Captain
Morgan sacked the initial
one in 1671. Casco Antiguo
has become a focus of
historic restoration and real
estate development recently.
In this pic,kids from a nearby
neighborhood are learning
the methods of restoration
as they help to restore this
17th century church.
Within the job site, I found this monument to Friar
Tomas de Berlanga who brought bananas to the New
World and “discovered the Galapagos Islands. He was
also a bishop in Panama.
Here we are on the Atlantic, or northern, side of
Panama at the mouth of the Rio Chagres. Captain
Morgan used the river’s channel to make a surprise
attack on Panama City.
The sign tells the story
or Morgan’s daring
attack.
Back to Casco
Antiguo, which was
built because of
Morgan’s attack.
This is a common
sight: restored
colonial houses next
door to colonial ruins
in the process of
being restored.
Another
only
partially
restored
block of
Casco
Antiguo.
Another interesting site at Casco Antiguo is the former military officers club,
where General Manuel Noriega and his brain trust relaxed. In 1989 in a military
action called Operation Just Cause, the US toppled Noriega and extradited him
to the US on drug-trafficking and money laundering charges.
The past presence of the US can be found throughout
Panama. I was there on January 9th, a national holiday
that celebrates a Panamanian protest against US
occupation of the Canal Zone in 1964.
On January 9th, schools are closed, so
are many businesses. And, the
newspapers are full of stories about this
important moment in the country’s
development as a nation that wanted
sovereignty over all of its territory.
Panama gained
control of the
Panama Canal
and the Canal
Zone in 1999,
according to the
terms of the
treaty signed by
President Carter
and General
Torrijos.
A Panamax ship enters the Miraflores Locks. Panama has
successfully operated the canal since 1999. The term “Panamax”
refers to the fact that marine cargo vessels have grown to the
extent that they just barely can fit within the canal’s locks.
Panama is building a new larger set of locks to accommodate
larger ships.
Large ports, such as this one,
are part of the the canal
complex.
This article reports that the canal widening project
has attracted sufficient investment and produced
such a large quantity of jobs that Panama largely
avoided the economic decline of the past few years.
Meanwhile,
in Honduras,
remittances
dropped by
11.1%.
Beisbol? Yes. Baseball
is popular in Panama.
More popular than
soccer. This story is
about a Panamanian,
Roberto Kelly, who works
as a first base coach for
the SF Giants. I believe
his nickname is “BamBam”.
High rise apartment
buildings and
business
complexes are
sprouting in
Panama City, as
the country has
become an
appealing
destination for
global investors.
This article reports on Panama’s efforts to become a retirement destination for US
and European Baby Boomers.
This bi-lingual real
estate bulletin
promotes
Panamanian real
estate and reports
on a new tourism
initiative that uses
former world boxing
champion, Roberto
Duran, as its
spokesman. Baby
Boomers are old
enough to
remember Duran,
who was known as
“Hands of Stone”
until he became
know for “no mas”.
“We have what you’re looking for.”
Panama City’s new Malecon, also known as Cinta Costera. It’s a waterfront with bike lanes,
performance stages, gazebos and a yacht marina at one end. You can see how the place
might be an attractive vacation or retirement destination.
Down on the ground, one finds a very un-Central American sight.
And another one.
Away from Baby Boomer
Land, the narrative
changes and the
messages take on a
more Central American
character.