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PANAMA
CITY - PANAMA Panama City (Spanish:
Ciudad de Panamá), population 708,738, is the capital of Panama, located at
the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. Panama City is the political,
administrative and cultural center of the country. Juan Carlos Navarro is
the current mayor of the city.
Brief history
The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by Pedro Arias de Avila, also known
as Pedrarias Davila. A recurring theme in the history of the city has been
the ebb and flow world commerce through the isthmus. Within a few years of
its founding, the city became a launching point for the exploration and
conquest of Peru and a transit point for gold and silver headed back to
Spain through the Isthmus. In 1671 Henry Morgan with a band of 1400 men
attacked and looted the city, which was subsequently destroyed by fire. The
ruins of the old city still remain and are a popular tourist attraction
known as Panama la Vieja. It was rebuilt in 1673 in a new location about 5
miles west-southwest of the original city. This location is now known as the
Casco Viejo or Old Hull of the city.
Discovery of gold in California in 1848 led
to an upsurge in travellers crossing the isthmus en route to the west coast
of North America. The year before the discovery of gold, the Panama Railroad
Company was formed, but the railroad did not begin operation until 1855.
Between 1848 and 1869, the year the first transcontinental railroad was
completed in the United States, about 375,000 persons crossed the isthmus
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and 225,000 in the opposite direction.
That traffic greatly increased the prosperity of the city during that period.
Not surprisingly, construction of the Panama Canal was of great benefit to
the infrastructure of the city. Of particular note are the improvements in
health and sanitation brought about by the American presence in the Canal
Zone. These include the eradication of yellow fever and malaria and the
introduction of a first-rate water supply system. However, most of the
laborers for the construction of the canal were brought in from the
Caribbean, which created unprecedented racial and social tensions in the
fledgling city. During World War II, construction of military bases and the
presence of larger numbers of U.S. military and civilian personnel brought
about unprecedented levels of prosperity to the city. Throughout the years,
however, the benefits of American presence in the canal area, had a price.
From the perspective of Panamanians, this massive presence was viewed as an
affront to their nationalism and also as an irritation to life in and around
the city. In fact until the late 1960s, Panamanians had limited access, or
no access at all, to many areas in the Canal Zone neighboring the Panama
City metropolitan area. Some of these areas were military bases accessible
only to United States personnel.
In the late 1970s and through the 1980s Panama City became an international
banking center bringing along with it a lot of undesirable attention as an
international money-laundering center. In 1989 after nearly a year of
tension between the United States and Panama, President Bush ordered an
invasion to depose the leader of Panama, General Manuel Noriega. As a result
of the action, a portion of the El Chorillo neighborhood, which consisted
mostly of old wood-framed buildings dating back to the 1900s, was destroyed
by fire. Eventually, the U. S. helped finance the construction of large
cinderblock apartment buildings to replace the destroyed structures. Panama
City remains a banking center, although with very visible controls in the
flow of cash. Shipping is handled through port facilities in the neighboring
municipality of Balboa operated by the Hutchison Whampoa Company of Hong
Kong and through several ports on the Caribbean side of the isthmus. Balboa,
which is located within the greater Panama City metropolitan area was
formerly part of the Panama Canal Zone, and in fact the administration of
the former Panama Canal Zone was headquartered there.
Panama city as a tourist destination
The city has numerous tourist attractions including world-class hotels and
restaurants. Of particular interest to tourists are various sites located in
the Casco Viejo, including
Las Bóvedas, literally The Vaults, a waterfront promenade jutting out into
the Pacific;
The Supreme Court Building and across from it, the French Embassy;
The Cathedral on Plaza de la Catedral;
Teatro Nacional, a recently renovated performance center, with outstanding
natural acoustics; It provides an intimate performance environment, seating
about 800 guests.
Museo del Canal Interoceánico;
Numerous restaurants located near the French embassy.
Palacio de las Garzas, the official name of the presidential palace. There
actually are Herons in the compound.
Visitors are advised against walking around the Casco Viejo in unlit areas
at night.
Located just outside the Casco Viejo, on the Plaza Cinco de Mayo is the
Museo Antropológico Reina Torres de Araúz, with precious metal artifacts
from pre-columbian Panama. This is a must-see for any visitor to Panama City.
The museum is located on what was the Pacific terminus of the Panama
Railroad which itself is an architecturally significant building. As of
midsummer 2003, the material circumstances of the museum were precarious; in
fact, in early 2003, most of the gold and silver collection of the museum
was stolen. Fortunately the majority of the pieces, which date from 400 to
1500 AD, were recovered a few months later. Some of the artifacts however,
are still missing. It has been reported that the museum staff is eager to
assist visitors.
The area immediately east of the Pacific entrance of the canal is currently
being developed as a major tourist center with many North-American style
malls, hotels, discos and restaurants. Currently the Smithsonian Institute
operates a station and a small museum open to the public on Culebra Island,
just off the island of Naos (See inset). The noted American architect Frank
Gehry known for the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum and the Disney Concert Center
in Los Angeles, has designed a structure which will be built in this area.
The structure, called The Bridge of Life museum is scheduled to be completed
in 2007.
Visitors that wish to experience more of the local atmosphere are advised to
look for accommodations nearer the commercial and financial center of the
city, that is the neighborhoods of Bella Vista, Marbella or El Cangrejo.
Beaches
Unfortunately, outside of a very small beach on Naos Island, there are no
beaches in the city appropriate for swimming. Visitors might see the
occasional urchin taking a dip during high tide, but they should beware, the
waters are extremely polluted.
However, within a few hours drive there are many spectacular isolated
beaches, particularly on the Caribbean side. Unfortunately, progress is
taking its toll as more and more real estate developments encroach on the
natural beauty of this area. Farther afield, visitors can travel to beaches
in the interior and Bocas del Toro.
Getting to Panama City and getting around
Panama City's international airport is Tocumen International Airport located
on the eastern outskirts of the city and easily accessible by a modern toll
road from the financial district. Under normal traffic conditions travellers
should allow 45 minutes to the airport from the financial district. Cab fare
to and from the airport is about US$30, though many hotels provide shuttle
service. Major car rental companies have facilities at the airport, but
first-time visitors are advised to take a cab and rent a car at a city
rental office. There are direct flights between Tocumen and Los Angeles,
Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Havana and all major cities in Central America and
Colombia. Panama City also has an in-town airport Marcos A. Gelabert, in the
area once occupied by Albrook Air Force Base. This airport serves domestic
flights to the interior of Panama and the Las Perlas islands in the Pacific.
Panama City has an extensive system of public transportation implemented by
a fleet of colorful buses. However, it is recommended that to get about
town, first-time visitors should either rent a car, or should use taxis
which are plentiful, safe and inexpensive. Most taxi fares within the city
are under US$3. Air-conditioned buses are available from Panama City to most
other parts of the country. These leave from a recently completed terminal
near the Marcos A. Gelabert airport.
Education
The Universidad de Panamá, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá and Universidad
Santa Maria la Antigua are the main institutions of higher learning in
Panama City. Florida State University also has a campus in Panama City with
a two-year program which allows students to continue in the main campus in
Tallahassee. Numerous other educational and cultural institutions are
located in the city.
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