Page 8 - Martin Downs Bulletin - October '23

Page 8, Martin Downs

travel

Panama City: T o d a y , Pa n a m a
City has a population
Three Cities In One o f a l m ost 9 0 0, 0 0 0
people (Source: World
Previously submitted by the Population Review, https://
late Don Kiselewski, MCC, worldpopulationreview. Construction of the Panama Canal, 1913. Photo by Thomas Marine
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens com /countries/cities/
Travel Leaders panama), or not quite one-
Panama is the most third of that of the entire
traveled country in the world, country (Source: https://
even though most tourists worldpopulationreview.
never touch the ground com/ count ri es) . The
during their visit. The great majority of Panama City
“cruise through the canal” is inhabitants are involved
always high on the priority with the management of
list of world travelers. The the canal, shipping and/or
experience of seeing how the Panama Canal operates is trade of that which passes
unsurpassed and it has truly earned the distinction as one through Panama. The city is
of the seven wonders of the modern world. However, the a fascinating place to visit,
greatness of such a voyage seldom, if ever, includes a stop although few do.
at Panama’s exciting capital city, Panama City, because of The area founded by
the cruise line itineraries. the first Spanish settlers
One of the most beautiful cities in Central America, remains in rubble from
Panama City is in fact three distinct cities that have grown the devastation caused by
out of each other. Unlike most cities that are reborn again Henry Morgan and his men.
in the same location, growing from the rubble of the past, Known as Panamá Viejo
the three cities of Panama have retained their individual or Old Panama, it contains A large container ship crosses over the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal. Photo by
identities. To best understand this process and set the stage the brick and mortar of the Don Kiselewski
for the unique city growth, it’s best to take a glimpse back dozens of buildings that
in history. made up the original colony.
Five Indian cultures made up Panama before Columbus The area is maintained with
made his first visit in 1502, however it was the Spaniard manicured lawns that allow
Rodrigo de Bastidas who created the first European presence visitors to walk around
a year earlier in 1501. A dozen years later in 1513, Vasco and through the various
Núñez de Balboa forged his way through the jungle of the buildings that formed the
isthmus, and discovered the Pacific Ocean. Panama got its community. The original
name from the first Indians who lived in the area; it means plans of the buildings can
“place of many fishes.” be viewed on a placard
This discovery by Balboa became the impetus for the within the settlement.
location of a staging area on the Pacific side of the isthmus. It Interestingly, the Scottish
became a key position for the Spanish conquest of the Pacific attempted to establish a
as well as a transshipping location between the two oceans rival colony on the isthmus Casco Viejo. Photo by Dirk van der Made
for the gold that was being mined in Peru and shipped back in 1698/99. Known as the
to Spain. The Spanish first founded Panama City in 1519, Darien Scheme, it was a
and it was Spain’s wealthiest colony in the 17th century. total failure.
With the gold and other wealth being transferred through In 1821, 130 years after
Panama City, it quickly became the target of English Morgan’s devastation,
privateers. Sir Henry Morgan did a real number on Panama Panama declared its
City when he and his men invaded, looted and completely independence from Spain
destroyed the city in 1691. and joined Simón Bolivar’s
Gran Colombia. It was in
the latter portion of the
19th century when interest
in the transportation needs
and advantages of cutting
across the isthmus came to
the forefront, and a French Port of Balboa. Photo by Don Kiselewski
company started with the
construction of a canal. The French colony that was reminds one very much of New Orleans, with wrought-
established to perform the task of building the canal iron terrace railings and other ornamental sculptured
chose an area near the original site of Panama City as the fences and ironworks. Casco Viejo is alive and vibrant
nucleus of their activities. The location and the buildings today, with many of the classical buildings being occupied
that followed have become known as Casco Viejo or the by artists, actors and professionals and being returned
old quarter. to their original stature. One of the area’s most striking
The soaring skyscrapers of Panama City. Photo by Don As one might expect, the French influence in the
Kiselewski old quarter can be found in its architectural image and Panama City on page 9

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