Page 14 - Stuart Exposure - October '23

Page 14, Stuart Exposure

travel

Panama City: quite one-third of that of the
entire country (Source: https://
Three Cities In One worldpopulationreview.com/
countries). The majority of
Previously submitted by the Panama City inhabitants are
late Don Kiselewski, MCC, involved with the management Construction of the Panama Canal, 1913. Photo by Thomas Marine
D.S., Palm Beach Gardens of the canal, shipping and/
Travel Leaders or trade of that which passes
Panama is the most traveled through Panama. The city is
country in the world, even a fascinating place to visit,
though most tourists never although few do.
touch the ground during their The area founded by the
visit. The great “cruise through first Spanish settlers remains
the canal” is always high on the in rubble from the devastation
priority list of world travelers. caused by Henry Morgan and
The experience of seeing how his men. Known as Panamá
the Panama Canal operates is unsurpassed and it has truly Viejo or Old Panama, it contains
earned the distinction as one of the seven wonders of the modern the brick and mortar of the
world. However, the greatness of such a voyage seldom, if ever, dozens of buildings that made
includes a stop at Panama’s exciting capital city, Panama City, up the original colony. The area
because of the cruise line itineraries. is maintained with manicured
One of the most beautiful cities in Central America, Panama lawns that allow visitors to
City is in fact three distinct cities that have grown out of each walk around and through the
other. Unlike most cities that are reborn again in the same various buildings that formed
location, growing from the rubble of the past, the three cities the community. The original
of Panama have retained their individual identities. To best plans of the buildings can be
understand this process and set the stage for the unique city viewed on a placard within the A large container ship crosses over the Miraflores Locks at the Panama Canal. Photo by
growth, it’s best to take a glimpse back in history. settlement. Interestingly, the Don Kiselewski
Five Indian cultures made up Panama before Columbus made Scottish attempted to establish
his first visit in 1502, however it was the Spaniard Rodrigo de a rival colony on the isthmus in
Bastidas who created the first European presence a year earlier 1698/99. Known as the Darien
in 1501. A dozen years later in 1513, Vasco Núñez de Balboa Scheme, it was a total failure.
forged his way through the jungle of the isthmus, and discovered In 1821, 130 years after
the Pacific Ocean. Panama got its name from the first Indians Morgan’s devastation, Panama
who lived in the area; it means “place of many fishes.” declared its independence
This discovery by Balboa became the impetus for the location from Spain and joined Simón
of a staging area on the Pacific side of the isthmus. It became a Bolivar’s Gran Colombia. It
key position for the Spanish conquest of the Pacific as well as was in the latter portion of the
a transshipping location between the two oceans for the gold 19th century when interest
that was being mined in Peru and shipped back to Spain. The in the transportation needs
Spanish first founded Panama City in 1519, and it was Spain’s
wealthiest colony in the 17th century. Panama City on page 15 Casco Viejo. Photo by Dirk van der Made
With the gold and other wealth being transferred through
Stuart Chamber Happenings on page 11 Panama City, it quickly became the target of English privateers.
Sir Henry Morgan did a real number on Panama City when he
and his men invaded, looted and completely destroyed the city
in 1691.
Today, Panama City has a population of almost
900,000 people (Source: World Population Review, https://
worldpopulationreview.com/countries/cities/panama), or not

The soaring skyscrapers of Panama City. Photo by Don
Kiselewski

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