Page 12 - PGA Community News - October '23

Page 12, PGA C.A.N.! October 2023 October 2023

Panama City: Three Cities In One from page 11

plans of the buildings can be viewed on a placard within the Americans to finish the canal.
settlement. Interestingly, the Scottish attempted to establish a Decades of negotiations
rival colony on the isthmus in 1698/99. Known as the Darien between the two nations
Scheme, it was a total failure. followed this treaty, and in
In 1821, 130 years after Morgan’s devastation, Panama 1977, under the direction of
declared its independence from Spain and joined Simón President Jimmy Carter, an
Bolivar’s Gran Colombia. It was in the latter portion of agreement was made to give
the 19th century when interest in the transportation needs the canal to the Panamanians.
and advantages of cutting across the isthmus came to the The actual turnover was a
forefront, and a French company started with the construction gradual process splitting the
of a canal. The French colony that was established to perform governing board membership
the task of building the canal chose an area near the original into increments over a period
site of Panama City as the nucleus of their activities. The of two decades.
location and the buildings that followed have become known Just a few blocks from
as Casco Viejo or the old quarter. the well-maintained theater
As one might expect, the French influence in the old you’ll find the ruins of former
quarter can be found in its architectural image and reminds dictator Manuel Noriega’s
one very much of New Orleans, with wrought-iron terrace private beach club. The
railings and other ornamental sculptured fences and building was left gutted after
ironworks. Casco Viejo is alive and vibrant today, with many the 1989 invasion by our Port of Balboa. Photo by Don Kiselewski
of the classical buildings being occupied by artists, actors and United States Marines when
professionals and being returned to their original stature. One we invaded Panama City. Before he was deposed, Noriega The city is truly international because of its location at the
of the area’s most striking buildings is the National Theatre. had a mansion in the posh residential area known as the center of trade between the countries of the Atlantic and the
Built in the style of an Italian operetta theater, the interior San Francisco district, located in the greater Panama City Pacific Ocean.
contains multi-story boxes for the patrons that have been metropolitan area; it was recently demolished after falling To the south of the old quarter, right at the mouth of the
carved and gilded, projecting the richness of the building into disarray. Like most metropolises, the “New City” is filled canal, lies Balboa, the port for Panama City. It is here in
and more importantly, the era. Panamanians boast of the list with glass and metal skyscrapers that reach for the heavens. Balboa that the Panama Canal Authority is located as well as
of entertainers who have performed at the National Theatre, the headquarters of the United States Army South. For those
including Pavarotti and others. who have experienced a voyage through the canal without
It was in 1903, after the floundering of the French stopping, I would highly recommend a trip to the Miraflores
company that tried to dig the canal, that Panama gained its Locks the next time through. It’s the last in the chain on the
independence from Colombia. This came with the support Pacific side of the Panama Canal. It is only by watching huge
of President Theodore Roosevelt, which in turn led to the transport ships, loaded with hundreds of containers, as they
agreement between the United States and Panama that sink slowly into the locks of the canal, that one can truly
created the Panama Canal Zone. This was the impetus for the appreciate its magnitude.
The late Don Kiselewski wrote from his personal
experiences, having traveled in 122 countries and cruised the
oceans, seas and rivers of the world. Palm Beach Gardens
Travel Leaders, his family owned and operated agency, is
located at Mirasol Town Square, 11360 North Jog Road,
Building A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach Gardens. The agency
has been serving the travel needs of the South Florida area
The soaring skyscrapers of Panama City. Photo by Don for over a quarter of a century. Contact them at (561) 694-
Kiselewski 9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.

Panama la Vieja Cathedral in Old Panama. Photo by Don
Kiselewski

A large container ship crosses over the Miraflores Locks at
the Panama Canal. Photo by Don Kiselewski

Family owned & operated since 1988

Connie Kerwick & John Kearns enjoying the Rooftop
Garden on their Celebrity Edge cruise to the
Southern Caribbean. Consider cruising from South FL
to vacation without having to fly.
We are located at 11360 N. Jog Road, Bldg. A, Suite 102-6
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418 Info@PBGTravel.com
TravelLeaders.com/PBGFL
(561) 694-9696
“We help you see the world . . .”