Page 14 - Southern Exposure - October '23

Page 14, Southern Exposure

travel

Panama City: Three Cities In One

Previously submitted by the late Don Kiselewski, MCC, D.S., Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders

Panama is the most other. Unlike most cities that
traveled country in the world, are reborn again in the same
even though most tourists location, growing from the
never touch the ground rubble of the past, the three
during their visit. The great cities of Panama have retained
“cruise through the canal” is their individual identities. To
always high on the priority best understand this process
list of world travelers. The and set the stage for the unique
experience of seeing how the city growth, it’s best to take a
Panama Canal operates is glimpse back in history.
unsurpassed and it has truly Five Indian cultures made
earned the distinction as one up Panama before Columbus
of the seven wonders of the modern world. However, the made his first visit in 1502,
greatness of such a voyage seldom, if ever, includes a stop however it was the Spaniard
at Panama’s exciting capital city, Panama City, because of Rodrigo de Bastidas who
the cruise line itineraries. created the first European
One of the most beautiful cities in Central America, Panama presence a year earlier in 1501.
City is in fact three distinct cities that have grown out of each A dozen years later in 1513,
Vasco Núñez de Balboa forged Aerial view of the Bridge of the Americas at the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal, with
his way through the jungle of Panama City in the background. Photo by Don Kiselewski
the isthmus, and discovered the
Pacific Ocean. Panama got its name from the first Indians Today, Panama City has a population of almost
who lived in the area; it means “place of many fishes.” 900,000 people (Source: World Population Review, https://
This discovery by Balboa became the impetus for the worldpopulationreview.com/countries/cities/panama), or not
location of a staging area on the Pacific side of the isthmus. It quite one-third of that of the entire country (Source: https://
became a key position for the Spanish conquest of the Pacific worldpopulationreview.com/countries). The majority of Panama
as well as a transshipping location between the two oceans City inhabitants are involved with the management of the canal,
for the gold that was being mined in Peru and shipped back shipping and/or trade of that which passes through Panama. The
to Spain. The Spanish first founded Panama City in 1519, city is a fascinating place to visit, although few do.
and it was Spain’s wealthiest colony in the 17th century. The area founded by the first Spanish settlers remains in
With the gold and other wealth being transferred through rubble from the devastation caused by Henry Morgan and
Panama City, it quickly became the target of English his men. Known as Panamá Viejo or Old Panama, it contains
privateers. Sir Henry Morgan did a real number on Panama the brick and mortar of the dozens of buildings that made up
The National Theatre in Casco Viejo. City when he and his men invaded, looted and completely
Photo by Don Kiselewski destroyed the city in 1691. Travel on page 16

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