Page 16 - Southern Exposure - October '23

Page 16, Southern Exposure

travel from page 14 support of President Theodore
Roosevelt, which in turn led
the original colony. The area is maintained with manicured to the agreement between the
lawns that allow visitors to walk around and through the United States and Panama
various buildings that formed the community. The original that created the Panama Canal
plans of the buildings can be viewed on a placard within the Zone. This was the impetus
settlement. Interestingly, the Scottish attempted to establish a for the Americans to finish the
rival colony on the isthmus in 1698/99. Known as the Darien canal. Decades of negotiations
Scheme, it was a total failure. between the two nations
In 1821, 130 years after Morgan’s devastation, Panama followed this treaty, and in
declared its independence from Spain and joined Simón 1977, under the direction of
Bolivar’s Gran Colombia. It was in the latter portion of President Jimmy Carter, an
the 19th century when interest in the transportation needs agreement was made to give
and advantages of cutting across the isthmus came to the the canal to the Panamanians.
forefront, and a French company started with the construction The actual turnover was a
of a canal. The French colony that was established to perform gradual process splitting the
the task of building the canal chose an area near the original governing board membership
site of Panama City as the nucleus of their activities. The into increments over a period
location and the buildings that followed have become known of two decades.
as Casco Viejo or the old quarter. Just a few blocks from Port of Balboa. Photo by Don Kiselewski
As one might expect, the French influence in the old the well-maintained theater
quarter can be found in its architectural image and reminds you’ll find the ruins of former dictator Manuel Noriega’s Like most metropolises, the “New City” is filled with glass
one very much of New Orleans, with wrought-iron terrace private beach club. The building was left gutted after the and metal skyscrapers that reach for the heavens. The city
railings and other ornamental sculptured fences and 1989 invasion by our United States Marines when we invaded is truly international because of its location at the center of
ironworks. Casco Viejo is alive and vibrant today, with many Panama City. Before he was deposed, Noriega had a mansion trade between the countries of the Atlantic and the Pacific
of the classical buildings being occupied by artists, actors and in the posh residential area known as the San Francisco Ocean.
professionals and being returned to their original stature. One district, located in the greater Panama City metropolitan To the south of the old quarter, right at the mouth of the
of the area’s most striking buildings is the National Theatre. area; it was recently demolished after falling into disarray. canal, lies Balboa, the port for Panama City. It is here in
Built in the style of an Italian operetta theater, the interior Balboa that the Panama Canal Authority is located as well as
contains multi-story boxes for the patrons that have been the headquarters of the United States Army South. For those
carved and gilded, projecting the richness of the building who have experienced a voyage through the canal without
and more importantly, the era. Panamanians boast of the list stopping, I would highly recommend a trip to the Miraflores
of entertainers who have performed at the National Theatre, Locks the next time through. It’s the last in the chain on the
including Pavarotti and others. Pacific side of the Panama Canal. It is only by watching huge
It was in 1903, after the floundering of the French transport ships, loaded with hundreds of containers, as they
company that tried to dig the canal, that Panama gained sink slowly into the locks of the canal, that one can truly
its independence from Colombia. This came with 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
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We are located at 11360 N. Jog Road, Bldg. A, Suite 102-6
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(561) 694-9696
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