Panama City
Bondi Tram
Peter Colquhoun and Sandra Colquhoun
Tue 10 May 2011 23:12
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Panama City was a surprise. Very modern, lots
of high rise, an old quarter and tropical vegetation everywhere. In fact,
it reminded us of Singapore in many ways....but not as well maintained or as
orderly. There are a number of poorer suburbs which are no go areas for
tourists, as much of Colon was on the other side.
   Below is the Nacional Transportacion Terminal...the
biggest bus station we have ever seen. From here
you can get a bus to anywhere in the country and to
Costa Rica. The express bus to Colon on the
Caribbean side takes one and a half hours and costs
$2.50 US. The currency in Panama is US dollars
for notes and Balboas for coins, in the same
denominations as US coins.
 Opposite the bus terminal is the largest shopping
mall we have ever seen.
 Panama hats of course...but you only see tourists
wearing them.
 The suburb of Balboa has the headquarters of the
Panama Canal Authority and used to be in the
American run Canal Zone.
   The old city dates from the 1600s. An earlier
city, the first European city in the
Western hemisphere was completely burnt
down.
  Previously very run down, many places are now being
restored.
  Below is the famous arch without a keystone.
The reason it is famous is because
the fact that an unsupported arch like this could
exist for so long indicated that
Panama did not have earthquakes which was another
good reason to locate the
canal here. The convent it is part of burnt
down when the pirate Henry Morgan
sacked Panama.
     Across the bay in the background is our
anchorage.
 Kuna Indians selling molas.........
 ..............and more Panama hats
     Pelicans diving on a shoal of fish in the
anchorage. They put on a great show
for half an hour.
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