On our second Tuesday in Panama City, we decided to take a chance and go out to do some exploring, rain or shine. We had not seen any rain that day and the weather forecast (not that we always trust it) looked promising. The old quarter, Casco Viejo, comes with the highest recommendation of things to see in Panama City (likely due to its waterfront locale and charming colonial architecture) and it was time we paid it a visit.
Plaza de la Catedral
Plaza Bolivar
The history of the old quarter goes back to 1673 when it was built after the original Panama City was almost completely destroyed by pirates in 1671. As recently as a decade ago, the area was one of the most dangerous in Panama City and was rife with drugs, prostitution, and gang activity. It was home to the gang called Ciudad de Dios (City of God – not to be confused with the infamous Brazilian slum).
Plaza Herrera
Brickstone Roads
Some members of the gang died and others have gone on to live normal lives, working regular jobs. Rumor has it that one of the former leaders even runs a tour company for those looking for an uncensored journey through the area. We didn’t go this route so, we don’t have any juicy insider stories to share. Sorry to be boring.
Ruins of the Santo Domingo Church
So many pretty colours
Today, Casco Viejo is quickly being gentrified, thanks to some deep-pocketed developers. Newly-renovated buildings stand next to crumbling structures and many can be seen being demolished or under construction. There are some parts of the area that are visibly poorer, but I’m guessing it won’t stay that way for very long.
Old meets new
Under construction
Since the area is popular with tourists and locals, there are numerous shops and restaurants in the area. Obviously, with higher price tags than other parts of the city, but that’s what you get with touristy areas. We stopped for lunch at Diablicos Restaurante for some hearty and delicious local grub, and then continued on to explore on foot.
One of the gentrified parts of Casco Viejo
The Palacio de las Garzas (Herons’ Palace), where the President of Panama goes to work
Our first stop was at the Iglesia San Francisco de Asis (Church of Saint Francis of Assisi), a small Roman Catholic church that dates back to the early 1700s. It was destroyed by fires in 1737 and in 1756 before being re-built in 1998. It is quite an ornate church and the main alter is constructed of over 400 pieces of colourfully-painted cedar.
Iglesia San Francisco de Asis and the monument of Plaza Bolivar
Interior of the Iglesia San Francisco de Asis
We also stopped at the Museo de Historia de Panama (History Museum of Panama) amidst our exploring to get schooled on some Panamanian history. At 1 USD for the entry, we got a pretty good deal. It is not a big museum, but it does house numerous paintings, artifacts, and documents from throughout the history of Panama.
To the Museo de Historia de Panama
Getting schooled on some Panamanian history
We took a walk to the seawall where we got a nice view of the city center. The disappointing thing about Panama City is that despite its proximity to the ocean, there are no nice beaches within its vicinity; you have to travel away from the city. Google search shows results for the namesake city in Florida so, don’t be fooled.
The French Embassy
Panama City
We stopped for some ice cream in the late afternoon before heading to our favourite mall, Multiplaza, to meet up with David, a fellow nomadic motorcycle rider, for some coffee and conversation to end our day. Also, we did not get any rain all day! 🙂
