Immigration to Panama? First Impressions

Panama Provinces

This Map Used Under Creative Common Attribute ShareAlike 2.5 License (Wikipedia)

On this, my first trip to Panama, I was only able to visit sites in the Panama City (Panama Province) Metropolitan area and El Valle de Anton in Coclé Province. This is only the tip of the iceberg, so to speak. So, my first impressions of the country of Panama will be limited to these two areas.

Panama City Postcard Photo

This Photo Used Under Creative Common Attribute ShareAlike 2.5 License (Wikipedia)

Inside View Of Albrook Mall

If you have a city, you have to have a mall, and naturally this was one of the first places we visited. From our hotel to the Bus Terminal across the street from the mall only cost a quarter. Like in the United States and most other countries I have visited, the mall had about anything a person could want. I know the women like that idea! My wife did. Me, I had to go to the food court first. One meal: 2 pieces of chicken, fries, and a drink for $3.45. After that, then I got serious about other things.

This photo was taken at the Nispero Zoo and Gardens in El Valle de Anton by the lens author. © 2009 by E. Lamar Ross. All rights reserved.

In El Valle de Anton (part of the Interior of the country), there are many beautiful natural sites to see. These will not be discussed in this lens since I have included a comprehensive overview of my visit there in a separate lens. That lens includes Macho falls, El Nispero Zoo and Gardens, the Hot Springs, and the local Market. The photo above is from El Nispero Zoo & Gardens.

Centrum Tower Suites

Before I left for Panama, I did a little research and made contact with a former director of one of the Panama Expatriate Centers. He recommended that I get a reservation in the Centrum Tower Suites, directly across the street from the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Avenida Manuel Espinosa Batista. This hotel only consists of 13 rooms and occupies part of the third floor of the building in which it is located. I found the owner and personnel very friendly and helpful and had my high speed internet (free I might add) to keep up with my email and of course my Squidoo.

This area is considered to be the center of town by the locals. At one end of the block is the Interamerican University of Panama and at the other end is the Iglesia de la Señora del Carmen, one of the city's central landmarks. The Iglesia (church) is located on the corner of Ave Manuel Espinosa Batista and Via España with the front facing Via España..

Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Carmen

This church does not have the centuries old history of Iglesia San Jose discussed below, but in its downtown location stands out as a beautiful architectural imitation of the medieval Gothic style. It was built by the congregation of Carmelites a few years after their entry into Panama. They began the construction of the church in July of 1947, and moved into it six years later. Finally, two years after they moved in, the two towers were finished. It is probably the most beautiful and most visited church in the metropolitan area.

If you would like to see more photos of this Church and some others in the city, follow this link.

Via España View - Modern Streets

Just down the street from my hotel was the Via España. Via España is one of the major Panama City streets in the "downtown" area. It goes by the Iglesia del Carmen cathedral, and extends throughout that part of the city, incorporating banks, a downtown shopping mall, fast food restaurants, and bustling activity in all types of retail stores throughout the day and into the night. About a block from the pictured location is a 24 hour McDonald's restaurant with its own McCafe inside.

If you want to get around the city, the Diablos Rojos (Red Devils), as the buses are affectionately called, is a cheap alternative to owning your own car. For 25c (U.S. or Panamanian quarters - both accepted) you can go throughout most of the city. It only cost me 35c to go to Arriajan, a town outside the city (about 45 minutes away). The video below shows some buses passing by the entrance to the downtown shopping mall Plaza Concordia (the stairs and the overhead walkway). For more information on travel within the city and the buses in particular, see the Panama City News article on "Panama City's Traffic Jam".

Panama Canal

Ship Passing Through The Miraflores Locks In Panama City

For many people the Panama Canal IS Panama. The two cannot be separated. And, historically, it is true that modern day Panama cannot be separated from the history of the Panama Canal. For a quarter of a century before Panama became the Republic of Panama, attempts were being made by the Columbians (who owned what is now Panama) and the French to construct a canal passage from the Caribbean Sea on the North coast to the Pacific Ocean on the South coast.. Malaria and yellow fever got the best of those early projects and at the turn of the century in early 1900 the canal remained an unfinished dream.

At this point the United States enters into the equation. Panama was controlled by Columbia at the time, and the Panamanians were seeking control of their own destiny. The United States decided that it was in its own best interest to support the rebellion of the Panamanians against Columbia to gain control of building of the Canal and the rewards that entailed. The culmination of this relationship resulted in the Republic of Panama being created on November 3, 1903.

For a more detailed account of the history of the Panama Canal, Click Here.

Iglesia San José (St. Joseph Church) & Its Golden Altar

To get a quick view of a city and country as I was trying to do, It was necessary to become a combination tourist and student. My visit to the church with the Golden Altar was on such experience. Located in the Old Quarter (Casco Viejo or Casco Antiguo) of the city, "Iglesia San José" has a history almost as old as Panama City itself. And like Panama City, which has moved several times in the last 300 years, the church is no longer in the location in which it was originally built.

Panama City at that time was a transition point for forwarding the gold from Peru and other parts of South American on to Spain, and was located where the ruins of Panama Viejo are found now. The church's famous Golden Altar -- "altar de oro" -- was made from some of the gold that didn't quite make it on to Spain.

In 1671, while in its original Panama Viejo location, it was involved in an experience which has now become legendary in Panama. The English Pirate, Henry Morgan, heard of the Golden Altar and determined to get the Golden Altar and all the gold that was in Panama City awaiting shipment to Spain. Various stories abound as to what happened to the Old Panama City when it was burned to the ground - some say by Morgan and others say by the Spanish themselves to prevent Morgan's looting.

The church was spared during the burning of the city and when Morgan arrived he went to the church looking for the Golden Altar. But a local priest was ready for him. He and a layman, Brother John, had disassembled the main parts of the altar, the golden columns, and the altar tables, and submerged them in the Bay. They then covered what was left of the golden altar (wood covered with gold) with mud (some say whitewash, or tar) to hide the gold. The altar appeared to Morgan to be only an ornately carved wooden altar, which was apparently still under construction. They say that not only was Morgan fooled into believing that the Altar was not the Golden Altar but was talked into giving a donation to help finish the "altar under construction". After giving the donation to the Priest, Morgan was attributed with saying of the priest: "This brother is more of a pirate than I am!"

After Morgan's attack on the Panama Viejo location, the city was moved to what is now known as the Old Quarter (Casco Viejo) in the present-day colonial district of San Felipe because it was a more defensible location. The Golden Altar was dismantled and moved by the Jesuit monks of the Orlder of St. Augustine to its present location in Iglesia San José.

The church is still used for masses and frequently is used for weddings and small chamber music performances. It is a favorite destination of tours of the Old Quarter San Felipe District, and is well worth a visit. I took the photo above in a recent visit to Iglesia San Jose.

Neighborhood Street In Front Of Iglesia San José

Many architectural and archeological ruins still exist at the site of the original Panama City. It was in this site where the original Iglesia San Jose' golden altar was built.

The city was founded on August 15, 1519, by Pedro Arias de Ávila and rapidly grew in importance. As mentioned above, it became the an important transit point to forward on to Spain the gold gathered in South America. After the invasion of the city by Henry Morgan in 1671 (when the city of destroyed by fire), the city was moved to a new location about 5 miles (8 kilometers) away. It was here in the Casco Viejo or "Old Compound", that the city was to continue to grow.

View of Modern Panama City As Seen From Panama Viejo

© 2009 by E. Lamar Ross. All rights reserved.

Public Domain Photo of Bridge Of The Americas At Night In Panama City, Panama

This Map Was Produced By The CIA In 1981 And Is Therefore In The Public Domain.

Kuna Indians at Market

This is the National Stadium, built in 1999 and used primarily by the Panamanian National Baseball Team and for special baseball tournaments. It is also used for some concerts and other major events. I did not visit inside, but took this exterior shot as we were passing by the area. See Wikipedia Article

In the ten years since the National Stadium was built, there has been a continuing boom in construction everywhere in Panama City. Every where I looked there were 35-40 story buildings under construction in Downtown Panama City. The older streets, which have become heavily overcrowded, are now being supplemented by super expressways under construction. All indications are that this boom is going to continue for some time to come.

High Rise Construction Is Everywhere

A Section Of A Modern Expressway Under Construction.

Burning Buildings On 21 Dec 1989 During "Operation Just Cause"

Public Domain Photo Taken By U.S. Military Personnel During Invasion.

Buildings In The Same General Area Today

Wooden Buildings Still Standing In Panama City Slums Today