Panama CityThis is about the capital of Panama. There is also Panama City, Florida.\n---- Panama City, population 708,738, is the capital of Panama, located at the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal. Panama City is the political, administrative and cultural center of the country. Juan Carlos Navarro is the current mayor of the city.
\n \nNot surprisingly, construction of the Panama Canal also brought renewed prosperity to the city, relative to other countries in Central America. Of particular note are the improvements in health and sanitation brought about by the American presence in the Canal Zone. These include the eradication of yellow fever and malaria and the introduction of a first-rate water supply system. During World War II, construction of military bases and the presence of larger numbers of U.S. military and civilian personnel brought about unprecedented levels of prosperity to the city. The benefits of American presence in the canal area, though, had a price, since it was viewed as an affront to Panamanian nationalism and as an irritation to many residents of the City. In fact until the late 1960's, Panamanians had limited access, or no access at all, to many areas in the Canal Zone neighboring the Panama City metropolitan area. Some of these areas were United States military bases.
In the late 1970's and through the 1980's Panama City became an international banking center bringing along with it a lot of undesirable attention as an international money-laundering center. In 1989 after nearly a year of tension between the United States and Panama, President Bush ordered an invasion to depose the leader of Panama, General Manuel Noriega. As a result of the action, a portion of the El Chorillo neighborhood, which consisted mostly of old wood-framed buildings dating back to the 1900's, was destroyed by fire. Though the neighborhood was eventually rebuilt with U. S. funds, the replacements are somewhat inelegant cinderblock buildings. Panama City remains a banking center, although with very visible controls in the flow of cash. Shipping is handled through port facilities in the neighboring municipality of Balboa operated by the Hutchison Whampoa Company of Hong Kong and through several ports on the Caribbean side of the isthmus. Balboa, which is located within the greater Panama City metropolitan area was formerly part of the Panama Canal Zone, and in fact the administration of the former Panama Canal Zone was headquartered there.
 \nPanama City at dusk as seen from the Bay of Panama\n What to see\nThe city has numerous tourist attractions including world-class hotels and restaurants. Of particular interest to tourists are various sites located in the Casco Viejo, including
\n \nThe area immediately east of the Pacific entrance of the canal is currently being developed as a major tourist center with many North-American style malls, hotels, discos and restaurants. Currently the Smithsonian Institute operates a station and a small museum open to the public on Culebra Island, just off the island of Naos (See inset). The noted American architect Frank Gehry known for the Bilbao Guggenheim Museum and the Disney Concert Center in Los Angeles, has designed a structure which will be built in this area.
Visitors that wish to experience more of the local atmosphere, however, should look for hotel accommodations nearer the commercial and financial center of the city, that is the neighborhoods of Bella Vista, Marbella or El Cangrejo.
 \nCauseway to Naos, Perico and Flamengo Islands. A bicycle path parallels the roadway.\n BeachesUnfortunately, outside of a very small beach on Naos Island, there are no beaches in the city appropriate for swimming. Visitors might see the occasional urchin taking a dip during high tide, but they should beware, the waters are extremely polluted. \n \nRemote beach on Caribbean about 3 hours drive from Panama City\n Getting to Panama City and getting aroundPanama City's international airport is Tocumen International Airport located on the eastern outskirts of the city and easily accessible by a modern toll road from the financial district. Under normal traffic conditions travellers should allow 45 minutes to the airport from the financial district. Cab fare to and from the airport is about US$30, though many hotels provide shuttle service. Major car rental companies have facilities at the airport, but first-time visitors are advised to take a cab and rent a car at a city rental office. There are direct flights between Tocumen and Los Angeles, Houston, Miami, Atlanta, Havana and all major cities in Central America and Colombia. Panama City also has an in-town airport Marcos A. Gelabert, in the area once occupied by Albrook Air Force Base. This airport serves domestic flights to the interior of Panama and the Las Perlas islands in the Pacific. Panama City has an extensive system of public transportation implemented by a fleet of colorful buses. However, it is recommended that to get about town, first-time visitors should either rent a car, or should use taxis which are plentiful, safe and inexpensive. Most taxi fares within the city are under US$3. Air-conditioned buses are available from Panama City to most other parts of the country. These leave from a recently completed terminal near the Marcos A. Gelabert airport.EducationThe Universidad de Panamá, Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá and\nUniversidad Santa Maria la Antigua are the main institutions of higher learning in Panama City. Florida State University also has a campus in Panama City with a two-year program which allows students to continue in the main campus in Tallahassee. Numerous other educational and cultural institutions are located in the city.Newspapers, online news, and guidebooksPanama City has numerous daily newspapers, most with an online presence:
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"An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered." - Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936) |
