PANAMA CITY, Panama — Known for its famed waterway, Panama’s capital boasts more than just a spot to watch the ships cross through the engineering marvel.
Visitors can chose between a swim in the Pacific or the Caribbean, hear tales of pirates looting the city’s original site, find bargain shopping, sample tropical fruits and try their luck at the horse races in Panama City.
OUTDOORS
Head to the Amador Causeway and snap photos of Panama’s downtown or the Bridge of the Americas, where traffic crosses over while ships cruise through the canal. Once part of the off-limits Canal Zone guarded by the U.S. military, the causeway has become a favorite of locals and tourists. The thin strip surrounded by the ocean houses duty-free shops, restaurants, hotels and dance clubs. Construction signs and sites make it evident that there’s more on the way. Kiosks sell hammocks, guayaberas, hats and molas, brightly colored fabrics with elaborate, hand-sewn designs of the Kuna Indian tribe.
By day, twentysomethings and families catch the cool of the ocean breeze while biking, in-line skating, or jogging along the causeway. It’s a strenuous and humid walk, so renting multiseat bikes at the stretch’s entrance works best.
For a day of diving, snorkeling and other water sports, head for Taboga Island, on the Pacific coast. Ferries bound for Isla Taboga leave from a Balboa pier and the causeway each morning and return in the late afternoon.
MUSEUMS
Check out any of the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute’s stations. Visit one of the island sites, such as the Barro Colorado Field Research Station, for a boat ride across the canal’s Gatun Lake and a chance to see a half-dozen native monkey species in their natural setting.
At the Marine Exhibition Center in Punta Culebra, view sloths, pelicans and other tropical forest-dwellers along with an unfettered view of the ships crossing and the rhythmic pounding of waves crashing on jagged rocks. Both kids and adults will be mesmerized watching the crab-eating shark and hearing the boas slithering in the dry forest walk within the park.
CUISINE
For breakfast, sip a frothy cafe con leche, made with locally grown coffee beans, or cinnamon tea. Beer connoisseurs should look for local brews Soberana, Balboa and Atlas, which have a light taste that’s thirst-quenching in the sticky climate.
Pencas offers a view of the ocean and authentic Panamanian cuisine, which is inexpensive even at many upscale eateries. On the restaurant’s menu are minitamales wrapped in plantain leaves, pesada de nance (a cereal-textured fruit dessert with bits of white cheese), dorado en salsa de coco (fish in coconut sauce) and ojaldas (a fried bread). On Wednesday nights, Pencas features a troupe of foot-shuffling folk dancers and a live band complete with accordion. As the show wraps up, dancers and some of the servers extend their hands for a dance with audience members. When I told our waiter that I didn’t know the steps, he turned to my mom and asked “Does the lady dance?”
HISTORY
History buffs should explore the remnants of Panama’s colonial past to learn about its history in the quest for riches in the Americas. Just a cab away from most points in the capital city is Panama la Vieja. In 1671, Panama la Vieja was sacked by pirates, led by Sir Henry Morgan. Red-brick streets, a cathedral spire and crumbling walls, arches and buildings of the Spanish settlement era remain.
Guided tours telling of the colony’s former grandeur and demise are available.
Some miles away is the Casco Viejo, an old colonial neighborhood with narrow streets and pastel-colored buildings in the midst of renovation. Its architecture resembles New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Just like locals have for centuries, watch the sunset from the Paseo de las Bovedas, a sea walk along an old Spanish military fort that served as a prison. Other sites include the Catedral Metropolitana, El Teatro Nacional and the unguarded Church of the Golden Altar. Several restaurants and cafes also dot the neighborhood.
GAMBLING
Place a bet on the horse races at the Hipodromo Presidente Jose A. Remon on a Thursday afternoon and mingle with locals and visitors. The horseracing park also is open weekends and holidays.
More than a half-dozen other casinos also offer all night games of chance in Panama. Among the favorite spots is the casino at the Hotel Panama.
NIGHT LIFE
Hit the causeway or the city’s financial district for some dancing, dining and drinking.
ELSEWHERE
Panama City also connects travelers by plane, bus or boat to other provinces. You can spot large green plantain leaves and dozens of noni plants heading out of the capital city. If you roll down the car windows while driving through heavily forested areas, you might hear the monkeys shrieking.
- The province of Colon is where gold and silver from the Americas passed before being transported to Europe. Explore the cannons and the lush green Spanish fortress in Portobelo.
Bocas del Toro offers scuba diving and national parks for trekking.
- Baru volcano is Panama’s highest point at 11,408 feet. Close by is the alpine town of Boquete, in the province of Chiriqui.
IF YOU GO:
Panama
PANAMA TOURISM
INSTITUTE: www.visitpanama.com or (011) (507) 226-7000.
SMITHSONIAN
TROPICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE MARINE
EXHIBITION CENTER: www.stri.org. Adults, $2; retirees, $1; children, 50 cents.
PENCAS RESTAURANT: Amador Causeway, (011) (507) 211-3671.
HIPODROMO
PRESIDENTE JOSE A. REMON RACING PARK: www.hipodromo.com/general (in Spanish) or (011) (507) 217-6060.
SAFETY: Panama is relatively safe, but be aware and don’t venture into some neighborhoods at night. The country has a special police force to help tourists.
DRIVING: Driving within the city can be erratic and some areas have few traffic signs or lights.
TAXIS: Taxis looking for a fare usually honk. Wave to flag them down and settle on price before taking trips.
Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2005
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.
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Panama, a country in Central America, is divided into 11 cities in which there are numerous casinos. The only types of gambling that are legal in Panama are horse racing, pari-mutuel betting, and casinos. The majority of the Panama casinos and gambling facilities are located downtown in Panama City, with 22 of the total 36 in the country.
The largest casino in Panama City is the Casino Majestic, with over 53,000 square feet of gambling space. The Majestic, open 24 hours seven days a week, features 39 table games and 978 gaming machines, video poker and slots. Among the other popular casinos located in Panama City are in the Hotel Caesar Park, the Miramar Intercontinental, and the Hotel El Panama. The Crown Casino in the Caesar Park Hotel is in a prime location, central to the business district and the historic attractions of old Panama. The Crown Casino features table games of baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean Stud poker, Draw Poker, roulette, and craps, but no gaming machines. The Fiesta Casino in the El Panama has a great atmosphere, with 320 gaming machines and 16 table games of blackjack, roulette, poker, and baccarat. There are several other smaller casinos in Panama City, with gaming machines and a few table games, such as the Casino International, the Fiesta in the Gran Hotel Soloy, and the casino in the Riande Granada Hotel.
A fairly recent addition to the lineup of Panama casinos is the Veneto Hotel and Casino, a Vegas-style gambling facility, also in Panama City. The Veneto is perhaps the largest Panama casino with 40,000 square feet that includes 511 slots and 42 table games such as blackjack, Texas Hold’em and other poker, roulette, mini-baccarat, and craps.
Other Panama casinos can be found in cities such as Chiriqui, with two casinos; the larger of the two is the Casino Dorado with 318 slots and video poker machines and no table games. Other Panama casinos include the Casino Chitre in the Hotel Barcelo Guayacanes in the city of Herrera and the Gran David in Chorrera. The Hotel Washington Fiesta Casino in Colon has nine table games and 93 slots. In addition, the Hotel Royal Decameron Costa Blanca in Farallon has a casino with 50 slots and seven table games.
International investors continue to recognize the potential of further Panama casino development, especially with the proposed widening of the Panama Canal.
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A MAN, A PLAN - and a casino. That’s Panama, Donald Trump style. The reality-show figurehead and real estate mogul announced yesterday that he’s building a $220 million high-rise project in the hometown of the Panama Canal. The 65-story Trump Ocean Club, International Hotel and Tower will feature 800 hotel and condominium units overlooking the beach, a casino and a 24-hour yacht club in Panama City. “I really think the time for Panama has come,” Trump said at a midtown news conference. “There will be very, very few buildings that rival this one.” The announcement comes as Panama’s government moves forward with expanding the famed canal to make room for the latest generation of massive cargo boats. The Trump high-rise is expected to be completed by late 2009.
