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Background: With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. On 7 September 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of 1999. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the intervening years. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were turned over to Panama by or on 31 December 1999.

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Areas in Panama City: Casco Viejo

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By GinnyMcI
February 1st 2006

Panama City and the Canal

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

This entry covers 24 January through 27 January 2006: I stayed with my friend Margaret in Panama City (Ciudad de Panama), and enjoyed the sites in the old neighborhood of the city where she had stayed for 5 weeks -- Casco Viejo. While it is an old, seemingly unsafe part of the city, it afforded some interesting views into the old days of Panama. The old architecture is being renovated to some of its original glory. There are some interesting classic buildings and a lovely walk along the ocean. Also, several buildings have rooftop views of the canal and the boats [View Full Entry]

By GinnyMcI
January 12th 2006

Preparation for the first leg of the trip

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

The first leg of the trip is to Panama City. Margaret and I will go to Colon by train to view the canal. We will head to Costa Rica. We would like bloggers to tell us how to get to Monteverde. The road sounds rough. Do we have to rent a car or is there some type of bus? [View Full Entry]

By lush
January 5th 2006

Panama City & Canal

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Canal
The Miraflores lock, this is towards the Pacific Ocean.

Well we arrived here yesterday morning after 24 hours on the road, this broke down into two bus rides, and the layover we had (that I mentioned) in my previous blog entry. Getting into Panama City was really cool, it´s by far more modern than any other Central American cities, a lot of things I hadn´t even seen since North America. The bus station we arrived in was completely enormous, reminded me almost exactly of the Airport in Phoenix. We hopped in a cab to find our hostel, and had an absolute nightmare of a time getting the cabby to find [View Full Entry]

By El Tigre
January 4th 2006

Arrival and Sublimentary reading...

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Well we arrived in Panama city this morning around 6am...I think. The bus terminal was by far the biggest we have been to so far, and Panama city seems to be the nicest of the cities. The only trouble is that, I guess, due to the size no one knows where anything is. We got in a cab and asked to go to the hostel. The cabby's response was, "which way is it?" I figured that wasn't a good sign. So, after pointing it out on the map, and him asking several other cab drivers we were on our way. About [View Full Entry]

By Tommy Rooney
December 30th 2005

I've been to the Darien Gap!

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Cartagena colonial town
The colonial buildings are really spesh

Christmas in Cartagena was great but then again so was christmas eve and boxing day. Without friends and family it was just another good day on the road. The German owner of our hostel didn´t make a fuss, it was business as usual but a good business so I was glad to be in his hostel. Cartagena provided me with a wealth of new information to assist in the next stage of my travels and serves as a half way house between South America and Central America. The colonial town is also a superb tourist destination and provided for very picturesque [View Full Entry]

By Troy
November 22nd 2005

Panama it may never get better than this....then there was first class

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Border crossing

Costa Rica was a great place to visit and the unbelievable amount of different flora and fauna was a treat every day, but when I travel I am just as interested in getting to know the people and cultures as I am the land. Costa Ricans are good people but they seem to be verymoney hungry and not very friendly in comparison with all the other countries I have been to thus far and by the end of my stay there I was looking forward to meeting people who didnt look at me with dollar signs in their eyes. As [View Full Entry]

By Sean and Shannon
November 14th 2005

Reflections from the Isthmus

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Vieux Carre - Panama Style

November 8, 2005 (Panama City, Panama) Shannon: Sean and I have been in Panama for about a week now and have settled into something of a routine. We are using Panama City for our base of operations, making day trips to sights around the city (or overnight, as was the case this weekend when we ventured to Isla Taboga). It’s nice to stay somewhere long enough that you begin to have somewhat of a comfort level with the surroundings - we now consider Casco Viejo “our” neighborhood. We get our breakfast from “our” local breadshop and “our” loca [View Full Entry]

By Sean and Shannon
November 3rd 2005

Yankee Ingenuity

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Miraflores Locks

November 3, 2005 (Miraflores Locks, Panama) Sean: Today we went to Miraflores Locks, the first (from the Pacific side) in a series of three sets of locks that enable ships to bypass sailing around South America in order to get commerce from the Pacific to the Atlantic (and vice versa). At Miraflores there are two locks and just a short distance away at Pedro Miguel is another lock. These three together raise the ships up to the level of Gatun Lake where they travel to the other side of the country to be lowered again through three locks at the Gatun [View Full Entry]

Tallest (Deepest) Locks in the Whole System - 8 Stories

By Sean and Shannon
November 2nd 2005

PA-NA-MA, PA-NA-MA-AH-OH-OH-AH-OH

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Narrow Streets and Balconies

November 1, 2005 (Panama City, Panama) Sean: I’ve wanted to come to this country ever since I first heard Van Halen sing that refrain. I never understood the connection between the lyrics and the chorus though. But they were Capital B-I-G Rock and Roll stars and I was some punk kid listening to my cool, older brother’s cassette tapes, so who was I to question these powerful and all knowing gods? It must’ve meant something otherwise why would anyone listen to a bunch of grown men innocuously stringing words together and then periodically - for still no obvious [View Full Entry]

La Iglesia de San Francisco en Casco Viejo

By farrell
October 27th 2005

Wilma

Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City

Well I know I have a huge blank to fill in and this entry isn't going to do it. I'm supposed to be cruising at 40000 ft right now on my way to MIA but I'm not. Thanks to Wilma my flight to MIA was cancelled for the day. Of course I didn't find out until I got to the airport.... that is what happens when you are M-I--A in the islands of Panama for a week, with no phone, no light no motor car. Not a single luxury. I'm booked on the afternoon flight to MIA tomorrow and I'm going [View Full Entry]

Links: Panama City Travel Blogs (222) | Panama City Travel Photos | Panama Travel Forum | Panama Facts | Map of Panama

Travel Blog » Central America Caribbean » Panama » Panama City