Week 66 – The New, the Old and the Oldest
Panama Viejo, to the east, is the oldest part of the city. It consists of a few ruins, the result of an attack and plunder by Henry Morgan’s pirates in 1671. Not particularly interesting.
Casco Viejo, 8km to the west, was built following Captain Morgan’s pillage. It’s the historic district of the city and as a UNESCO World Heritage Site it should be protected but unfortunately, parts of it are falling apart. It’s a shame because it has the potential to be a very nice place, judging by the parts that have already been preserved or restored. It is also the only place worth visiting in Panama City.
The new city, located in between Panama Viejo and Casco Viejo, is just a conglomerate of high-rises, banks, and hotels. It gives a nice skyline when viewed from afar.
Every Sunday, there is the Ciclovia de Panama, when a few roads are closed to vehicular traffic for cyclists to enjoy an uninterrupted ride from Panamá Viejo all the way to the end of Cinta Costera on Flamenco Island. It would be a shame to miss the opportunity to cycle, so I donned my cycling gear, got my Brompton out and did the full loop. It was fun!
Panama hat originated in Ecuador.
This week in numbers:
156 km – distance cycled
1519 – the year Panama City was founded
95 % – is the literacy rate in Panama
77 – different banks in Panama City