Tunner Mooted for Cinta Costera Expansion

A tunnel under Casco Viejo and leading to the Avenue De Los Poetas is the latest proposal for the third phase extension of the Cinta Costera.

The extension would then circle Chorrillo, before moving on to the Amador Causeway. The extension of the coastal strip in this area has drawn criticism for its potential impact on the historic Old Town. In presenting the city's road realignment, Federico Jose Suarez, MOP minister, said the bidders could submit different proposals. So far all the work on the Cinta Costera has been done by one company which was granted the $52 million no bid contract for the second phase, circling the Fish Market.

A Day in Panama City

Casco Viejo is preserved as the conquistadors left it, Casco Viejo vies with Old Havana and Old San Juan in authenticity - but it is beginning to leave the others behind with the restored beautify of its courtyards, tiles and marble that line the cafes, restaurants that occupy these historic structures. Panama City across the bay is transforming itself into a totally unexpected, skyscraper-packed Hong Kong, Casco Viejo is in the process of being restored into the most tastefully attractive are of the city.

Plaza Mayor: also known as Parque Catedral or Plaza de la Independencia, is the main square of Casco Viejo. There is a mix of Spanish and French architecture.

Panamanian independence was declared on this plaza on November 3, 1903 and many important buildings such as the Canal Museum, Municipal Palace, Cathedral Church, and the religious ruins of the Jesuit Church, fringe the plaza.

Compania de Jesus Convent: The Jesuit Convent and its church were built in 1673, before the Spanish banished the Jesuits from the Colonies. In 1781 the complex burned down and was never rebuilt. The site also housed the first university and synagogue of the city.

La Plaza de Francia: The southern tip of Casco Viejo Peninsula is the Plaza de Francia and is home to a large obelisk in honor of the ill-fated Frenchmen, who, under Ferdinand De Lesseps, started the arduous task of building a sea level Canal in 1880.

Surrounding the obelisk is an arcade of marble plaques ornately carved with the story of the valiant French effort. This is also the current location of the French Embassy, the Instituto Nacional de Cultura and the Las Bovedas Restaurant.

Paseo Las Bovedas: wrapping around the French Plaza and the Institute of Culture is Paseo Las Bovedas (Promenade of Vaults) that offers couples and tourists a charming stroll on top of the Old Spanish seawall. An excellent view of the Panama City skyline, the ships cued for their turn through the Canal, and the Bridge of the Americas can be seen on this walkway.

Arco Chato: Built in 1678, Arco Chato (The Flat Arch) played a deciding factor in Panama's history and the construction of the Panama Canal. Spanning some 50 ft, Arco Chato was an architectural marvel for the fact that it resisted earthquakes and storms with no support other than its terminal arches. Logic reasoned that if the brick could withstand nearly 200 years with no visible means of support, then there was no real threat to constructing a lock-style canal. Ironically enough, in 2003, fireworks celebrating Panama's Centennial brought down most of what was left of the then 300 plus - year old arch.

Presidential Palace: Constructed in the old Customs Building, the structure was restored in 1922. Herons live inside the lobby of the entrance and contribute to its name, Palace of the Herons.

Plaza Santa Ana: Santa Ana at mid-morning is the heart of popular commerce; there is life in every corner where almost everything imaginable is for sale: cell phones, fruits, grains, incense, bottles of medicinal medicine that promise "to make you rich," inflatable toys and religious paraphernalia. Cafe Coca Cola, which dates from the early Canal days, is a great local restaurant on the south side of the park that is still a favorite among locals and tourists alike, especially for breakfast.

Casco Viejo - what is that?

Casco Viejo (Casco Antiguo or San Felipe) is the old quarter of Panama City. It was founded in 1673 after the original Pacific settlement of Panama Viejo was sacked by Henry Morgan. It is the oldest city on the Pacific coast of the Americas and remained the center of Panamanian life for 300 years until the 1930's. At that time Casco Antiguo declined as Panama's upper class moved to the suburbs.

It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 mainly because of it's blend of Spanish, French and American colonial, neoclassical and art nouveau architecture. Certain styles, such as the 16th through 18th century houses with inside courtyards, are specific to the region. Today, the buildings often contain a combination of ruins from the days of Spanish Explorers and Pirates, along with the influences of all of those who followed. To walk through Casco Viejo is definitely to walk through history. Buildings sitting side by side can be over three hundred years apart in age. Balconies are filled with flowers such as geraniums and bougainvillea wrapped around sculpted wrought iron crafted in another country. The streets are brick, and no matter which way they run, they run to the sea, because Casco Viejo is a peninsula jutting into the Bay of Panama.

It is very similar to Old San Juan (in Puerto Rico) in architecture as well as the narrow streets made out of cobblestones.

Today in Casco Viejo you will find the National Theater with black tie events. Kids diving from old ruins into the sea and indigenous people selling their crafts. Tourist shops, small clubs and sidewalk cafes, art galleries and many restaurants.

What happened?

When Manuel Noriega was running the show in Panama this was a Social Club for his top commanders. You can see it was severely damaged during the US invasion that took place in 1989. Since then it has been sold several times to private investors and the hope was that it would be turned into a hotel. Recently, it appeared in one of the James Bond films - Quantum of Solace - in the evening party scene. it is also used by the kids as a diving platform and often they also skate there. Even though it is very neglected it has been used for fashion shows, concerts and for filming of many commercials.

So what is missing? What happened? You can easily spot the before and after as the tree shows that it is definitely as big as it looks.

Many times the old buildings (especially when we get a lot of rain and wind) start coming apart. The tree and part of the building collapsed! The only problem with that collapse is that all the debris has blocked access to the beach. Right now this site is under renovation and reconstruction to become a luxury hotel. Perhaps that idea will finally come to pass.

The Kuna Indians

Kuna, also known as the Tule, Native South American group of the Chibchan language family and of Panama. In former times Kuna occupied the greater part of the Isthmus of Panama. Cases of hereditary albinism among the Kuna have given rise to the legend of white Native Americans.

The Kuna Indians number approximately 35,000 with the majority living in the San Blas Islands and on the mainland in the Madugandi Reservation while a very small percentage live in Panama City.

They speak their own language called "tule." Many speak Spanish and some English, but in the Madugandi reservation there is little proficiency for Spanish. They live in thatched roof huts made from materials found in the jungle.

The Kuna women wear wrap around skirts and hand-made blouses known as "molas." The Mola is an intricately sewn picture made from layers of cloth in a reverse applique technique. Kuna women paint their faces with a homemade rouge made from achiote seeds. They usually wear a nose ring and paint a line down their nose.

The Kuna have the most advance political system of any tribal group in Latin America, and possibly the world. They have three village chiefs who manage village politics and a series of meetings called congresos; they conduct electrions through the village and nationally as well.

They are animists: they believe in a creator God who is far away from them and that the poni, groups of malevolent spirits roam the earth entering people's bodies causing sickness and disease. They use the nuchus, small dolls made out of balsa wood, to protect them from the poni. The saila, or Kuna chief, speaks for God much like a prophet telling the people what they need to do so God will be pleased with them. They believe they must work to please God sohe does not send an earthquake or other terrible thing against them. The vast majority of the Indians in Madugandi have never heard a clear message of the Gospel message.

A Kuna woman selling some Molas in Casco Viejo. It is very common to find them selling their Molas on plazas or on sidewalks. They can be very expensive as it is an incredible detailed work all done by hand. Many Molas are now incorporated into T-shirts, cloth purses, kitchen towels and other decorative pieces for the home. Normally there are several layers in each piece and the more layers the more expensive the piece is! You can try to bargain but they do not always budge, and you can tell from the detail that it is very time consuming. Many times as you walk down the streets in Casco Viejo you can see them sewing the pieces.