After a few missed connections we finally meet up with the sister of a Hinsdale friend that lives in Panama City. Yvonne Lohrer, sister to our friend Alice Waverly, recommended both tours that we had taken the previous day as well as the Panama City, Double-Decker Bus Tour around the city center. (Yvonne works in the Hospitality industry). The 1-hour ride on the top level was the perfect taste of the crowded city - even on a Saturday afternoon the streets of the financial district were packed.
The new construction and development of Panama City is astounding. The new convention center that is almost completed will give new life to the city and fill the thousands of hotels rooms that have been added in the last few year. The construction industry is the #1 employer in Panama.
Yvonne was kind enough to swing by the hotel and was generous enough to be our tour-guide for a visit to historic district, Casco Antiguo (or San Felipe) and along the Amador Causway. Casco Antguo is under major redevelopment while keeping the style and feeling of the original buildings from 1600's. The history is rich with visits from Princes, Popes, and Presidents (and yes, the famous Pirate Captain Morgan). The girls were especially excited to see the large number of stray cats in the city. Every third cat looked like one that we have at home.
We had the perfect day of seeing the modern city center (and two of the three big malls), the old historic district, and finally the beach-front and ocean-side hang-outs complete with cabana bars, bicyclists and roller-blading.
A HUGE thank you to Alice and her sister, Yvonne, for making our trip to Panama City the perfect first stop on our journey.
The new construction and development of Panama City is astounding. The new convention center that is almost completed will give new life to the city and fill the thousands of hotels rooms that have been added in the last few year. The construction industry is the #1 employer in Panama.
Yvonne was kind enough to swing by the hotel and was generous enough to be our tour-guide for a visit to historic district, Casco Antiguo (or San Felipe) and along the Amador Causway. Casco Antguo is under major redevelopment while keeping the style and feeling of the original buildings from 1600's. The history is rich with visits from Princes, Popes, and Presidents (and yes, the famous Pirate Captain Morgan). The girls were especially excited to see the large number of stray cats in the city. Every third cat looked like one that we have at home.
We had the perfect day of seeing the modern city center (and two of the three big malls), the old historic district, and finally the beach-front and ocean-side hang-outs complete with cabana bars, bicyclists and roller-blading.
A HUGE thank you to Alice and her sister, Yvonne, for making our trip to Panama City the perfect first stop on our journey.
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