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Panama City: My Kind of Town
Matthew Parker : The Sunday Telegraph, London, England. May 6th 2007
Why Panama City?
Because its history and present-day economy make it outward-looking and cosmopolitan. There's a sense of being at the crossroads of the world. It has wonderful music and food. In 20 minutes you can be in the deepest primeval jungle or on a beautiful sophisticated beach. Both the people and the climate are noted for their warmth--and the city well off the track of the hurricanes that plague the Atlantic and Caribbean side if the isthmus.
Where would you send a visitor who wants to explore where to live in Panama City?
Most visitors stay in the Cangrejo area, a very safe part of town. Cangrejo has plenty of good-value hotels and excellent restaurants. The Hotel Marbella, for example, in Calle D, has rooms from about $40/£20. (Tel. 00507 263 2220.) (Colón, at the Atlantic end of the canal, has not such a good name for safety--and as in any town nowadays, there are parts of Panama City one avoids at night.)
Where could you pleasantly pass an hour or so in a cafe or bar?
The causeway was built with enormous effort to protect the entrance of the canal from silting, from Pacific storms, and from submarine attacks. At one of the several bars at the end, you can sip a cold beer, admire the old city (Casco Viejo) and watch the ships queueing up to enter the Pacific end of the canal.
Where for lunch?
There's a chain of Greek restaurants called Niko's Café--amazing value. But there are plenty of other good restaurants--Greek, Italian, Spanish, French, Chinese.
And for dinner?
Manolo's Restaurant, Calle B Oeste and Calle D, is everybody's favourite. Great Italian food is served at the beautiful and great-value Caffé Pomodora (Calle 49 B Oeste and Avenida 2 A Norte.
What's worth an early visit?
At Miraflores you can see the great locks opening and marvel at the close fit of the huge ships.
Source:
The Sunday Telegraph: London, England. Travel Section
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