For me, a trip to Panama is not only an adventurous and enlivening retreat, but also a chance to visit my home country. I was born in Panama, and each time I visit I am welcomed by the diverse landscape of this beautiful country. I have found that there is most certainly a reason Panama is called “the country of abundance.”
Many regions within Central America have been hindered by over-development. But Panama is still refreshingly unfettered in many areas, and offers the chance to visit beaches, mountains, and rain forests.
Panama City itself is a bustling metropolitan, and a center of activity within the country. It is the home of about 1.3 million people, and countless attractions to explore.
Many have heard of the Panama Canal, where you can spot cruise ships and freighters coasting along all day. It employs thousands of Panamanians, all of whom are proud of its efficiency and integral role in world trade and global commerce.
The canal itself is a marvelous site, especially the lock structure. The locks stretch for over two miles and amazingly lift ships up over 85 feet so that the ships reach the main elevation of the canal. Really, the world did not see anything else even comparable to this until the Hoover Dam was built in the 1930s.
An added bonus to traveling through Panama City? It is particularly easy to keep kosher here. The city is home to a kosher supermarket called “Super Kosher.” It is reportedly the largest kosher emporium outside of Israel. Here, I have found, I can find literally anything that I am seeking. There are also two kosher restaurants within Panama City, both of which serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
One of my favorite spots to visit is about two miles from the center of Panama City. Here you can find Panama La Vieja, or Old Panama, which was founded in 1519. Fragments of arches and walls stand in an open park, recalling the splendor of the Spaniards’ first settlement on the Pacific Ocean.
The most impressive structure remaining is the cathedral with its massive bell tower. These remnants that still stand survived a massive fire that burned down the city in 1671. Following the fire, the capital was moved two miles to the west, and present-day Panama City was founded in 1673.
One of my favorite things about visiting Old Panama is that, besides visiting an amazing historic site, you also have an incredible view of the ocean.
I think that you will find, when you visit Panama, it will feel like home to you, too!
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