Modern Panama
by call_me_rhia
Modern Panama is quite a sight from the distance... not beautiful but surely interesting. It's a long skyline of towering skyscrapers... which clearly serve you as a reminder that big money DOES transit through this city. If you were to be transported there without knowing where you were, you would think you are in a large US metropolis. Modern Panama is a center of finance, conventions, trade, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos. Basically it's a place to have fun, but in particular it's a place to spend money.. loud, brash, fast. it's one of those places that I am happy to go and visit, and even happier to leave, heading towards quieter destinations. A must-see but a must-not-return, either.
Birding
by kyoub
This is a picture of the tower as it looked when we visited there.
The rusting radar station has now been turned into a unique lodge for birders called Canopy Tower Ecolodge and Nature Observatory.
The tower may now be much nicer than it was when we saw it but the birding is probably about the same.
It was one of the highlights of our trip.We hope to return someday.
A truly unique experience
by April_M about La Casa de las Constillitas
La Casa de las Constillitas is one of Panama's most unique eating spots. It's a large restaurant filled with fish tanks and “umbrella-ed” tables. Apparently this is a branch of the better known and much larger La Cascada (complete with waterfalls and animal statuary). La Casa’s the same concept as La Cascada but a bit tamer.
The menu itself is gigantic - maybe 40 pages - and is filled with philosophical ramblings as well as tips on what to do if the food is not fresh or the wait-staff is rude. The English translations are most enjoyable!
Whenever you want service, turn on the red light at your seat – a naked bulb hanging from a light fixture over each table at the restaurant. Then order a pitcher of sangria or a fabulous Balboa beer, and choose from one of the enormous entrees costing under $5!
This was an interesting find in Panama....just make sure you go with an empty stomach! Only ate there once, but enjoyed my fish dish very much!
Chicken and Beeeeeef!
by bilgeez about Pollo Pelau
Pollo Pelau serves as it indicates in its´ name, chicken, but they don´t stop there, they are an excellent parilladera (barbeque to you gringos!) as well! And it is very inexpensive. They are not quite as good as Leños y Carbón, but they are a close second as far as I am concernced.
If you want to sample what the house has to offer, they have a parillada plate with grilled chicken, beef and pork, as well as chorizo and grilled vegtables. It is very tasty. At $9 it is a good bargain for two. We had flan and coffee and iced tea and the bill was $16 for two. Not too shabby for a mid-town Panama City restaurant. The place is very clean and well-kept. The staff is generally friendlier and more attentive than in most restaurants that I have been in Panama City, which is a big plus, as one usually rarely sees their server and usually has to call them out; ¨joven!´ to get any thing. During the week they offer business lunches for $4.95. Such a deal! I had their smothered steak, it was sirloin covered in grilled onions and came with fries and a soda! You can´t beat it anywhere in Panama City! They also have chicken and fish specials at the same price, but I have not tried them as of this writing, if I get back there, soon, I will try them, I promise! They offer a whole range of grilled chicken, other cuts of beef and pork and seafood dishes.
They also offer deserts and beer. They only serve Atlas and Balboa and Cusqueña beer from Perú. I generally only drink Cerveza Panamá, so I won´t drink beer there.
The Miraflores Locks
by malianrob
This is the Visitors Center to the Panama Canal. I was with Doris here and because she's a local I only paid $3 to get in, get the movie, and admission to the exhibitions. Koa was free. Usually admission is about $8 - $10. There is a little cafe here too where you can get a bite to eat and theres bleacher type sitting so you can watch as the ships cross the canal. There is a gift shop to but souveniers here and this is also where you will see a 20 minute or se movie on how the canal was built.
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The Rocky statue
Kuna Women in the downtown area
Monument to Lessep
The locks and containers
