Casco Antiguo

We were going to head out to Parque National de Soberania today, but by the time I had gone over our escape route close enough to be fairly sure I’d get it right on the first try, it was noon, which was just too late to get going. It’s not as though the two of us were rushing or anything. Quite the opposite.

We woke up slowly, had coffee in the room, I did this mornings’ post, we had breakfast at the nice little restaurant downstairs, and ambled from one thing to another as they day went on. It just didn’t turn out the way I thought… or as some would say, it turned out exactly right.

Instead, we decided to go wander Casco Antiguo, which is actually walking distance from here, although a rather long walk. As you can see, this time I’m a little more set for the task as I scope it out… over there…. some how…

Casco Antiguo is an old part of Panama
that up until 10 years ago had only one nice building, that being the presidential palace. That singular building was surrounded by falling down, dilapidated ruins, which they have now decided to begin rebuilding.

Ten years into the project, and along we come into a photographers mecca. Too bad I’m only an amateur, but there were a few I think I got the flavor of.

The area has yet to be quite over-run with tourists, but there were times when it was amusing to watch a stream of them follow one another place to place, sporting new hats, red faces, overweight with labored strides. Aware I was witness to my own alternatives, I said nothing, but smiled, happy with the road I was traveling.

The whole area is a glaring study in disparity.

Those stairs are actually suspended. They look like they rest on a wall, but that is the illusion of the place.

It was found down this street.

I’m just going to toss out a bunch of pictures here, not bothering to narrate.

I particularly love this shot above. My folks dragged me around every ruin they could find in the UK when I was 4. I hated it at the time, and for the life of me I still can’t understand why they didn’t leave that mossy rock when they had conquered the whole world, but they did do some fantastic things with brick and stone. The masons definitely have a footprint here, in more ways than buildings.

It’s a pity the tide was out. It would have made for a better shot, but meh. That road there is the Cinta Costera, a three lane autopista built to bypass much of the congestion at the entrance to Panama, and circumnavigates this whole area. It is a wonderful addition, now that I know how to get on and off of it.

This shot here is for Cass’ Mom, who collects little roosters ‘n stuff. So, I thought she’d like to know they’d built an monument to the chicken here. Regal looking, and fitting, given the amount of chicken we’ve consumed in the time we’ve been here. I hear Costa Rica has been working on a giant pinto bean on a pedestal. 🙂

And with high praise for this one…. 10 feet up and 15 feet wide, it’s probably an album cover of some sort, but I’d never seen it before. Such a damned appropriate expression for the entire place….