Casco Viejo also referred to as "the old city" used to be the main city center. It is one of the main tourist attraction, if not the main one in Panama. Of course the city is now Panama City which is very developed and populated with skyscrapers, malls and businesses.
If you're in Panama City visiting or on vacation, you need to visit Casco Viejo. You will see a lot of art museums & galleries, old buildings, Catholic Churches, souvenir shops and other popular landmarks and buildings dating back to Panama's history.
Grab your cameras if you're headed in this area. Dont miss your opportunity to capture the scenery, monuments, buildings, and a view of the in the distance.
Although this part of the country is laden with souvenir shops, you will also find that a lot are sold on the street by Street Vendors selling under tents. So if you are looking for bargains or more for your money, here is a good place to start.
Casco Viejo also has a lot of Restaurants and Bars, being a center of attraction for tourists. The Office of the President & Ministry of External Relations are also located here.
Most of the town does not have pitch-paved roads but rather a traditional red interlocking bricks as shown in the picture below.
Inside one of the Catholic Churches:
Yellow taxis can be seen out and about:
Feeling Restaurant: "Restaruante Feeling" is located in the center-most part of Casco Viejo, in close proximity of the Ministry of External Affairs. It is not a typical "dine-in" restaurant. The sitting area is out front on the street facing the actual establishment. Chairs and tables are set below fancy tents. This is also another common sight in this part of the town. A lot of Restaurants have outdoor dining...some both, but usually the inside sitting area is very small. These tents can be seen in allocated areas near the sidewalks.
In the picture below you can see that there is no real walking space or anywhere to dine inside the restaurant except for the few chairs at the front when you walk in where it is only suitable to sit and have a few drinks. And there are still not many chairs either, as you can see.
Menu:
One of the local beers seen below called the "Balboa" is named after the Spanish explorer Vasco Nuñez de Balboa. My favourite beer so far. There are many more that I have not yet tasted. Locally brewed beers are cheap in Panama. It costs around $1.00 at most Restaurants and Bars and retails for around $0.85 at grocery stores. Few Restaurants brew their own "on the house beer" and they charge a little more, around $3-$3.50 a glass/litre.
Pictured here enjoying my beastly cold Balboa Beer.
Next to Restaurante Feeling is a TOMS Store. My first pair of TOMS was
actually purchased at this branch. They also have stores in some of the
malls located throughout the country. These shoes are very comfotable
and I mostly wear them when I have to walk a lot. And here in Panama it
is very common to walk a lot. Most people, including myself walk to get
to most places in and around the city. Sometimes its the best choice
because of the terrible traffic situation.
It is very humid in Panama and it is also recommended wearing a hat if you are going to be in the sun for many hours. It would be good also to have a pair of sunglasses and you can tuck a small umbrella in your bag just incase the sun gets out of hand. Seen below are what they call "Panama Hats" being sold from a street side vendor (typical practice in any country). They are made from different materials and in a wide range of shapes, styles and colours. These hats are usually ranged from $15 and upwards depending on the material used. Spoke to the Vendor who said you could pay up to $150 for a good quality hat. Sometimes when you negotiate with the Vendors they give you good deals as well.
Here you can get a good glimpse of the city. Its such a beautiful sight. Have your camera in hand to capture the scenery.
Sno Cone Vendors are plentiful throughout Panama City so you will also find a few of them here in Casco Viejo. Pictured below: 5 different flavours available and for a little more money you can have condensed milk added if you like. Different Vendors charge differently but a sno cone should not cost you more than $2.50-$3.00. Sometimes if they realize you are a foreigner they charge you the higher price and sell to the locals for an even cheaper price, for example $1-$1.50. Just be smart, if you think they are charging too much just go to another Vendor.
Pictured below are handmade items made mainly by the Indigenous Indian Tribes. A range of items can be found here such as things to hang in your house, bags, pencil cases, mats, hats, sandals, table cloths, coin purses etc.
Walking through the streets of Casco Viejo and saw these Caution Cones prettily painted at the side of the road. Just thought that I should capture this unique sight.
I stopped for a moment here to capture this picturesque of the city. I wore my hat that day because the sun was awfully hot and I had planned on being out for many hours.
