PANAMA JOURNAL

Panama is a country that is just on the verge of developing a robust tourist industry. As a result, it is a good time to visit since tourists are welcomed warmly by a friendly population. The country has not been ‘spoiled’ yet by wall-to-wall, all-inclusive resorts and prices are still reasonable and even cheap. It is very much like Costa Rica when I first discovered it in the late 80’s. Panama offers eco-tourism amongst its lush rain forests including visiting the indigenous peoples who still live a traditional life style there. As well, Panama City is the largest metropolis of Central America. It contains the remains of the old city of the 16th century burned down by the pirate captain Henry Morgan, the colonial city of the 17th - 19th centuries and the modern city between these replete with soaring skyscrapers of interesting architectural design. As a tax free port, Panama offers very good shopping. The Panama Canal is also worth a visit although those of us familiar with the St. Lawrence Seaway and even the more basic Rideau Canal aren’t as easily impressed by it as those without this experience. It is however an impressive engineering feat and will become even more so as its locks are doubled in the coming years.