I don't know how you feel about cities, but I have always viewed cities as a place to land, sleep and get the heck out of as soon as possible. I know I always talk about..."when we were looking for the right place to build our resort" but truly, many of the countries we visited throughout our years of searching have cities that are super sketchy which tend to give travelers a distorted sense of what the culture is truly like in a country.
Many times, it causes us to mistrust the people, the culture, and the infrastructure of a place leading to uncomfortable situations, and ultimately missing great opportunities to experience the true culture of a new world which is essentially the essence of travel anyways. Sure, you might climb that mountain you always wanted to, or kayak that river, surf that iconic wave, or see one of the wonders of the world, but all the while missing out on what makes the travel through a place the essence of travel in the first place.
I am one of those people who for sure that missed out on some great cultural opportunities because I was uninformed, didn't do my homework, and felt that it was better to be on guard and mistrust people rather than trust in the culture I was seeking to experience in the first place. Dang.
Well, Surprise! Surprise! Panama City just happens to be an exceptional city, and one that is impressive to spend some time exploring. Obviously, you already know about the canal but what's also really cool are the ruins, the ease of travel through the city, the kindness and happiness of the people, and the infrastructure that makes it so easy for global travelers.
Of course, every city has its danger zones and travel comes with inherent basic travel safety, but not every city has ancient ruins that you can touch, walk into, take a picnic, and learn about, right there in the middle of it's crazy city center. Panama does, and it's beautiful. Actually, Casco Viejo is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen.
Back in the early 1500's, Spanish Conquistadors built Panama Viejo, the first European settlement in Panama which is in the middle of the bustling city of Panama City. After pirate attacks (yes, for real - pirates) and fires, what was the original settlement was relocated about 8km away to what is now called Casco Viejo and is the historic district of Panama.
Both of these place (yes, there are two awesome historical areas) have since become UNESCO Heritage sites and are inspiring to take time to walk through, learn about, and marvel in their rustic beauty all the while having the ability to get a shaved ice drink, dine in an exquisite restaurant, or purchase authentic artisan crafts, with incredible historic ambiance.
So, what it comes down to is when you are booking your flights to come visit us in Morrillo, go ahead and consider taking a bit of extra time to experience what makes Panama City a really interesting city and a great introduction to this amazing little country.
So seriously, let's talk about when you're coming to visit. It's time. Let's do this. Let's bring the world of travel back to life. I know you're ready and we are listening. We would love to hear from you.
Your Friends in Morrillo, Cari and Ryan Mackey Owners and Hosts Morrillo Beach Eco Resort