Panama & the ABC Islands '23: Day 1

CASCO VIEJO, PANAMA CITY

Ok, now I’m in vacation mode. Sitting in the lobby of our nice hotel in Casco Viejo (also known as Casco Antigua) enjoying a cocktail after a nice nap. Our Hotel (Central Hotel Panama) in the Plaza de la Independencia is a restored 19th-century, French Colonial-style building and has the feel of another era. One could imagine a time with only ceiling fans and no AC, cigars smoke and wealthy guests lounging in the lobby. The large windows face out to the public square with the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria on the opposite side. Street vendors hawking souvenirs and restaurant tables hiding beneath makeshift tents. We had a front row view of the brief but heavy tropical downpour from our comfortable seats, cocktails in hand!

Unlike all our previous trips to Panama, we are staying in a hotel while in Panama City. It’s really nice for a change to just walk around this historic district that is gradually being restored with nice hotels and restauarants after a long period of neglect. It used to be an area you didnt visit at all, and even now there are a set of city blocks that visitors should stay within for their safety though the president's residence is now here. For anyone visiting Panama as part of a longer trip, this would be a fun place to visit for a couple days.

Earlier in the day Rosa brought us to Lo Que Hay! - really good - sort of a Panamanian tapas place. Not fancy but great food, trendy fusion style and delicious. It seems to be the place to eat right now. In the evening it was rooftop cocktails sort of a combo party, as Poncho's daughter Alexa turned 30 and wedding guest also in the hotel. Fun but a loooong wait for our caipirinhas.

Lo Que Hay! - Panamanian Tapas