Looking up in Panama City
- Dec 12, 2015
- 2 min read
Panama City's F&F Tower looks rather like a drill bit.
My first day in Panama City I saw an interesting twisted high rise building and as soon as possible got closer for a better look. As a centre for banking, commerce and tourism, Panama City is full of towers in both business and residential areas.
View of business district from Cinta Costera, the road along the Pacific.
City towers from Cinta Costera parkland.
Not all Panama City's multi level buildings are shiny and new. There are several very poor neighbourhoods including this area between the city centre and the canal zone.
Apartment blocks in El Chorillo neighbourhood.
I have also enjoyed looking up at the sky from the outdoor swimming pool at the apartment where I am staying. In mid November I saw several flocks of raptors passing overhead. They must have been the tail end of the annual migration. There is an annual raptor count and on November 2, 2014 a record 2 million raptors were counted passing over Ancon Hill at the Pacific gateway to the Panama Canal. http://smithsonianscience.si.edu/2014/11/panama-shatters-raptor-migration-record/
The view from the apartment swimming pool.
There are still a few raptors circling overhead but my host says they are vultures looking for mangoes. One day in Casco Viejo, the historic district of the city, I spotted a vulture in a window in one of the abandoned buidings.
Vulture in abandoned building in Casco Viejo.
A few raptors circle in this photo of my favourite Panama City highrise.
Although the night sky has often been cloudy due to high humidity I was pleased to see the last full moon, both at night and in the morning. I have seen a few stars including Orion, my favourite constellation, which has been visible most places in the world I have travelled.
Night view of residential towers.
Finally, Panama City is a city of frequent fireworks. I often hear them. Last night I saw a great display at a Christmas celebration in the local park.
Fireworks in the park.
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