AN AFTERNOON IN CASCO VIEJO

Last year, in November while we were in Virginia, Thea sent me an email asking if Ray and I had interest in going to The Pearl Islands.  She had included in the email different places to stay, dates to travel and things to do.  Of course, we wanted to go to Contadora!  We had yet to see this part of Panama.  The Pearl Islands are a group of two hundred or more islands (or islets) thirty miles off the Pacific Coast in the Gulf of Panama.  Isla Contadora has thirteen beaches, an airstrip, three restaurants, two welcome/visitor centers, a school, and no ATMs.  We used VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) and stayed in a villa next to The Point Resort on Playa Galeon.  This beach is good for swimming and supposedly snorkeling (I saw a few fish, but honestly didn't spend a lot of time in the water here at this beach).  From the resort, we could have rented paddle boards, kayaks, snorkeling equipment and more.  This is where the ferry, Sea Las Perlas, arrives and departs daily.  https://www.sealasperlas.com 

 With the ferry departing daily at 7:30 am, the group decided to stay at Country Inn Amador Causeway in Panama City the night before our trip.  http://www.countryinns.com/panama-city-hotel-pa-8001/pancanal
 Because it was a holiday weekend and we wanted to beat the vacationers out of the interior back to the ciy (!), we decided to leave the area before noon.  We arrived first to Casco Viejo in perfect time for a quick bite at a quaint deli and store called Super Gourmet.  A wonderful deli with sandwiches, salads, all day breakfast and chocolate!  I told Ray it reminded me of a cafe and bakery in Colonial Williamsburg, Aromas, that we would eat at with our daughter when she was away at school.

Casco Viejo is the historic district of Panama City.  It was established around 1673 by Spanish Colonists, the Catholic Church, and other settlers.  It is one of the richest and most densely populated neighborhoods in Central America.   Some buildings are being beautifully restored and others are housing poor families and probably squatters (people that occupy buildings they do not own). After eating lunch, we shopped and browsed and spent just a little bit of money on water cooler bags, purses and a hat for me ($10 bargain!).   I have only toured Casco Viejo, so, on this day, it was nice to enjoy a quiet lunch, wander leisurely through the stores, and then stop for a beer and watch a football game (Packers beat Dallas) while swinging the day by at Finca del Mar restaurant.

Selfie stick in use at Super Gourmet

Cool wall in Casco Viejo

Behind these sculptures was Las Bovedas restaurant.  Will go back and dine here some day--this used to be a holding cell for prisoners and slaves.  It truly resembles the dungeon it once was in Casco Viejo.

Ruins of church 

Finca del Mar for drinks and rest

New Panama City behind us as seen from the Old City.

Once we checked into the hotel, we decided to take a short break and then dine at TGIF's.  The restaurant is attached to the hotel.  Ray and I have eaten here before, and it hasn't changed a bit.  The service was still so slow, and the food was not quite average.  But from the hotel accommodations that we were given along with seeing the Silver Seas cruise ship and many others boats pass by from our balcony,  free cookies, tea and coffee offered at the reception desk and breakfast that was included the next morning, it was all just what we needed for an overnight stay before boarding the ferry from the Balboa Yacht Club.

And so the trip to Contadora begins from the marina on the Amador Causeway to the waters of Playa Galeon.  In one hour and fifteen minutes (because we were on Island Express 3), we would arrive to Contadora.  One more day of retirement behind us with a mini-vacation coming right up!