I've never been to Miami but many people compare Panama City to it. The waterfront is full of new construction condo skyrises, of course with Mr. Trump owning the largest at over 70 stories. It is a modern city with the influence of the United States control of the canal, yet it keeps its roots as a colonial Latin America city.
During a tour of Vasco Vieja we wandered through the Plaza Mayor and around the old city wall. This neighborhood is a UNESCO heritage site so currently you see a mixture of old buildings with graffiti, no windows and falling apart and next door might be a recently restored building that looks like it would be on a quaint cobblestone road in Europe.
A highlight of the tour was visiting the Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores- Palacio Bolivar which is equivalent to our state department. The President of Costa Rica was present as they were having meetings to discuss security on their border. We then were given a brief tour (something our guide had never had in his 4 years) of the building and upon signing a book that only VIPs and foreign politicians sign (Biden recently signed) we were brought into a room to see a replica of the gold sword of Bolivar. He was given this sword for leading Panama to independence.
What a special day exploring the Vasco Viejo- historical old town of Panama City.
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