Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ern city. As the centre of activity outside the city walls in the early nineteenth century it hos-
ted colourful markets and bullfights; now it offers some respite from the swirling traffic, and
is often populated by many of the locality's older residents, discussing the latest news. The
pedestrianized section of Avenida Central starts on the park's northeastern side, where a row
of shoe-shine booths provides another social focus.
Central Panama City
In contrast to the relative calm of the city's historical centre and ancient remains, the
modern
city
streets of
central Panama City
reverberate with traffic noise and pavements are packed
with people squeezing in and out of the patchwork of shops, banks, hotels and restaurants or
threading their way through street vendors, hawkers and other shoppers. Wedge-shaped cent-
ral Panama City arguably stretches 3km round the Bahía de Panama, from Avenida Central
and Plaza Cinco de Mayo - home to the central government buildings - to Punta Paitilla,
encompassing the older residential and commercial districts of Calidonia and La Exposición,
fanning out to include Bella Vista and the newer, plusher financial districts of Marbella and
El Cangrejo.
