History of Panama

Panama City is an international melting pot and its eating choices range from American fast food to excellent international cuisine.  Eager to begin our sightseeing, we grabbed lunch at a nearby Donald's after checking in then caught a bus.  The buses in Panama are a tourist attraction in themselves.  They are brightly painted, hung with fringe, and have constantly   blaring Salsa and Caracas music playing.  They are cheap (50 cents a ride). but are very crowded.  After asking several drivers "Donde   vaeste autobus?" we finally found one going to the Plaza Independencia.  This plaza is the main square of the colonial town and is bordered on one side by a cathedral with twin mother of pearl towers that took 108 years to complete.  On two other sides it is bordered by the Archbishop's Palace, now a university and the Central Post Office.  While in the old part of Panama City we also visited the Iglesia de San Jose and saw the Golden Aaltar.  This altar was in the original Panama City and was saved from Henry Morgan's pirates by a monk who painted it black to disguise it.  When we finished touring we returned to our hotel and then ate dinner at El Pez de Ora, one of the city' famous seafood restaurants.