Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Mexico & Central America (https://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-and-central-america/)
-   -   Panama itinerary questions (https://www.fodors.com/community/mexico-and-central-america/panama-itinerary-questions-142724/)

bellaboo Jan 7th, 2008 02:09 PM

Looks Great!

We just returned from Panama and are probably going back for our 3rd trip in March.

Question.....All the abandoned(but still new looking) buildings along the Amador Causeway are from what?

I told my husband that maybe they were old canal admin. buildings from when the US was in control f canal...?

We were intrigued.

cmcfong Jan 7th, 2008 02:22 PM

Most of the buildings in Amador were military housing and admin offices.

You might want to check out www.czbrats.com a site maintained by two women (one a third generation Zonian) who grew up there and are literally a font of information. Lots of miscellaneous stuff there to engage you.


shillmac Jan 7th, 2008 02:54 PM

Great sites, cmcfong-thanks!

bellaboo Jan 7th, 2008 04:03 PM

By the way Cmcfong....this is actually "faithie", you've helped me in the past. (last years Panama trip)

I've been on that site before, it's interesting, Thank You!

It was strange because all these buildings, parking lots are abandoned and overgrown but everything else is maintained.... but it's as I suspected.

cmcfong Jan 7th, 2008 06:46 PM

Hola Faithie. I didn't realize that was you.
If you went into the town of Balboa you probably saw the main admin building for the Canal operations. It is a great big building with the typical red roof on top of a hill in the center of town. Under the heading of "who cares, cmcfong?" add we used to slide down that hill on cardboard boxes, major sport for us!
Buen viaje.

cmcfong Jan 7th, 2008 06:56 PM

Shillmac, I topped a couple of old nuggets.

bellaboo Jan 8th, 2008 03:46 AM

That is cool! I'm sure you have lots of great stories....

It is certainly an interesting area filled with lots of history. We did see that building a few times, impressive. We saw the church, toured up Ancon Hill, saw some beautiful older mansions in that area as well as the older wooden canal lodging.

We love Panama!

This time we were in the Chiriqui area on Isla Boca Brava.

TomMiller33760 Jan 8th, 2008 12:54 PM

I understand taking the train across is a wonderful trip.

My wife and I are planning to go to Panama in March or April for a week or 10 days. I went to the 4th, 5th and 6th grades at Diablo Height Elementary School in the ‘50s and lived in Curundu, so I’m interested in seeing some of the places I remember.

We are interested in historical sights, shopping, the canal, the San Blas Islands, maybe a little eco-touring — no beaches or snorkeling. I doubt if my wife is interested in spending days at the San Blas Islands, so we may take the Embera Village Tour.

I'm wondering how many excursions we can arrange once we're there.

cmcfong Jan 8th, 2008 01:15 PM

Tom, would you have graduated from high school in 1964 by any chance?

You will find that you can arrange excursions once you arrive.

Many of the old quarters have been refurbished and are being sold. The homes on Quarry Heights are now embassies! You need to check out www.czbrats.com that's a couple of Diablo girls running that website.

Buen viaje.

TomMiller33760 Jan 8th, 2008 01:25 PM

No, I graduated from HS in '60. We lived in Curundu and my mother worked for the army. I think she regretted ever leaving.

cmcfong Jan 8th, 2008 01:34 PM

That makes you two years older than the girls who run that website. You might recognize some of the contributors. Check it out.

shillmac Jan 8th, 2008 02:13 PM

Thanks, cmcfong!


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 05:12 AM.