Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/510262
DREAMSCAPES SPRING/SUMMER 2015 52 the trolley at any of the scheduled stops on either route for 24 hours. So, a ticket purchased at 2 p.m. on one day expires at 2 p.m. the next day. Earphones are provided along with a map. On board, audios recorded in six languages explain what we are seeing en route. We opt for the Canal Route, which includes eight stops: Parque Urraca, just a couple of blocks from Calle Uruguay, a key destination for visitors; Mi Pueblito, a village depicting three Panamanian cultures; Albrook Mall; Ciudad del Saber, a cluster of academic organizations; the Panama Canal; the colourful Biomuseo designed by Cana- dian architect Frank Gehry where we learn about the origin of the Panamanian isthmus and its impact on the Earth's biodiversity; Isla Flamenco, a tourist haven at the end of the Amador Causeway, which unites the mainland to four small islands that once guarded the Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal; and Casco Antiguo. Also known as Casco Viejo (Old Town) or San Felipe, Casco Antiguo is the historic dis- trict of Panama City. Designated a World Her- itage Site in 1997, it preserves the first institutions and buildings of Panama. Here, we explore a number of churches, the gov- ernmental office and residence of the President of Panama, the Panama Canal Museum, Palacio Bolívar, the National The- atre of Panama, several plazas and plenty of shops and restaurants. My husband is on the prowl for an authentic Panama hat and finds one to his liking for US$25 from a street vendor. It's hot so we duck into a shop only to find a maze of merchants selling everything from jewellery and art to leather goods and more Panama hats. We leave with three painted canvasses in hand. It's mid-afternoon when we locate our perfect waterfront table at the charming El Bistro de Paula Nani where we thoroughly enjoy fresh seafood choices and linger over refreshments. It's been a long, exhausting but memorable day. We look forward to our cocoon back at the Hard Rock Hotel for some well-deserved relaxation. T R A V E L P L A N N E R Copa Airlines (copaair.com) offers scheduled non-stop flights from Toronto and Montréal to Panama City. All-inclusive VIP packages at the Hard Rock Hotel Panama Megapolis include drinks in participating hotel bars (limited menu applies); meals in participating hotel restaurants (limited menu applies); free Wi-Fi Internet; a US$25 matchplay casino coupon (per room, per stay) for Majestic Casino; and a discount pass- book for Multicentro Mall. For more information and applicable rates, visit hrhpanamamegapolis.com. DS TOP TO BOTTOM: Without doubt, Panama City has the most prominent skyline in Central America. The 16 th - and 17 th -century Spanish and French colonial architecture in Casco Antiguo is one of many reasons to visit this UNESCO World Heritage Site. The colourful Biomuseo was designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry. V&V Hospitality & Media Services