Posted in Photography, tagged Children, Cinta Costera, Coastal Strip, Entertainment, Panama, Photographs, Photography, Playgrounds, Sports, Tourism on June 19, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
Snapshot of a kid playing soccer in a children’s playground at the newly-built Cinta Costera (Third Phase). In another part of the city, the third phase is still under construction. This will be the last addition to the Coastal Strip, one of the hottest attractions of the city. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Posted in Miscellaneous, tagged Cinta Costera, Gardens, Green Areas, Panama, Panama City, Photographs, Photography, Recreation, Relaxation, Tourism on June 17, 2013 | 2 Comments »
Snapshot of the green areas of the Cinta Costera in Panama City, Panama. Being a tropical country, green abounds during the rainy season. It’s very refreshing to the eye, specially during a rough day in our daily rat race schedules. For those who work, that is. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Posted in Photography, tagged Cinta Costera, Dogs, Panama, Panama City, Pets, Photographs, Photography, Recreation, Tourism, Woman on June 15, 2013 | Leave a Comment »
Snapshot of a woman walking a miniature dog at the Cinta Costera in Panama City, Panama. This is the main recreation spot for residents of the metropolis. Lots of ample spaces to walk, jog or play next to the Pacific Ocean. An arctic cat watches the scene. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Posted in Photography, tagged Cinta Costera, Dawn, Panama, Panama Bay, Pelicans, Photograph, Skyline, Sunrise, Tourism on April 30, 2013 | 3 Comments »
Snapshot of the first lights of the day by the Panama Bay in Panama City, Panama. The construction line in the water, is the third and last phase of the Cinta Costera (Coastal Strip) being built even as we speak. If you look closely, you will find a clump of pelicans near the middle of the picture. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Posted in Miscellaneous, tagged Cinta Costera, Coastal Strip, Communications, Gardens, Green Areas, Highways, Lush Vegetation, Panama, Panama City, Parks, Tourism on October 15, 2012 | 4 Comments »
During the last three decades Panama City has changed dramatically. It is almost a totally new city changing every day before our very eyes. We have the most modern and highest buildings in Central America. Many of our visitors say that Panama City is the Miami of the Americas and this is true.
Our highways are also being repaired and others are brand new. Such is the case of the Cinta Costera or Coastal Strip in English. The first phase of this important coastal highway was built by the Martin Torrijos Administration. The project was inaugurated on Sunday, June 28, 2009. The coastal high speed highway was so successful that Ricardo Martinelli decided to build a second and third phase. The second phase is finished and the Ministry of Public Works is presently working on the third phase which should be finished sometime next year.
Snapshot of a diagram of the third and last phase of the Coastal Strip. You can take a car from Tocumen International Airport and drive to the countryside, via the Bridge of the Americas, without having to struggle with the downtown traffic. It’s a lot faster and saves fuel. Credit: Impacto de Estudio Ambiental; Infografía La Prensa.
The third phase consists of a marine viaduct and landfill bordering on the area of San Felipe, also known as Casco Viejo or Old Shell. The project also includes, besides the road interconnection, three other components: a pedestrian walkway on Avenida Pablo Arosemena and two landfills—one in front of the Presidency and another next to the Avenida de los Poetas, to be used for parks and parking, which together account for 10.6 hectares of new space taken from the sea. (See diagram above).
The marine viaduct will have a length of 2.8 kilometers and it covers an area of 6.68 hectares, including a link on the first phase of the coastal strip. It will be 200 meters from the wall of the Casco Viejo (Old Town or Old Shell).
Inspired by the “Aterro do Flamengo” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the coastal strip features large green areas, trees and tropical plants and flowers to adorn the beautifully landscaped gardens. Bordering the bay from Punta Paitilla to Casco Viejo and providing an enjoyable contrast of the modern city on one end, with the colonial buildings surrounding the oldest part of town on the other end.
I went to the Coastal Strip specially to take photographs of the modern installations to share them with you at Lingua Franca. I was there Sunday—at daybreak—in an effort to enjoy the morning light, perfect to take good pictures. These are the gardens located near the Casco Viejo, the oldest and historic part of Panama City.
Snapshot of gardens built on top of a landfill near the Casco Viejo which is part of the second phase of the Coastal Strip in Panama City. This area was once part of the Panama Bay, thus “gardens in the sea.” Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Opened in June 2009, the coastal strip extends along Balboa Avenue, one of the most important roads in Panama City, with six lanes for traffic, three in each direction to ease the smooth flow of vehicles, and there are two viaducts and several places to make a U-turn.
It is an ideal place for recreation in full harmony between nature and the growing metropolis of the capital, designed to provide a healthy distraction in a beautified environment.
If you are tired of blinding blizzards, rough hurricanes, sleek ice, gray skies and below freezing temperatures, come on down to Panama, and enjoy the pleasures of friendly people, white-sand beaches, and year-long springlike temperatures. Good Day.
Additional Reading: The Green Strip Bordering the Panama Bay – Lingua Franca
Posted in Photography, tagged Cinta Costera, Lamppost, Panama, Panama City, Photographs, Photography, Tourism on August 18, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Snapshot of a lamppost at the Cinta Costera (Coastal Strip) in Panama City, Panama. This section of the metropolis is rapidly becoming one of the most visited areas of the city both by locals and foreigners. Photo by ©Omar Upegui R.
Posted in Miscellaneous, tagged Buildings, Casco Viejo, Cinta Costera, Panama, Renovation, Structures, Terraplén, Tourism on February 27, 2011 | 5 Comments »
The Terraplén was once one of the busiest places in town. It was the entrance to the public market where you could find almost anything you wanted, specially food from the countryside. If you bought fish, several persons at the Terraplén would shave the scales away and remove the guts. It was a beehive full of noise, merchandise movements, crowded bars, housewives buying food or sailors getting ready to sail away to Darien. In a nutshell, the Terraplén was a place of excitement.
Now the Terraplén is gone. Only the memories remain. The construction of the Cinta Costera got rid of the place. If our grandfathers, who must be playing on a moving white cloud would return to Earth and visit El Terraplén, they would think they landed on another country. The entire area looks totally different. When I went there about a month ago, I couldn’t believe my eyes. The change was incredible.
Below are several pictures of how the area looks now. Compare it to the Terraplén of your memories and you will see the dramatic difference. Yep, Panama is changing very fast as it races to join the countries of the First Word. Here we go.
This building was part of El Terraplén. It now looks a lot different to the old section of the city familiar to our parents, specially our grandfathers. Winds of change are blowing over Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Renovated area of el Casco Viejo adjacent to the Cinta Costera. This area was previously known as El Terraplén. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
A black and white picture of the renovated area of Casco Viejo where the Cinta Costera was recently extended to the borders of Casco Viejo. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
The same snapshot, but in color. I wanted to compare both versions. I like the black and white better, maybe because it evokes the past better than color. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
A landscape view of the buildings flanking the expanded Cinta Costera. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
A neat row of renovated houses which have replaced the old Terraplén. When I was there, for a brief moment, I thought I was in another country. The placed looked so different from the Terraplén of my memories. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Snapshot of a renovated section of Panama City where the nostalgic Terraplén was located. Progress removed it from the city map. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Snapshot of an apartment building alongside the newly extended Cinta Costera in Panama City, Panama. Take notice of the balconies which are used to enjoy the soft breeze softly wafting from the ocean during the late afternoons and evenings. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
A different perspective of the modernized area of the old Terraplén which is now a highly visited tourist site in Panama City. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
If sight-seeing, architecture, and traveling is your cup of tea, please come again tomorrow for more exiting pictures of this amazing place in the middle of the world called Panama. I’ll be waiting for you right here at Lingua Franca. Good Day.
Posted in Miscellaneous, tagged Buildings, Casco Viejo, Cinta Costera, History, Old Houses, Panama, Terraplén, Tourism on February 26, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Without hesitating one iota, I would say that the Casco Viejo is the soul of Panama City. It’s where the country was born. It’s here where the Presidency of the Republic is located and where the official ceremonies of the nation are carried out. This is where the Metropolitan Cathedral displays its solemn structure. Casco Viejo and the Republic of Panama are one. When you walk through the narrow streets covered with red bricks, you can feel History resonating inside the walls of its old buildings. This is where “the walls come down and the soul comes into view.”
Below are several scenes of Casco Viejo which reminds us of how it was when our country was young, vigorous and full of hope for a better future. We’ve come a long way, but there’s still much to be done. Here we go.
Picture of an old wooden building at Casco Viejo. Soon it will be purchased and modernized adding prestige and charm to the area. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
An iconic site in Panama City, known as "La Bajada del Ñopo" or "Calle de la Chorrera". Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
This famous street is located at 12th Street East between Avenida B y Avenida Norte. A charismatic man called, don José López, who was deeply loved in this section of the city was called “El Ñopo” which means white man with blonde hair—fulo.
Picture of a group of early birds at el Casco Viejo one early Sunday morning. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Picture of the old shell of Panama City next to where the Cinta Costera was recently extended. This area is scheduled to be renovated as well as the rest of the Casco Viejo. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Picture of one of the oldest bars in Panama City---La Interiorana. It's located at The Terraplén which is being modernized with a brand new highway known as the Cinta Costera. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Picture of the exterior of another famous bar at El Terraplén. It was the favorite spot for the sailors who sailed to Panama City from the Province of Darién. The name of the bar is "La Bocatoreña". Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Another view of the picturesque bar called "La Bocatoreña" at The Terraplén next to the Cinta Costera. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Posted in Miscellaneous, tagged Cinta Costera, Coastal Strip, Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement, Panama, Police Department, Security, Tourism, Trucks, Urban Development on February 8, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Soon after the inauguration of the Cinta Costera during the administration of then President Martín Torrijos, the government of Panama discovered the project had become an immense success. People gathered at this hot spot in swarms in an effort to breathe fresh air and exercise their bodies. It was exactly what the city dwellers had waited for decades.
To protect the goose that laid the golden egg, the Ministry of Public Works requested the Police Department to designate a special force to protect the area against potential crimes. Many tourists feared visiting the area during the evenings thinking they could be mugged by thugs. To avoid this from happening, the Police Department flexed its muscle and organized a special unit to take care of the Coastal Strip. To this day, it’s one of the safest areas in Panama City.
While the duathlon was in progress, I took a couple of shots of some of the resources the Panama Police has allocated to the Coastal Strip to prevent potential criminal incidents. When I saw it, the movie Universal Soldier starring French actor, Claude Van Damme, came to my mind. The police truck certainly looked intimidating. Take a look.
Part of the resources used by the Panama Police Department to protect the visitors of the Cinta Costera in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
This large truck is used as a portable jail and small office used by the Panama law enforcement officers to protect the visitors of the Cinta Costera. I noticed it had an air-condition system working inside the small office. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
This is the final post on the series of the Cinta Costera or Coastal Strip in English. I’m currently preparing a new series of photographs on the renovation of the old shell of the city commonly known as Casco Viejo.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing the pictures of the new face of Panama City which is rapidly transforming into a modern cosmopolitan city in Latin America. Good Day.
Posted in Miscellaneous, tagged Cinta Costera, Competition, Contest, Duathlon, Finish Line, Panama, Running, Sports, Tourism on February 7, 2011 | 2 Comments »
The first and third leg of a duathlon is running as fast as you can, as if you’re trying to catch the wind. The third running leg is the final part of the competition. The first one crossing the finish line, gets the golden medal—the only one that really counts for an athlete.
Yesterday I posted several pictures of athletes riding their bicycles. Today the images are about the competitors running as swift as a gust of wind. All the friends and relatives were rooting for their loved ones as they approached the finish line; it was a very emotional scene.
This is what came out of my Birthday camera. Here we go.
Snapshot of a duathlon competitor warming up for the competition. Photo ©Omar Upegui r.
Photograph of a duathlon athlete approaching the finish line at the Cinta Costera. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Image of a running athlete participating in a duathlon competition in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Two competitors are running as fast as they can to cross the finish line. I liked the Santa's cap on one of the runners. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
A feminine athlete completing the final leg of a duathlon in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
This athlete can't wait to finish the race. It was very exciting to watch them compete at the Cinta Costera in Panama City, Panama. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Like in auto races, this woman flags when the athlete has completed the last leg of the competition. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
Image of the finish line or "Meta" in Spanish. It was an emotional experience to watch the different athletes completing the event with a face of total satisfaction. Photo ©Omar Upegui R.
