点评:Casco Viejo means “Old Helmet” due to the shape of the small peninsula shaped like a helmet, much like Florida’s upscale Boca Raton means rat’s mouth in Spanish due to the shape of the narrow bay. Although the “Old Helmet” name remains, it has morphed into a loose translation of Old Town. Actually, Casco Viejo was the location of the new capital, after British naval commander Morgan razed Panamá Viejo in 1671. Now, the gleaming skyscrapers of “the Dubai of Latin America” is the new city viewed from Casco Viejo.
Although narrow sidewalks, brick/cobble streets and tripping hazards make for difficult walking, the “Old City” is about a mile long and half that wide. The streets are lined with hotels, restaurants, and gift shops with cheaply made but expensive trinkets. Several parks or plazas add greenspace to drab concrete. Several museums and churches offer an education about Panamá’s history, especially the impact of the Canal, for which a museum across from Plaza Cathedral is dedicated to the history and importance of the Canal.
Casco Viejo is one of the walled cities in Latin America, though many of the structures are in sad disrepair. This is a excellent weeklong getaway, especially in winter.
翻译:Casco Viejo 的意思是“旧头盔”,因为这个小半岛的形状像头盔,就像佛罗里达州的高档城市博卡拉顿在西班牙语中是老鼠嘴的意思,因为海湾形状狭窄。虽然“旧头盔”这个名字仍然存在,但它已经演变成老城区的粗略翻译。实际上,Casco Viejo 是新首都的所在地,1671 年英国海军指挥官摩根将巴拿马维耶荷夷为平地。现在,从 Casco Viejo 可以看到“拉丁美洲的迪拜”闪闪发光的摩天大楼。
虽然狭窄的人行道、砖石街道和绊倒危险使步行变得困难,但“老城区”大约一英里长,一半宽。街道两旁都是酒店、餐馆和礼品店,里面有廉价但昂贵的小饰品。几个公园或广场为单调的混凝土增添了绿地。几座博物馆和教堂提供巴拿马历史教育,尤其是运河的影响,广场大教堂对面的博物馆专门介绍运河的历史和重要性。
Casco Viejo 是拉丁美洲的城墙城市之一,尽管许多建筑都年久失修。这是一个绝佳的一周度假胜地,尤其是在冬天。