Ruins (Casco, Viejo, Panamá

Parts of an older part of Panamá are still standing in an area called Casco Viejo (Old Quarter). If you’d like to learn what Panamá Viejo is and how these ruins came to be, click here. Otherwise, the remainder of what you’re about to read is based on my observation about these remains.

Some remains are clearly of historical significance. Meaning, the ruin must’ve been a church or something else important like the one below. Its stature and insignia make this clear.

@kwotedbykegarland

However, in Casco Viejo, the area where our Airbnb is, ruins still surround us. They seem to be of little importance, yet still standing, as if someone forgot to knock down the rest of the building.

When we sit on our terrace, we face a huge long mural honoring Victoriano Lorenzo. Right next to the mural, there is the front of what used to be a building. There is gray cement where windows once were and an iron fence where some old woman probably used to sit and watch passersby. Beneath that, there are what used to be doors, but now they are bricks. It’s very poetic.

If we look to the left, the stand-alone front of the building below stares back at us. I guess it used to be attached to something, but now all you can see are trees growing behind empty windows.

@kwotedbykegarland

Anywho, like much of Panamá, I find this to be both interesting, weird, and haunting. It’s like someone left remnants of buildings to remind citizens of what used to be and also because, maybe they can’t afford to knock them down? I don’t know, but here are a few more for your enjoyment.

• 

• 

• 

• 

©2021 Ruins Casco Viejo, Panamá.