Panama, Casco Antiguo
San Felipe
For such a small country,
Panama
is suddenly surrounded by heavy players. On one hand, the Panama Canal expansion project
will cost over $5 billion dollars, and on the other hand, big guys such as Hewlett
– Packard, Caterpillar, the Swiss Sanofi- Aventis, Procter & Gamble and Sinope
from
China
have either expressed their interest of moving headquarters here or are actually doing
so.
Panama has always benefit from its strategic location but for such a small country
and considering the volume of business these group of companies bring together or
individually to the table this will have a huge positive repercussion.
Suddenly, airlines that had left the country before such as KLM are flying back to
Panama
again, re opening direct flights to
Amsterdam
. Banesco, the Venezuelan bank, has recently jumped into the Panamanian pool, probably
looking for safer waters.
Now, what does all this has to do with Casco Antiguo?
It so happens that most of these companies are basing
in the former
Canal
Zone
, which is 5 minutes away from Casco Antiguo! Casco Viejo suddenly becomes a wonderful
choice for future employees and executives to live in.
A central point between their jobs and modern
Panama
, they can have it all within a few minutes. It is extremely easy to go back and forth
to the Canal Zone, we do it often to go jogging at the Causeway,
Administration
Building
(great “steps” workout!) or to run to the top of Ancon Hill. Back
“home” they would have a handful of good lifestyle choices, since some of the best
restaurants, café’s, bars and theatres are based in Casco.
Location, location, location!!!