 |
| Login Form |
|---|
| Big Flag, Big View - Ancon Hill |
|
|
|
| Written by Adam Scragg | |
| Wednesday, April 02 2008 | |
 (Note: This article was submitted to our Weekend in Paradise Contest, for a chance to spend a luxury weekend at Tranquilo Bay eco lodge in Bocas del Toro; See here for rules and to submit your own article!!!) Its steep slopes are largely free of development allowing the jungle and wildlife to flourish, an oasis of nature rising from the surrounding city. The hill stands inside the old Canal Zone and when the land reverted to Panama the huge flag you can see today was flown from the top as a symbol of their sovereignty. I've always liked the hill, on a sunny day with the flag flying in the wind it's an impressive sight, but it's only recently that I've taken the opportunity to visit the top. I'm not alone in this, many in the city have never taken the time to go to the summit and that's really a shame because it's such a beautiful spot. It's possible to drive almost all the way up, a single track road winds its way up the hill offering tantalizing glimpses of the city through the gaps in the vegetation as it climbs towards the small parking area near the summit. The viewpoint closest to the parking area looks out over the canal, both the Miraflores and Pedro Miguel locks are visible, and in the distance is the entrance to the Culebra Cut. It's a great place to get an understanding of the canal's overall scale, something that can be missed at one of the more usual visits to see it up close at the locks. Climbing the final few meters of the hill towards the flagpole leads to the second viewing area. The panorama from here is just spectacular; the whole city and the Pacific Ocean spreads out in front of you, in one glance you see the old and the new, the rich and the poor. To the right is Casco Antiguo, below you Chorillo, and to the left the bay leading into the high rises of the financial district and Punta Patilla. It's like having Panama on a plate. The real beauty of the view is that the hill is so close to the built up urban areas that on a bright clear day it almost feels as if you are standing amongst the sky scrapers. With views like this, Ancon hill is a photographers dream. There are some great possibilities from both of the viewing areas but particularly so from the city side. Standing back you can take in almost the whole city in one frame and with a decent zoom you can get up close and personal to the buildings of Casco Antiguo. I first ventured up the hill at the start of the year and since then it's become one of my favourite places in the city. Each visit is a treat and no two are quite the same as the light and visibility mix in a myriad of ways to vary the view. It's rare to find a location that combines manmade and natural beauty like this and the simple effort of taking a trip to the top is richly rewarded. |
|
| Last Updated ( Monday, August 11 2008 ) |
|
|
|
Contact Us | Sitemap
Copyright © 2009 The Panama Report - Panama Real Estate All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. |