Panama City unfolded as a place where global history and daily life intersect at a remarkable scale. I began at the Panama Canal, taking a full tour that revealed the engineering brilliance behind one of the world’s most important waterways. Watching two yachts and a massive cargo ship rise and fall through the locks made the canal’s complexity feel very real. Completed in 1914, the canal reshaped global trade by connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and permanently altered Panama’s place in the world.

Nearby, the Bridge of the Americas stretched across the canal’s Pacific entrance. Built in 1962, it symbolized the first permanent road connection between North and South America, a powerful reminder of Panama’s geographic importance. From there, I headed into the historic district to Independence Square, where Panama declared independence from Spain in 1821. The square remains the heart of civic life, surrounded by stately colonial buildings.

The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Santa Maria the Ancient stood prominently nearby. As one of the oldest cathedrals on the Pacific coast of the Americas, its white stone facade and twin towers reflected centuries of faith and continuity. Inside, the quiet space offered a contrast to the bustling streets outside.

At the Panama Canal Museum, I gained deeper insight into the canal’s long and difficult construction, including the thousands of workers who lost their lives to disease and harsh conditions before modern medicine made completion possible. Walking through Plaza de Francia and along Paseo de Las Bovedas, the remnants of colonial defenses and sea walls spoke of piracy, trade, and empire.

I paused at Plaza Simon Bolivar, honoring the leader who envisioned a united Latin America, before heading to the striking BioMuseo. Designed by Frank Gehry, the museum celebrates Panama’s role as a biological bridge between continents. The day ended near the large Panama sign, where the skyline met the sea and the past met the present in quiet reflection.