8 
Panama Government’s beautiful big SANTO TOMAS 
HOSPITAL, the GORGAS MEMORIAL LABORATO¬ 
RY for the study of tropical diseases, and the attractive 
new UNITED STATES EMBASSY building. Beyond La 
Exposition are other suburbs, VISTA DEL MAR, BELLA 
VISTA, LA CARRASQUILLA, and LA CRESTA. This 
is the finest residential section of the city and contains 
many beautiful homes. La Cresta, which is also known as 
Duque Heights, is well worth a climb to the top row of 
houses for the view. 
OLD PANAMA 
Seven miles from Panama City on the Sabanas Road are 
the RUINS OF OLD PANAMA. After passing the sub¬ 
urbs, JUAN FRANCO RACE TRACK, which operates 
horse races on Sunday and holiday afternoons, is on the *\ 
right. The PANAMA GOLF CLUB is situated among 
rolling hills, and beyond is a new sub-division, known 
as Golf Heights. SAN FRANCISCO DE LA CALETA, 
once a native village known only for its beautiful beach, 
is rapidly assuming the proportions of a properous suburb. 
Beyond are two more; Parque Lefevre and El Coco. 
The ruins are carefully marked. They comprise, for 
the most part, churches and monasteries. The remains of 
two bridges and a great hollowed-out stone for grinding 
corn may also be seen. The impressive sight of the ruined 
Cathedral tower is recommended on a moonlight night. 
If, instead of turning off toward Old Panama, you stay 
on the main road, the towns of JUAN DIAZ, PACORA, 
and CHEPO may be reached. The country you will pass 
through is dotted with the summer homes of wealthy 
Panamanian families, many of which are now being used 
by Uncle Sam’s defense forces. The Pacora and Chepo 
Rivers, with their numerous sand-bars, are popular 
bathing spots. These towns are not suburbs, but rather 
impart the flavor of the native villages in the interior of 
the country. They may be reached easily by bus or chiva. 
9 
Sightseeing in the Canal Zone 
Generally speaking, the Canal Zone is a strip of land 
extending five miles on either side of the center line o e 
Canal, from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans. Although 
within the five-mile limits, the cities of Panama and Colon 
are specifically exempted from the jurisdiction oi the 
United States. The terminal ports of the Cand are Balboa 
on the Pacific side and Cristobal on the Atlantic side. 
The two other points of the triangle of which Panama 
City forms the apex are the Zone towns of Balboa and An¬ 
con, Pacific terminals of the Canal Zone. They are con¬ 
nected by Balboa Heights, the houses of which wind up 
and down the lower slope of Ancon Hill. The houses in 
these towns, as elsewhere in the Zone, are laid out in 
typical American smalltown fashion, each with its own 
yard, and distances are correspondingly great. 
ANCON was laid out by the French Canal Company 
in the 1880s, which accounts for its narrow winding stieets. 
The TIVOLI HOTEL is here, as well as the Clubhouse, 
Commissary and Post Office which are found in every Zone 
town. Just across Fourth of July Avenue from Panama s 
National Institute, and up the hill on Columbia Koa , 
is the DISTRICT COURT, a stone building originally 
designed for the Governor’s House. Just above the Court¬ 
house is HERRICK ROAD, where the doctors have their 
homes, and from which one of the finest views of the harbor 
and Panama City may be seen. 
Returning on Columbia Road, which winds into Gorgas 
Road, turn left and go uphill past GORGAS HOSPITA . 
This road is noteworthy for the archway of royal palms 
planted by the French, which, because of their age, have 
reached a great height. Many beautiful flowering bees 
and shrubs are to be seen, among them banyan, bamboo, 
and a magnificent breadfruit tree. At the summit is the 
GOVERNOR’S HOUSE. This house, and those ol the 
officials of the Civil Government which surround it, were 
first built at Culebra and Empire, in the center of the Canal 
Zone, during construction days. When the Canal was 
finished they were transferred to their present locations at 
Balboa Heights. 
