Especially in dense cities, it is not uncommon to have certain buildings painted with bright colors in order to stand out. Whether it is the entire building front or just the doors and windows, it is a way to make a unique statement in an otherwise homogeneous landscape. A lot of the time it is a business that is trying to draw your attention, but a lot of the time is a residential home where the owners simply expressing their uniqueness. We enjoy seeing these buildings during our travels and often take photographs of them even though they aren’t of any historical significance. Here are just a few of the colorful buildings that we have seen during our travels.
Colorful Doors and Windows in an Irish Seaside VillageColorful Building with Canal ViewsInteresting Color Patterns in La Paz, BoliviaColorful Architecture in BratislavaColorful Buildings of ReykjavikColorful Doors in Old Town Alexandria, VirginiaOne of the Many Colorful Buildings in New Orleans
While nothing can ever replace experiencing a location for yourself, there are many places that offer people the opportunity to take virtual tours. In this digital age with advanced technologies, companies and museums are able to take hundreds of photographs and combine them together such that all of the people are removed and you can explore the location as if you were completely by yourself. Especially in today’s world with limited travel opportunities, it can be a way to continue to discover new places.
The Parthenon in the Acropolis of Athens, GreeceStanding in Front of the Louvre in Paris
Generally speaking, we have only used virtual tours prior to going to a location in order to give us a sense of what we might see when we get there. No virtual tour can truly give you a sense of the size of location or let you see it under specific circumstances like at sunset. As much as a virtual tour might let you walk in the Acropolis in Athens or stand before the Great Pyramid in Giza outside of Cairo, going there yourself is always going to be a better experience.
The Great Sphinx Walking the Vatican Museum Halls
Of all of the places that you can see using a virtual tour, museums are probably the best experience. You can stand in front of your favorite painting for as long as you want or walk around a famous sculpture without having to maneuver your way through the crowds. In many cases, the images of the artwork are almost as good as seeing it for yourself. It still won’t truly give you a sense of the overwhelming sense of walking through museums like the Louvre, the Vatican Museums, or the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, but it is better than flipping through pages in a book.
The Mona LisaEnormous Statues Inside the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
In the same way that many of us grew up reading articles in National Geographic or watching travelogue shows to get us excited about traveling, future generations will like take advantage of virtual tours to control the experience for themselves. Hopefully it will serve as inspiration and not a replacement to the actual experience itself. What are your thoughts on virtual tours, would you recommend them to others?
You Can’t Virtually Ride a Camel at the PyramidsWe Were Very Happy to Visit the Acropolis
Panama is such a beautiful country with many wonderful sites to visit and growing ecotourism opportunities. It is a narrow country with the Atlantic Ocean on one side and the Pacific on the other, making it a strategic location that has been sought over by various countries throughout history. Today, it has its own independence and the people are very proud of their heritage and mindful of their history. Panama City is surrounded by jungles and mountains with strict restrictions on where populations can reside, so it is a city that is growing higher rather than growing wider. It is the perfect location to stay and to take advantage of all of the opportunities to take day trips to see the amazing locations that the country has to offer. These are the places that we visited and things that we did during our one week trip to Panama a little over a year ago.
Ruins of Fort San Lorenzo
Fort San Lorenzo – One of the most famous historical sites in Panama, Fort San Lorenzo is certainly a must to see when going to Panama City. It will bring visions of swashbuckling pirates when the ships travelled through the region loaded with riches. You also travel through a national forest on your way to visit the fort with plenty of wildlife to be found.
Cargo Ships Waiting to Enter the Locks
The Locks of the Panama Canal – The canal is still the greatest source of income for the country of Panama, but ecotourism is certainly on the rise. Watching the giant ships maneuver through the enormous locks as water rises or lowers to allow them to get from one ocean to the other is truly amazing. It is also important to understand the impact of building the canal on the country’s history and its people.
Beautiful Streets of Casco Viejo
Casco Viejo – If you go to Panama City, it is important that you take time to visit Casco Viejo, which is the historic district in the city. Originally established in 1673 by the Spanish, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a variety of historic buildings, churches, restaurants, shops, and hotels. As you walk the streets of Casco Viejo you will find a wonderful mix of architecture that spans the almost 350 years of its history.
Adorable Baby Monkey
Monkey Island(s) – Located on Lake Gutan, which was created by damming the river to allow the large ships to make their way to the canal, are a series of islands that were created as a result of the flooding. The small monkeys were trapped on these tiny islands that were at one time just hilltops in the jungle. Although we generally don’t agree with humans feeding wild animals, it is actually the only way that these monkeys can survive. But make no mistake, they are still wild and can be unpredictable.
Traditional Dance and Music in the Emberá Village
An Emberá Village – Visiting an indigenous village is always fascinating and if you go to Panama City there are tours that will take you to an Emberá village. The Emberá people are tribes that live in the Panama rainforest and still keep their traditional lifestyle. They make a living by hosting tour groups and selling their native crafts which include wood carvings, basket weaving, and jewelry. You can find these crafts being sold in Panama City, but purchasing them in the village will ensure that the money spent goes directly to the families that created them. They are very proud of their traditions and are happy to share them with the people who visit their villages.
The Trail in the Metropolitan National Park Takes You Above the Canopy
The Metropolitan National Park – Located within the city limits of Panama City, the Metropolitan National Park is a wonderful way to escape into nature without having to go far. After spending several days on boats going from one region of Panama to another, visiting the park was a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon. In addition to seeing various wildlife, you will also have the opportunity to see amazing views of the city itself.
Mixed Seafood in a Curry Sauce
The Food of Panama – As one can imagine, seafood is an abundant option since the country sits between two oceans and the Caribbean sea. The food has also been influenced by the Spanish people who occupied the country, the French who started to engineer the canal, and obviously the United States as well. There are many wonderful restaurants to choose from throughout Panama City, but especially within Casco Viejo.
There are certainly other places to see during a trip to Panama, but these locations will give you an interesting sense of the entire country. The culture, history, and natural beauty of Panama are truly fascinating. Although we spent a week in Panama, it is certainly worth more time if you have the opportunity.
