Page 88 - The Rough Guide to Panama (Travel Guide)

86 Panama City DIRECTORY
1 Casa Latina Panamá Av “A” at C 5, Casco Viejo T228 Wtreasuresofpanama.com; map p.56. Beautifully
9828; map p.56. Very pricey offerings, of exquisite quality: crafted gold and silver reproduction pre-Columbian and
the absolute very best of Panamanian handicrafts as well Spanish colonial jewellery. There’s another branch at Av
as beautiful Peruvian alpaca knitwear. Daily 10am–7pm. Samuel Lewis on the corner with C 54, Obarrio (T269
Centro de Artesenías Amador Causeway, south of the 0457). Daily 9am–6pm.
Centro de Convenciones Figali T314 1439 or T6674 La Ronda C 1, Casco Viejo T211 1001; map p.56.
3071; map p.54. The pick of the craft markets, selling Excellent selection of arts and crafts at Casco Viejo prices.
hammocks, molas made into place mats, basketry, earrings, Daily 9am–7pm.
glasses cases and the like, as well as offerings from other Latin
American countries. Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm. BOOKS
Galería de Arte Indígena C 1, Casco Viejo T228 9557; Gran Morrison Vía España, next to El Rey supermarket,
map p.56. The best selection of Wounaan and Emberá El Cangrejo T202 0029; map pp.62–63. This small
basketry in the capital at suitably elevated prices, alongside department store has a reasonable selection of English-
high-quality tagua and cocobolo carvings. Daily 9am–8pm. language books on Panama. Mon–Sat 9am–6pm, Sun
Mercado de Buhonería y Artesanías C 24 Este, just 9.30am–6pm.
off Plaza Cinco de Mayo; map pp.62–63. A series of STRI Earl S. Tupper Research Centre Av Roosevelt
bright-pink shipping containers, housing craft stalls selling T2212 8029, Wstri.si.edu; map p.69. The Smithsonian
Panama hats, Guna molas, tagua carvings and the like. bookshop stocks an excellent selection on wildlife, ecology
Mon–Sat 9am–5pm. and environmental issues in Spanish and English. Mon–Fri
Reprosa Av “A” at C 4, Casco Viejo T228 4913, 10am–4.30pm.
DiRECtORy
Embassies and consulates Australia – refer to the Immigration The immigration office (migracíon) is at Av
embassy in Mexico (Wmexico.embassy.gov.au); Canada, Ricardo J. Alfaro, Tumba Muerto (Mon–Fri 8.30am–3.30pm;
Torres de las Américas, Tower A, 11th floor, C 53 Este, T507 1800, Wmigracion.gob.pa).
Punta Pacífica (T294 2500, Wcanadainternational.gc.ca Internet Many public places are free wi-fi hot spots,
/panama); Colombia, Edif. Oceania, Torre 2000, 17th floor, provided you register your laptop. Most hotels and hostels
Punta Pacífica (T264 9513, Wpanama.embajada.gov.co); also offer free wi-fi, at least in the foyer; they also often have
Costa Rica, Torre BICSA, 30th floor, Av Balboa (T264 2980, a PC or laptop for guest use. The city also has a sprinkling of
Wembajadacostaricaenpanama.com); Ireland, Honorary internet cafés, notably along Vía Veneto in El Cangrejo and
Consul, Torre Delta, 14th floor, Vía España (T264 6633, Parque Santa Ana, near Casco Viejo (usually $1/hr).
Eirishconsulatepma@gmail.com); South Africa, Edif. Money If you need to change currency, head for Panacambios
Plaza Guadalupe, fourth floor, Oficina 404, C 50 at C 69, San (Mon–Fri 8am–5pm; T223 1800, Wpanacambiossa) on the
Francisco (T226 2559, Ejmantovani@westmar.com.pa); ground floor of Edif. Plaza Regency on Vía España; alternatively
UK, Humboldt Tower, fourth floor, C 53, Marbella (T297 RedPlus (Wgruporedplus) has branches in the Albrook,
6550, Wgov.uk/world/panama); US, Av Demetrio Basilio Multicentro and Multiplaza shopping malls.
Lakas, Clayton (T317 5000, Wpa.usembassy.gov). Pharmacies Farmacias Arrocha (Warrocha.com) is the
Health Excellent care is available in the public and private largest chain, often open 24hr, with huge branches in Albrook
sectors, with many US-trained and English-speaking staff. Mall and in front of the Hotel El Panamá on Vía España. The
Recommended public hospitals include Hospital Santo large 24hr supermarkets also have pharmacy counters.
Tomás, C 34 Este at Av Balboa (T227 4122, emergencies Phones The main Cable & Wireless office (Mon–Fri
T507 5600) and Hospital Santa Fé, Vía Simón Bolívar at Av 8am–6pm, Sat 8am–4pm) is on Vía España, next to the
Frangipani (T227 4733, Whsantafe.com). Good private National Bank and Plaza Concordia. It has comfortable
options include Clínica Hospital San Fernando, Vía España, facilities to make international phone calls, as do some
Las Sabanas, next to McDonald’s (T305 6300, Whospital internet cafés (see p.47).
sanfernando.com) and Centro Médico Paitilla, Av Balboa at Police Policía de Turismo, Vía España opposite the Riande
C 53 (T265 8800, Wcentromedicopaitilla.com). The Hotel Continental (T269 8011) and Av Central at C 3, Casco
Centro de Medicina Natural on C 42 Este at Av Mejico, Edif. Viejo (T511 9261).
Guadalupe (T225 0867) offers natural and traditional Post office The main post office is opposite the Basílica
treatments. For a dentist, try Clínica Dental Fábregas Don Bosco, on Av Central, between C Ecuador and C 34 Este.
(T399 4251) in Hospital Punta Pacífica or the Eisenmann Other convenient branches are in Plaza Concordia (below
Dental Clinic (T269 2750), C 53 at Av Samuel Lewis. Staff the Hotel El Panamá), in El Cangrejo, and in Balboa at the
at both speak English. end of the Prado on Av Arnulfo Arias Madrid.

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