The American tropics; . down its restoration is now nearing completion, al-[137] The American Tropics though the contrast between the old and thenew is quite apparent. There are two main squares or miniatureparks, ornamented profusely with tropicalplants and trees, the Plaza de la Cathedraland the Plaza Santa Anna. The former is inthe center of the city and is surrounded bythe Cathedral, the Bishops Palace, theground floor of which is occupied by theoffice of the Panama Lottery Company, theGrand Central Hotel, City Hall and Admin-istration Building of the Panama Canal, to-gether wit
The American tropics; . down its restoration is now nearing completion, al-[137] The American Tropics though the contrast between the old and thenew is quite apparent. There are two main squares or miniatureparks, ornamented profusely with tropicalplants and trees, the Plaza de la Cathedraland the Plaza Santa Anna. The former is inthe center of the city and is surrounded bythe Cathedral, the Bishops Palace, theground floor of which is occupied by theoffice of the Panama Lottery Company, theGrand Central Hotel, City Hall and Admin-istration Building of the Panama Canal, to-gether with several banks. Of course thePlaza has a band stand where a fine bandplays Sunday evenings—^it would not be trueto the traditions of tropical America if it didnot. Another land-mark, the pride of the mu-nicipality and the Kepublic, is the Govern-ment Building which commands a beautifulview of the bay and surrounding hills. Inthe south-western part of the city there isan old sea wall or rampart now utilized as a [138]. A Midwinter Cruise promenade, which commands an outlook ofdistinctive beauty. It overlooks the townwith Ancon Hill in the background and theazure green of the Pacific, dotted with islesand lazy going sail, spreading its peacefulwaters to the limit of vision. To gain an idea of the life of this mostcosmopolitan city, which on the completion ofthe great inter-oceanic waterway will be-come the Mecca of tourists, one should attenda promenade concert at the Plaza of a Sun-day evening, and later, if occasion offer, aball at the Commercial Club. Being moreaccessible, society is more cosmopolitan thanin Caracas. The native ladies are more inevidence than is usual in the City of Mexico,but otherwise it possesses the general charac-teristics of the Latin race. Little drunken-ness is seen among the natives, but rumrivals malaria among the foreign wines and beer are not easily obtained. Commercially, Panama is the most inter-esting place we had visited. From
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