One day we decided to go to Fort San Lorenzo. It is a place we remembered visiting when we were kids (my older sister) or remembered seeing in pictures (me). It's the site of an old fort that was built in the 1500s to protect the area from pirates and marauders. The info on the signage there says that ironically, this fort was attacked often. The ruins that are still there now are from the 1700s. They are crumbling and needing to be held up with supports. Apparently Panama is looking for someone who can help restore/maintain the ruins so that they don't completely collapse. Anyone know some experts?
I have scanned some of our parents' old slides. This picture is in about 1951, the family visiting Fort San Lorenzo. Even the signs have changed, as it was owned, at the time, by America but is now Panamanian.
us at the current sign in 2020
In 1950s, the ground was messy and bumpy.
Now it's much more grass-like and appears easier to walk on.
my brother, his friend, and my two sisters in 1950s
me, 2020
Our parents took this from the fort.. it shows where the Chagres River meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Here we are in the same spot, 67+ years later. It was awesome and emotional being in these old spots that our parents lived and moved. They would be so pleased to know that we got to go back and learn about our first home. The next pictures are from our recent visit.
The visitors' center there is new, and one must now pay to get in. I feel sorry for the people who work there, because the road into the fort is long, VERY bumpy, full of potholes.. our driver had to dodge and swerve around all the big holes.. quite a physical feat just driving us in and out of there. Can you imagine commuting on that road every day?
More about Panama in my next post or two.
2 comments:
LOVED seeing the childhood photos and the today photos. So cool.
Thanks for sharing with us!
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