Above we see one of Colon's best known landmarks, the patio entrance to the Hotel Washington. On my previous visit, more that one year ago, the premises didn't look nearly as good as they do now. The hotel is promoting itself as the "NEW" Hotel Washington and has been spruced up for hordes of centennial-year tourists.

Conspiracy theorists may make what they will out of this, one of the newer bank branches in Cristobal. What it's all about is China's increasing profile as a world trading power and the importance of Panama's ports and the Colon Free Zone to China's exports to Latin America and the Caribbean.

In the background we see one of the brighter spots in Colon's generally dismal economy, the rise of cruise ship tourism.

The equipment is old, but the bomberos are bold: Colon's firefighters, a largely volunteer force built around a core of professionals, do their Sunday morning practice in the Cristobal port area.

So you thought that Colon City housing is all slums? WRONG! The ports and the Free Zone have created a demand for upscale housing, some of which is being built in the one-mile-square city center.

Some of the old wooden houses that date back to the New Cristobal enclave within Colon City stand among the newer structures.

Some of the houses on Colon's northeastern beach are truly luxurious.

The Cuban embassy and the municipal government spruced up this boulevard with a monument to José Martí. For another perspective, see the Arts section.