Sunday Church Phot-o' the Day: Altar de Oro, Iglesia de San José; Panama City, Panama

The Iglesia de San José, in Panama City's Casco Antiguo neighborhood, is an historic church built in the 1670s. The church otherwise may be modest, but there is one thing about it that is not, in the least bit, modest. It is the Altar de Oro, or the Golden Altar.

The church is located in the Casco Antiguo neighborhood of Panama City, Panama. This is the "old town" neighborhood not far from the downtown. This is not to be confused with "Panama Vieja," the original human settlement on the Isthmus of Panama, located near Panama City's International Airport (which must be how those first human habitants got there), which is just archaeological ruins that are in a very ruinized state. Casco Antiguo is not in ruins. It has historic architecture combined with restaurants and nightlife. It's the Panama City version of the French Quarter, but without the stench.

Visited November 2013.

Phot-o' the Day: Plaza Simon Bolivar; Casco Antiguo, Panama City, Panama

Casco Antiguo, or "Old Quarter," is the "Old Town" of Panama City, Panama, the historic downtown core. It is not to be confused with Panamá Viejo, the really old "Old Town," the ruins of an indigenous settlement that pre-dated the arrival of the Spanish by a long time.

Today's "Phot-o' the Day" is Plaza Simon Bolivar, with the historic San Francisco de Asis Church in the background (left) of the statue at the center of the Plaza. Every city in Latin America has a Plaza Simon Bolivar and every city in Latin America has a San Francisco de Asis church, usually in close proximity. Usually close enough to get both in a single photo frame.

Visited November 2013.