Fuerte San Lorenzo

As promised yesterday, here are some photos taken at Fuerte San Lorenzo (St. Laurence's Fort) which was one of the forts which were used by the Spaniards in Panama to protect against pirate attack.  These forts certainly had a good deal of success but, I suppose inevitably, the couldn't stop all attacks.  While this fort was never, as far as I can ascertain, ever overcome by an attack, some pirates did manage to slip by.

It was past this very port, in fact, that Henry Morgan, the famous Welsh pirate entered the river from the Atlantic Ocean and proceeded via Lake Gatun to attack the original city of Panama (see Panama Viejo in another post).

Fuerte San Lorenzo is, even today, surrounded by forest.  In those times it must have been an impenetrable jungle and it is difficult to imagine what it must have been like for the soldiers garrisoned here - extremely hot, wearing armour, jungle right up to the edge of the fort, and total isolation.  It must have been a very difficult posting indeed.

Thanks to them, however there remains a substantial site of great historical interest.  Enjoy the photos...Oh, and by the way, the Atlantic is really quite warm in this part of the world - a far cry from Dollymount!!!
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Part of Dry Moat surrounding the fort

Cannons

Bridge over moat and guardhouse

Parade ground visible through archway

Rooms carved in to the rock

The "warm" Atlantic Ocean

Stairway down to sea from where the fort would have been accessed

Captain Morgan made his approach through this river

Even though cut in to the rock the rooms are cool and dry - very pleasant really

Beach with brown sand - surrounded by jungle

To me this looks like it could read ER - would make it a

 captured English cannon