retablo

our Panagbenga trip also allowed me to have a more intimate tour of Vigan (my first was just to have 5 pics taken in Crisologo St., and buy longganisa)!!! actually, Baguio became the side trip, as Cath and I had a blast in Vigan. although it took almost 4 hours (due to the congested streets of Baguio… Panagbenga nga eh!) to get to Vigan from Baguio, the trip was worth it.

upon deciding that we'll stay in Cordillera Inn, we took to customary picture-taking sessions right away… too excited to catch this UNESCO World Heritage site under the lights! the first few shots were blurry, as the photographer (Cathy) was jumpy and afraid that we'll miss the lights! but as we settled in and took the Ilocos almost-summer breeze, Vigan cobblestone street pics became better. a not too out-of-the-ordinary dinner in Chowking might had done its magic, who would've thought?!!






after a sampling of Pinoy breakfast, off we went to what would turn out to be a 3-hour calesa tour of the entire Vigan. we got to see the Crisologo museum, pagburnayan, Chavit's Baluarte (got the tinubong and kalamay from here), simbahan ti bassit, Vigan's secret garden and the glorious Bantay belfry that became a lookout tower during the Japanese occupation. this calesa trip was definitely a welcome delight. (",)










an imposing bahay na bato, our stay in Cordillera Inn completed the colonial air of the whole trip. huge retablos, santos, mirrors, ancestral round tables, populate the first floor main lobby. the third floor has a ballroom and the rooftop provides a good viewing platform of the entire old town. one minus factor 'though was the earsplitting old-tech aircon of the room, hehehe!

after buying all the pasalubongs (longganisa, royal bibingka), getting my native hamper, and Cathy getting a bitter taste of my temper, we got to Partas bus and braved an almost 9-hour drive to Pasay terminal. next UNESCO world heritage site, please!