Ilocos Trip 2011 with Dad - Vigan

We took Partas Bus. It's the best, anyway. 

The Dad and me.

You leave Cubao Terminal at 1030 PM and sleep the trip off. 

Then when you wake up at 730 AM, you'd be in Santa, Ilocos Sur. It's just like riding a chartered plane. Oh well, just because when I wake up I'm in my destination already. 

An hour later, a family member picks you up in time for Vigan longganiza breakfast. Life is fabulous...

After all the getting-to-know-you with family, because it was 

The Dad's first time, we headed out for some touring around Vigan.

This is how Calle Crisologo really looks like, no frills, The Dad not inlcuded in the package, of course (LOL).

So you won't get surprised, when you get there, and go, 

"Oh hey this is it???"

         It's important to remember these houses or 

Bahay na Bato  have been here since the 1800's. 

Now, that's the reason why it's a Heritage Grantee. 

We'll have some artsy shots later, like all tourists try to get, calesa and all.

Leona, of Cafe Leona. 

 

Cafe Leona is the home of the infamous Pakbet Pizza.  

It's nothing spectacular. Actually, I thought it was an epic fail, shhh - and I am Ilocano.

The Bagnet Pizza was also nothing to rave about.

Though, you could try, so you cold say, you have tried them. 

You'd do well to stick with local fare =)You'd do really well.

Vigan Plaza Hotel - Governor Chavit Singson's Hotel.

That's the hotel's special calesa, in its attempt to provide a similar NYC-Central Park horse carraige experience, without costing you 200 dollars. 

The Vigan Church 

The Dad, the tourist, so obvious, LOL.

not as old as the Paoay Church, but similarly historical, not only because this was where the Crisologo patriarch was gunned down, 

 but because this was (and still is) the 'Main Church of Vigan,' where the Ilustrados (the residents of Bahay na Bato) of earlier times used to go for Sunday worship. 

Famous Bantay Bell Tower

Please prepare donation money for the the upkeep 

of the Bantay Parish Church.

Make this part of your Kalesa ride. Like the last, maybe, so you get to the church in the afternoon, at sunset.

The view from the Bell Tower is just spectacular.