Vigan, Ilocos Sur Feb 08

It's been a while since I have taken pictures focusing on architecture alone.
In Vigan, I had a great time taking shots of the roads and these walls.

We went to Vigan after Baguio's Panagbenga festival. Kami lang ni Jub ang dumiretso while the rest of the group stayed in Baguio. It took the bus nearly 1hr to leave Baguio because of the festival's heavy traffic. The Partas bus from Baguio to Vigan cost Php200. The trip took more than 4hrs excluding Baguio's traffic. At Vigan, Jub and I headed to the Tourism Center since it was still open at 7:30pm. There they had a map of Vigan and we got ourselves a brochure of the place. We sought for a hotel and found ourselves renting at the Cordillera Inn directly along Calle Crisologo. Nice! The twin beds, bath, cable TV, and free breakfast for 2 cost us Php1500 overnight. Check-out was at 12nn the following day.

We immediately took pictures of the place. Went back to the hotel to recharge our batteries then left again around 11pm to take some more pictures. Fortunately, they don't close the lights along Calle Crisologo so we were able to take some more shots without that many tourists doing their nightly walks.












































The following day, we rented a kalesa. Think it was the best way to go around town. Rent per hour was at Php150. In 3 hrs, we were brought to 6 different sites. Was suppose to be 7 but we had to check out of the hotel and catch our bus. The P Burgos Museum was closed so we headed on to the Bantay church. It had a bell tower which turned into a watchtower during the war. Our kuchero told us this was the shoot site for FPJ's Panday. Then, we went to this place were pots were being made. Am thinking it was the Pagburnayan. Then, it was the Simbaan a Bassit or the Camposanto. Interesting thing about this place is that it is said to be the only chapel in the region that has an espadaña hung with bells. I like the fact that you can view the cemetery from the chapel's windows. Look to the left, look to the right. Woohoo! Puro mga nitso!! :D Then we went to the Crisologo's house and to Governor Chavit's Baluarte. Last stop was the Hidden garden. These sites have no entrance fees. They just ask for donations. It's also cool to greet people with a smile. They're quite friendly.

Additionally, other sites like the PBurgos Plaza (think this was where Gabriela Silang was killed), the Arzobispado (the only surviving 18th centru arzobispado; served as headquarters of Gen. Emilio in 1889), and the St Paul Cathedral are very near Calle Crisologo. Lakad lang :D

Aside from Malapascua Island and Sagada which both ranks first on my list. I'm ranking Vigan second among the places I've visited.
By the way, you can tour the place in half a day. It's a great side-trip.