Walk into the cobbled alleys of the past.
Now you know where the Vigan name came from.
***
The bus from Laoag to Vigan takes approximately about 2 hours more or less therefore we arrived late in the night. My body was too tired from all the adrenaline action at Paoay that I had to be a killjoy and slept the night away right away. I have to tell you that it was also the night we got acquainted with a real bed after nights of sleeping in bags. Sorry but I couldn't resist the little comforts budget packing could afford. But I still miss the sleeping bags though, haaanesly!
The call time with our guide was 11am, so we woke up late, took our time with the real shower, hovered over the television then walked a bit at calle Crisologo.
True. It's really picture perfect.
Even the most ordinary thing could be picturesque.
Even when ice cream is all you have for the props.
There's actually more to Vigan than just the famed Calle Crisologo. There is Chavit Singson's very own backyard zoo @ Baluarte.
A lot of imported animals running around. Camels, ponies, ostrich, sheeps, tigers etc. etc. Animals that only money could buy.
The main attraction has got to be the tiger though, Singson's very own personal pet. So snob and elegant it's scary. Though not as scary as that snake wrapped around motha's scared frozen smile. I have to give it to Singson for not collecting fees though, after all what does he need money for? It's very ideal for families and kids. Like my niece would surely go crazy here, especially when since she's so into those ponies... at the mall.
I lied. We really were in Australia...looks like. Wish it were true. ;)
At the Crisologo museum another museum where we just can't help but leave our breeding at the door step .
Crazy girls should be banned from museums!
But from time to time we also know how to act uhmmmm normal...semi-normal.
But the crazy just really gets the better of us.
I love us. I love museums. I love us in the museums.
haha.
Seriously speaking, Crisologo museum is a house very well preserved. Family mementos and antiques are spread everywhere. What's inside speaks a lot about the family who resided in here, after all they were prominent political figures. But more than anything else it's really their library that impressed me, it speaks volumes of the patriarch. And I like what it speaks.
Next stop... getting our hands dirty @ Tagburnayan Pottery
Did you know that in order for the mud clay to be very fine, smooth and sticky, that carabao chilling in there had to step on it for a thousand times just to get that kind of consistent quality. Holy carabao! You deserve your chill.
Pottery making... well it's not as easy at it seems. But if I were Demi Moore in Ghost with a Patrick Swayze body wrapped around me, I'd probably get the hang of getting my hands dirty. wink! ;)
And that's how they do it.
Off to last stop of the day @ St. Augustine Church
and the Bantay Belfry
Like any other tower you'll have to climb a flight of twirling stairs before you reach the top. It's also from the top that you can see most of Vigan but more that it's where you can get great poses and shots.
Again and again excuse us and our affair with the camera. It's not vanity but the camera just can't help itself. It loves us and for that we love it back. Make love to camera dahlings! fakers! hahaha
Vigan at night has a different aura. Different ambiance. There's that romantic side to it that brings you back to the past.
It may not be the city of lights but the lighting certainly does have its charm.
Just makes you wanna cozy it up with your chums.
By the end of the trip I can just say that yes, my butt had squatted in the middle of the UNESCO heritage, and for that it's happy ;)
****
empanada = P35
ice cream = P10
Green R hotel (P950/4) = P240
kalesa tour ni kuya norbert (P700/4) = P175
lunch Hidden Garden (P530/4) = P132.50
Tagburnayan pottery making (tip = P100/4) = P25
Mcdonalds for snacks : P55
Dinner at CAfe UNo = P90
Vigan to Baguio (Partas fare) = P324
ROUGH INVESTMENT: P 1,086.50
;)