Vigan

History. Culture. Food. A laid-back life.

That’s how I see this World Heritage Site up north. Considering that it has the easiest (but longest) access from Manila without getting flights, this place has been sitting in my bucket list for a long time. I know. I’m weird.

So, this sort-of unplanned trip (it was DIY – we agreed on dates, plan a, b and c on places to stay, bring enough money and just take it from there with no advanced reservations and itinerary) happened last weekend. Me and my friend Anna B (met her on IMO) agreed to meet in KFC Ali Mall – Cubao; had breakfast – their coffee sucked bigtime, btw and met Lian (another friend from IMO) and chatted away until it was almost 10am or something. So much for wanting to leave early.

Walked a few blocks over to Partas bus station, settled and waited until the bus for Laoag was on the boarding bay. Fare to Vigan costs PhP665 (around $15.40). It took almost 10hrs to get there and a sore butt. My battery survived the trip, was alternating between music and going online and we arrived in Vigan 10mins past 10pm on Friday, Oct 18.

We hired a tricycle to take us to Grandpa’s Inn, our first choice for lodging. Plan was to check for vacancy. If there is, we check-in. If not, go to plan b – and since it’s not peak season (never do DIYs on one), we were able to get a standard room at the inn for PhP1780 ($41.23) per night.

We went out in search for food. Seen Calle Crisologo for the first time, but stores were already closed so we walked and explored out further. Seen a 7-Eleven and went in to check if they have their usual rice meals, headed back out when we didn’t like the choices. Asked a tricycle driver to take us to a 24hr eatery and that’s when we came upon Kuboville and tasted my first bagnet :-). Went back to the inn and slept. I think I snored.

Woke up at 8am-ish, took our breakfast (included in room rate) and had my first taste of Vigan longganisa :-).

Plan for the Day: explore what Vigan has to offer without being pressured for time.

We walked and browsed Calle Crisologo’s shops. Bought stuff. Antiques and wood furnitures were awesome! I wanted to buy lots, but couldn’t.

Visited the mansion where they keep Pres. Elpidio Quirino’s memorabilia

Padre Burgos’s Memorabilia

Saw an old phone

The abaca weavers

The bellfry

And had lunch at Hidden Garden

Food was sinfully delicious so we had to sleep it off (hehe). We woke up too late for the “fountain lights show” at the plaza so we decided to just drink but ended up with beer and pizza in Cafe Leona but soaked in Calle Crisologo’s nightview :-D.

Everything closes down at 11pm so we went back to the inn and decided to pack and sleep early.

Woke up the next day, had the same food for breakfast and bought longganisa and bagnet for pasalubong. Bus left for Manila around 11am, was quiet empty and we took lots of selfie pics (utter failure – not good at selfie pics) and slept most on the way.

What’s next? I’ll ask Anna B. This time, it’s her birthday trip 🙂

More facts about Vigan, check here
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