Ilocos Sur: All Around Vigan

It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Though we just stayed in Vigan for eight hours only but it was a well spend eight hours. We arrived at two in the afternoon then had our lunch in the not so usual Spanish type Jolibee store. Kudos to the local government for keeping the town in it's original way. We headed first to Baluarte ( Gov. Chavit Singson's private zoo that is open to the public - will make another blog post for it). Then after Baluarte, we went to see one of the oldest church in the north, St. Paul's Cathedral where our friends had their mass. And since we don't do mass, we decided to tour around Calle Crisologo, which is famous for their cobblestone houses, by riding a "kalesa" (horse-drawn carriages) that costs a hundred bucks for a thirty minute ride around Calle Crisologo with the "manong" as the tour guide that barely understands Tagalog or English, we just made the most out of the tour by satisfying our eyes with the view and appreciating the 18th Century Spanish establishment that we had seen around and just laughed at our luck for having a guide that can't understands us. I just hope that not all "kalesa" drivers are like that. The tour had a quick stopover in the local pottery shop, on where you can buy souvenirs  And at seven in the evening, usually after the church's mass, in the town's plaza, there was a dancing fountain show, it was beautiful, actually it was the best dancing fountain show I've seen so far...with it's colorful lighting that changes color in an instant, water that looks like there dancing and singing unto you, plus the energy and the excitement of the crowd, both locals and tourists, it was so special and perfect..we told ourselves nga na it was the perfect way to end our Ilocos Region tour. 

St. Paul's Cathedral and the Dancing Fountain in the Park

If your planning to visit Vigan, I recommend that you visit it at night because the town is at its best at night, especially Calle Crisologo, the yellow light that lights the street adds more effect to the famous cobblestone houses that makes you feel like your walking in the alleys of the 18th century  minus the crowd of course.  It gets touristy at night. 

Around Calle Crisologo at Night

Tourists everywhere.

It's like in the movies, so surreal. Walking around Calle Crisologo made me feel like I am in the streets of Spain...Oh wait...I was never been to Spain! hahaha, but really, our picture did not do justice in what Calle Crisologo looks like at night, it's more than that...So, when your around Ilocos Sur, don't forget to take a look at this hispanic heritage town that will surely take you back in time.

                                                                               Xx, Ypai