Back in Time at Vigan

Time is standing still
After staying a  night in Laoag, we took a bus going to Vigan. The three hour ride weaving thru the Ilocos countryside was definitely a joy ride for us. As soon as we arrived in Vigan and stowed our things at our hotel, we went to Cafe Leona for our early lunch. After the lunch we decided to stroll Calle Crisologo - a city built in 1572 by Spanish conquistador Juan de Salcedo. 
Being the only surviving heritage city in the country, Calle Crisologo has been inscribed  in UNESCO World Heritage Site and Monuments in 1999. This ancestral district is actually  named after Mena Crisologo, a signatory of the Malolos Convention and the first governor of Ilocos Sur.  You’ll be drawn to a sense of nostalgia as you pass by these  line of Spanish-era houses and cobblestone streets. And the abrupt sharp sound of kalesas going back and forth adds up to the element that you are actually way way back in the Spanish  time. 
Nowadays these  old houses have been converted to mostly shops that sell Ilocano delicacies (bagnet, bibingka,empanada etc), antique  furniture,  and souvenirs like fridge magnet and shirts.

Vigan souvenir shirts

One does not simply walk into Vigan
There is no doubt that Vigan is rich of stories in  the past.  From the famous people (Leona Florentino, Padre Burgos and Elpidio Quirino to name a few)  to some historical events like the 1807 Revolt and of course the grandest showcase of Philippine‘s architectural heritage . There’s simply a whole lot of reason why you should definitely visit Vigan in your lifetime. A better way to take a tour of Vigan  is to hire a horse-drawn carriages/kalesa . Yes it’s a bit pricey for some (150/hr) but it’s definitely a must try when you go to Vigan. 

Here's a glimpse of our Vigan tour: