The continuation of our calesa tour in the heritage city moves forward to these itineraries that truly made us like kids playing and laughing happily!
4. Bantay Bell Tower – no entrance fees just donations. This is Vigan’s pretty neighbor and Bantay’s landmark. They say that aside from Calle Crisologo, your trip to Vigan is incomplete if you missed out this place. We just love this place to the point that my blog post will get longer if I were to describe in details how much we enjoyed visiting it, starting from it’s ground up to the top of the tower!
puuuussssh!
2nd level to the tower. . .
gate on the way to the top. . .
hooray..the Bantay Bell!
5. Cristy’s Loom Weaving – no entrance fees,but they have a souvenir shop so it’s a bit awkward if you don’t buy even just a small amount of item haha. I only get to watch this before in travel shows, but now, I was able to see it real and get to experience how to do it as well.
i got shy to pose here..awkward 🙂
6. Hidden Garden – no entrance fees. With it’s motto “Discover the Place”, this place really is a hidden garden right after the long and winding road! It’s a small garden wherein you can dine, relax, etc. Â It’s also an events place especially for wedding, literally on our visit, there was a couple whose about to be wed.
make a wish spot
7. Baluarte – thanks to Mr.Chavit Singson no entrance fees. This zoo is cool, you can get up close w/ the animals they have, plus the breath taking view makes it cooler. We were like kids who wandered around this wide property of Mr. Singson and got amused with the animals haha.
seeing a tiger this close is cute and scary at the same time haha
the breath taking view behind us is the province of Abra
The calesa tour finished at 2:30pm, we haven’t had lunch and we’re so hungry, McDonald’s was the 1st food serving place that we saw as soon as we got off the carriage on the plaza. And as you know it, we had our lunch/merienda at that joint then headed back to Grandpa’s Inn for some siesta nap.
Woke up around 5:45pm and of course we should not miss Calle Crisologo and Vigan’s beauty at night.
i can finish 10 of this..haha
As usual all this strolling and picture taking made us hungry, scouting for a place to eat, we headed to the plaza. We were able to passed by some fast food joints,cafes, mid-range restos but Trellis Food Court by far matched our tourist mood at that night and our budget as well haha. It’s a nice place..well ventilated, laid-back ambiance, serves delicious menus and offer alcoholic drinks too. This place comes with a live-band still with a laid back style, not so over rated performance, you can make song requests..fits the night life Vigan style and also gives you a romantic hint of mood for those love birds like us 🙂
dine . . .
and drunk!haha
We left Trellis Food Court at 9:00pm, full..a bit drunk..tired, we said hello to dream land!
Then we woke up 6:00am, what we did on our 2nd day at Vigan. . .
After filling our stomachs w/ Grandpa’s Inn free breakfast, we had a morning stroll at Calle Crisologo,munched on Vigan empanadas,some souvenir shopping. . .
Vigan plazas stroll,of course let’s not forget our dear God so we prayed inside Vigan Cathedral..
With other Vigan travel blogs that I’ve read, I find it cool and envy how they were able to spot those Vigan tiles..haha tiles w/ a Vigan embossed mark on it. I was a bit sad because we’re about to check out still I wasn’t able to see it. But I said to myself, I won’t go home till I see this Vigan tile. Then on our way back to the inn, we walked on the mini side walk, as I looked down, there you have it..I even shouted when I saw it..a Vigan tile..hahaha..now I can go home!*what a story*
right side>>that’s an explorer’s feet..dirty..lol
Going Home (commuting)
12:00pm is the check out time at Grandpa’s Inn but we wanted to reach Manila in an earlier time so we checked out at 10:30am. Fyi, Farinas Transit’s not present at Vigan *only in Laoag*so they suggested that we take Partas bus on our way home, but we don’t really prefer it since we were not satisfied w/ their expensive rates and the bus itself *DeLuxe bus daw pero parang di naman*. Â So we went to Dominion Bus Line terminal..they only have afternoon trips *starts at 2:30pm*, then we went to Maria De Leon bus terminal..boohoo the 10:30am bus already left..next trip is 1:00pm. We had no choice but to take Partas bus again,haha well this time it’s a bit good experience w/ them. We’re lucky to be on board 11:30am bus that left at 11:15am*this time, cheaper fare not DeLuxe bus anymore* we got good and comfy seats. Fare is Php 605 per head (Cubao terminal) we noticed that it took us 10hrs *maybe due to traffic,more stop overs and madalas na pagkuha nila ng pasahero along the way*
Anyways, let me share some of my shots  along the road to home. . .
Quirino Bridge
Suso Beach
La Union
shadow playing at Rosario, La Union
Our Budget/Expenses (good for 2 persons):
- Transportation by land *all-in* – Php 2,500
- Grandpa’s Inn – Php 980 (fan room w/ toilet and bath)
- Calesa Tour – Php 600
- Food – Php 800 (we did not brought any food w/ us)
- Entrance Fees/Donations – Php 200
- Pasalubong – Php  420
Total Budget: Php 5,500 *take note that we had a dare na pagkasyahin ang Php 5k/6k sa isang Ilocos Sur trip, and it’s a success!*
Helpful Contact Details:
- Farinas Transit – 7314507 (Laon Laan, Espana)
- Grandpa’s Inn – 077-7222118 or 09175802118
- Kuya Jaime *calesa tour guide* – 09056306231
If you think having a not so high budget would not take you somewhere far out of town? Well that’s not true! This travel post of mine is one proof that you don’t need to have lots of dough to enjoy the places and things that you want to explore and experience.
That’s about for it..please rate..thanks!
Kaja let's go! 