Vigan River Cruise ~ a missed cruise :(

 

We were so looking forward to this river cruise.  Unfortunately it was closed on the day of our visit :( 

 

We would just have to make do with picture taking by the river cruise dock!

 

 

 

 

Rowilda's Abel Iloco

 

Abels are Ilocos regions's traditional wooven textile made from yards of cotton. 

 

Abel textiles are produced into blankets, bedsheets, pillow cases, washcloths table napkins, bags and purses, table runners... the list goes on!

 

You can get your abel from the Vigan public market or Calle Crisologo. 

 

Since I wanted to see first hand how abels are made,  I just have to get mine from one of the local weavers Rowilda's at barangay Camanggaan.

 

Prices are just about the same in Calle Crisologo, unless you are buying in bulk. 

 

I bought table napkins, wash clothes and blankets for pasalubong, however, when we reached Manila, I can't seem to part with abel buys.  I decided to keep them all (hahaha).  The blankets are well made and very soft ~ I regret not buying more! 

Uno Grille Vigan

I have very high expectations of Uno Grille in Vigan.  The very good reviews I have seen on the net were indeed quite promising.  Unfortunately, my first hand experience was far from satisfactory. 

 

We came in past lunch time, a little after 1:30pm, but there were still  a number of guests coming in - I think that would very well explain, why the waiters and attendants were running all over the place and service was quite slowwwww...

 

 Service: Poor

 

 

 

We came in such a bad time. The only place left for us to occupy is a table underneath a tree.  There is a makeshift net that blocks the tree leaves from falling down on our food.  However, it was not as effective on falling insects. 

 

Ambiance:  Felt like I was gate crashing to someones birthday party.

 

 

 

We ordered the Vigan staples poki-poki, Vigan longanisa and bagnet! 

 

VERDICT: Over rated! Price was okay, but food wasn't great!   

 

 

Eating is a social experience, especially if you are eating in scenic Vigan.

In this case, we were just glad we were finally served, we ate and went our way.

 

 Uno Grille Restaurant is located at

 1 Bonifacio Street, Vigan City

 

 

Vigan's Hidden Garden is actually not so hidden :P (Lilong and Lilang Restaurant)

Too bad we were not able to come earlier - traffic was so bad we arrived in Vigan two hours later than we have expected.  I am almost certain than this place is lovelier with the sun out - it was near dusk when we came and too dark to get good photos.

 

Homey ambiance in a garden setting. 

 

The well maintained and beautifully kept garden should have made wonderful backdrop for picture taking (sayang). 

 

 

 

 

 

We ordered bagnet sisig, pochi-pochi and sinigang na bagnet with rice.  For dessert the boys had fruit shakes and halo-halo.

 



Food was delicious.  The boys loved the bagnet and sinigang, while I just can't have enough of the poki-poki  (I love POKI-POKI... I really do :9 )  

 

 

 

 

 

My youngest requested for this shot by the bar :P

And another one on the "duyan".

 

 My family so loved the food (indeed quite special).  If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Vigan -  search out for the Hidden Garden. 

 

The hunt is all worth it  (to save you time searching for the place - rent a kalesa going there to amp the experience).

 

 

HIDDEN GARDEN LILONG AND LILANG RESTAURANT

(Located At The Heart Of Hidden Garden Vigan)

 Brgy. Bulala, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur

viganhiddengarden@yahoo.com
hiddengardenvigan.com
(077) 722-1450
(0906) 332-8309
(0928) 965-9190

 

 











Vigan Itinerary (3D/2N)

Part 2 of our North Luzon road trip is Vigan City.

Day 1 (Maundy Thursday)

• 10am - Left Baguio (we were hoping to reach Vigan by 2 pm via the Naguilian-Bauang La Union Road) 
• 12nn - Stopped for lunch at Rose Bowl in La Union
• 3pm -  Lovely pristine Suso Beach, Sta. Maria Ilocos Sur stop over
• 4pm - Finally Vigan City after 6 hours (4 hours trip obviously is just a wishful thinking if you travel on a Holy Week). Check in at Hotel Felicidad
• 5pm - Dinner at Hidden Garden (went there via a kalesa - it would be faster by tricycle, but I wanted my kids to experience the kalesa ride).  We requested manong kalesa to wait for us, since it was already dark and ride back might be difficult.
• 7pm - Calle Crisologo
• 8pm - Coffe and dessert at Dulcelise
• 9pm - Back to base

Day 2 (Good Friday)

• 8am - Hotel breakfast
• 9am - Baluarte tour
• 11am - Heritage River Cruise (the place was closed when we got there, we contented ourselves to taking pictures with the bancas as our backdrop)
• 1130am - Rowilda's Handloom Weaving (best place to buy your abel products)
• 12nn - Lunch as Uno Grille
• 2pm - Back to base to freshen up
• 5pm - Plaza Salcedo and Vigan Cathedral to watch the procession of saints
• 7pm - Calle Crisologo (AGAIN...)
• 8pm - Irene's Empanada (we had take out empanada; Ordered coffee and dessert at My Coffee - place is airconditioned, I guess that would explain why we decided to settle here instead!)
• 9pm - Back to base 

Day 3 (Black Saturday)

• 8am - Hotel breakfast
• 9am - Pahabol kalesa tour around Vigan
• 10am - Early check out from Hotel Felicidad
• 1030am - Bantay Church and Bantay Tower stop over before bidding Vigan goodbye
• 11am - Off to Manila
• 1pm - Late lunch at Kubong Sawali, Bauang La Union  
• 3pm - Stop over at the Basilica Minor of Our Lady of Charity, Agoo Pangasinan
• 5pm - Bagsakan, Villasis Pangasinan (we went fruits and vegetable crazy and filled our car with as much farm produce it can carry).
• 530pm - Dinner at Jollibee Villasis (we had to eat dinner early or the kids might fall asleep and miss dinner totally)
• 9pm - NLEX finally (traffic was so bad...did I say bad?  I mean really BAD!!!).

If we had time, we would definitely head off to Laoag.

I promised myself to see Ilocos Norte in the future,  but next time we would probably just take a plane and save ourselves some precious time.  The road trip was a good bonding experience with the kids, but to get the most out of your vacation - travel by plane is recommended!!!

Calle Crisologo shopping time na!!!

 

Calle Crisologo stop is a must in your Vigan itinerary.   Your Vigan experience is honesty incomplete with out a stroll along its cobbled stone streets.

 

The famous Calle Crisologo is a sight to behold  - truly pictureque and charming (be it day or night)!

 

 

 

 

 

The street was busy and crowded when we went there. 

 

Good souvenier buys in Calle Crisologo:

(1) "Abel's" cotton-loom wooven textile - although I got mine at Rowilda's, however, I noticed difference is not that much.  Rowilda's is quite a distance from town and if you are not buying much, shopping at Calle Crisologo will be more convenient.

(2) Native "pamaypay" fan - you should buy this before you begin your tour of Vigan, will come in handy against the humid Vigan weather.

Addicted to Kalesa Rides

 

 

The "STAR" of our Vigan tour is our kalesa ride.  My kids just can't get over these horse drawn carriages.  Real "patok" with the kids and yet not so hard on the budget.

 

Cost of a kalesa ride is P150/hour and you would have toured the entire of Vigan City within 3 hours or less.

 

 

There are ofcourse other means of transportation, but hey you are in Vigan  - so might as well enjoy the kalesa ride all you can.

 

 

 

 

 

Vigan's Tongson Original Royal Bibingka

 

 

We just had to try for ourselves Vigan's famous Royal Bibingka.

 

 

 

 

Quite tasty indeed, but a box is all I need. 

 

Would have made good pasalubong, but I am not sure if it could withstand the long trip back to Manila.

 

 Still a recommended must try when in Vigan.

 

Tongson's is located at Plaza Burgos near Calle Crisologo.

DULCELISE (yummy) Dessert Shop

 

Our visit to Dulcelise Dessert Bar is an accidental one...

 

We needed a break from the scorching summer heat, a refuge and a place to relax our so tired feet :P.  We needed an airconditioned restaurant.

 

Behold the answer to our prayers: Dulcelise Dessert Shop.

 

 

The entrance to Dulcelise is quite unassuming.  That is okay, we weren't expecting much, we just needed a place to cool down anyway. 

 

 

 

 

The shop interiors is all white, with antique brass chandeliers hanging from its ceiling.

 

 

We had brewed coffee and dessert.

 

The peanut-butter banana and lemon cake we ordered were just heavenly.  Better than most desserts we have had.

 

My boy posing by the shop's window.

 

 

 

 

Dulcelise Dessert Shop is highly recommended. 

 

Stop by and include in your Vigan itinerary.   Order and indulge on one of their creamy desserts to go with a cup of coffee or tea.

 

 

Dulcelise is located (near Calle Crisologo where the Kalesas are parked)

at Mena Crisologo St., Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.

Hotel Felicidad, Our Vigan Home!

 

Vigan brought back memories of my high school days' El Filibusterismo and Noli Me Tangere classes ~ the old Hispanic buildings, the cobbled stone road and the kalesa ride perfected the moment.

 

A Hotel Felicidad stay was an obvious decision for our family expedition in vintage Vigan city. 

 

The hotel is newly built and boasts huge classic Principalia themed rooms.

It is located right in the heart of Vigan City and is just a few steps away Vigan's famous Calle Crisologo. 

 

Hotel Felicidad

 

Reception area with Hotel Felicidad's helpful personnel.

  

 

We booked a deluxe room, with a queen size and  a single poster beds.  I must warn you  that the beds are quite high - not good for kids who roll and toss over in their sleep.

We had to join the two beds together to sleep my family of 4 (2 adults and 2 kids) comfortably. That plus, I wouldn't want one of boys falling over.



My youngest warming up one of the poster beds.

The room has a window that opens to a road below.  Could be a little noisy for light sleepers.



Big and sturdy wooden furniture eating up all those spaces. 



The hotel is quite generous with toiletries. I liked their soap a lot, I brought the left over home.

 

 

We love the room, but for a 4 star hotel they don't have a refrigerator nor a coffee maker inside the room (You can, however, request for cold water from any of the hotel's staff anytime.  Coffee also runs free for a particular time of the day at the hotels dining area.   Still a in-room refrigerator, would have been a whole lot more convenient, especially for those travelling with kids).

 

 

Breakfast came free with the room accommodation. Choices were limited and preparation quite poor compared to other hotels we have stayed in.  Don't expect too much, so as not to disappoint yourself. If  you are not satisfied, you can always take a stroll to one of the restaurants along Calle Crisogo.

 

 



My kiddo trying the upstairs tumba-tumba (rocking chair)

My preggy sister enjoying the huge cushioned sofa :)

lots of seating outside the common sala on the second floor

 

Hotel Felicidad was a perfect choice for my family's

Holy Week rendezvous in Vigan.  

 

 

 

The Search for the Best Empanada

 

Everyone I know who has toured Vigan told me to try Vigan's famous Empanada.  The best place to get them, they added is at Irene's located along the well photographed Calle Crisologo.

 

 

So there I was, 5th or was it 6th in line with all the other first timers of Vigan Empanada.  When it was my turn, I ordered the best seller.  It would take another 30+ minutes to finish my order and since the house was packed (and it was too hot to eat there anyway) we decided to do takeout  (and eat elsewhere with airconditioning) and go on pasalubong hunting as we wait for our order.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I ordered six (6) pieces of empanada for 2 kids and 2 adults.  Vigan's empanda is indeed different and special.  It is nothing like the empanada we have in Manila. Filling is quite heavy and a lot more oily.  Taste is unique.

 

My family finished all six empanada in one sitting, so I would say they liked it. However, I am not sure I would go as far as to rave about it and keep coming back for more. 

 

I think..., I love that I was in Vigan and I was able to try their premier empanada more, than I did in the actual eating.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baluarte ni Chavit!

 

 

Welcome to Baluarte!!!

 

 

Baluarte - owned by Ilocos Sur Governor Chavit Singson is a sight to behold. 

It is like a mini theme park. Entrance is free and so are the rides, shows and face to face encounters with animals roaming the grounds.

We were welcomed to a small chapel located infront of the park.  There were plenty of tourist inside the park, but the chapel was obviously quiet.

At the entrance are different breeds of birds. These ones gaily posed for photo opps.

 

 

Not to be missed is the free miniature horse rides.  Would you believe this mini-horse is already 12 years old (that is about 39 years old in horse's years).

 

My 4 year old playing cow boy :P

 

 

Yo! Cowboy... (he wont leave the souvenir shop without a cowboy hat)!

 

 

 

 

Great background more picture takings. Looked real alright!

 

 

Mid-way, uphill to the Lion's cage is a small pool for the ducks.  My boys love ducks!

Yup!  I was surprised to see reindeers in Vigan too!

Mini horses freely roam the park...

The famous Chavit lion - has appeared in various tv shows as we were told by attendants.



Show-off Peacock... begging for a picture!

 

This one is a Sarimanok.  I always thought they are just mytical, never knew they really existed until I saw this one.  At first I though it was dead, then it moved.  Awesome!!!  I wonder how much Mr. Singson paid for this one....

 

 

Told you those dinosaurs are good for picture taking :P  

My boys gamely striked a pose!!! I had to say sorry to my little one when he begged to take one home... (hindi po kakasya sa sasakyan :P) 

BALUARTE is a must visit when heading to Vigan.  Be warned, however, that it could get awfully hot noon time especially during summer.  So buying those cowboy hats (@P90-120) could very well come in handy!!!