Cena Italiana a Mary Grace

March 5, 2013.
One tuesday evening was a dinner unplanned. Mary Grace cafe along Piaza Serendra offered us an ambiance of acoustic music.

Pasta, pizza, pastries in one. To my surprise, their menu includes vigan longanisa, beef tapa and fried bangus which is rather unusual. This is called the Filipino Basket Breakfast.

Two orders of pizza and two kinds of pasta filled our tummies.

Planning our summer get-away was perfected on this place.
The resto dates back in 1997. It's history was humbled by a young girl's dream. Here are more information about Mary Grace Cafe Restaurant.

At the end, hungry tummy filled smiles on our faces.

Lost and Explored Vigan...

Vigan, the heritage city is located Northern part of Luzon particularly Ilocos Sur.

Bound to the city, we took GV Florida Sleeper bus which usually takes off around 10PM. Fare costs Php 750. Not bad right.
The Departure:

Click here to take a look inside The Sleeper Bus

We arrive at Bantay Ilocos Sur around 5AM. Bantay has two ilocano terms. One is for  "mountain", and the other means "guard" or "to guard"
A tricycle to Plaza Maestro costs Php 20.00
Plaza Maestro is a Commercial Complex where shops with local and foreign brands are situated. More like a shopping center. A mall.

Click here to check Plaza Maestro

The Arrival:

After breakfast, we rented a tricycle for Php 20.00 going to Baluarte. The zoo opens as early as 7AM.  Baluarte means territory. Owned by a famous politician Chavit Singson, in this mini zoo lies his collection of different animals from foreign location.

Baluarte pictures, click here

A tricycle from one destination to another costs Php 20.00
 The Hidden Garden is our next destination. Hidden from the other tourist spots, the hidden garden reveals collection of plants from bonsai to orchids landscaped in a manner where Filipino artistry can be acclaimed.

The Hidden Garden is indeed Hidden

The Crisologo Museum is our next stop.
This ancestral home turned museum was owned by Congressman Floro Crisologo, who worked through the ratification of the Tobacco Law and author of the Social Security System.

Click here to get inside Moseo Crisologo

The Pagburnayan Pottery is but a small pottery. Burnay is a native term for terracotta, a brownish orange mud or clay shaped and used for making pots, flower vases, sculpture and figurines.

Pagburnayan Pottery

Not a trip is complete without visiting the Bell tower. A tower located on a hill near St. Agustine Parish Church. It has four bells. According to Manong Tour Guide, one bell is for baptism, another for wedding, the other for funeral and the last is to alert the city from spaniards.

More pictures of The Bell Tower

Arcellana's Logde costs Php 250/head/night.

Lunch was marked with

Longanisang Ilocos or Vigan Longanisa
- is a native sausage, garlicky in flavor usually eaten by dipping in vinegar with chili, garlic and onions.

Bagnet - the ilocano version of lechon kawali

Vigan Empanada is a must-try and must-eat.

The Vigan Heritage River Cruise is a historical timeline of the city via the Mestizo River, Abra River and Govantes River.

River Cruise amounts to 100 pesos with 45 minutes ride

Calle Crisologo is the main attraction where souvenir shops are located on a well maintained Spanish-style houses.

More pictures from Calle Crisologo

The Sy Quia Mansion is an ancestral house still maintained by the family of the Late President Elpidio Quirino. The caretaker of the house is a fourth generation of the Quirino's servants.

Check pictures inside Sy Quia Mansion

If you wish to take the calesa, that would cost Php 150 per hour.

And that's Vigan in a day...