Trip to Vigan, Ilocos Sur (Day 2 Part 1)

• Sta. Maria Church

We woke up early to go to Vigan, Ilocos Sur.  For breakfast, we had the local longganisa, native egg, salted egg and Sta. Lucia puto.  At 9:30 a.m, we left for Vigan.  On the way, we saw field of tobacco and corn plantations and crystal clear blue seawaters in the nearby beaches.  We first passed by Sta. Maria church, one of the oldest churches in the Philippines.  When we arrived at 10 a.m., they were already preparing for Good Friday Procession.   We said our prayers and left.

• Arrival at Baluarte in Vigan Ilocos, Sur

Our next stop was Chavit Singson's free and open to public Baluarte Zoo in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.  As we stepped off our van, we instantly felt the intense heat of the sun.  We quickly walked towards the entrance.  There were many vendors selling bamboo products by the entrance.  The birds were also placed near the entrance.  The place was crowded.  Kids rode the free pony rides.  We roamed around taking pictures of every animal we saw until 1 p.m.  (see separate entry) We also saw a small yellow submarine.  Before leaving, I bought Kurt a Vigan T-shirt  (worth 160 php) from the souvenir stalls just outside Baluarte.  

• Vigan, Ilocos Sur City Proper

Hungry for lunch, we went to Vigan's City proper.  Here, we had to leave our van parked somewhere further because motor vehicles are not allowed within the vicinity.  Despite the heat, the streets
were crowded by locals and foreigners alike.  We first visited Vigan cathedral and then bought Vigan's infamous "empanadas" (worth 25 php).  To our surprise the "empanadas" taste similar to the ones we bought in Sta. Lucia, Ilocos Sur.  We also bought "okoys" (worth 25 php) but they did not appeal to our taste.  It felt like seafood tempura with vinegar as sauce.  There were bazaars and souveneir shops that sold T-shirts and other locally weaved products.  We also passed by fastfoods like Max's, Mc Do and Mang-inasal.  There were also banks like BPI and BDO and hotels.  All of them maintained the old Spanish structure of the buildings which reminded me of Intramuros in Manila.  Many foreigners ate at the street-side food stalls.

                   "Burnayan" (pottery in Ilocano)

After lunch, we went to the "Burnayan".  As we entered, there were many defective pots scattered on the ground.  There were also bits of shattered pots.  We thought of doing the pottery ourselves but when we watched manong, we got intimidated.  Manong said that to be a potter you have to have the energy, talent and inspiration.  He declared that he could make 100 similar pots a day because his family inspires him and that those pots are being sold for 300 php.  He also added that among all those who have tried, no one has successfully made a pot.   Before leaving, we bought souvenirs.

                            

• Vigan Food

"The Sisters" bigger store without any sign

On the way back we went to "The Sisters"to buy a well-known Vigan delicacy, royal bibingkas.  During our purchase, there was a car that stopped over asking for Marsha's.  We used to buy from Masha's too until we tasted "The Sisters" royal bibingka.  "The Sisters" had two stores along the hi-way one across the other.  We noticed that the smaller store had a sign while the other just looked like a green house.  We also bought "Jat'z" chichacorn (worth 40 php).  It was very crunchy yet not difficult to bite.  It was very addictive that we kept on munching on it on the way back.