I, together with my wife Grace and my kids Jandy and Cheska plus my brother Frank, sister Tellie and their families were planning to go on vacation at Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.  However, we didn’t go all the way there, opting also to stay overnight at Vigan City.  We left Manila by 2 AM, April 3, the week prior to Holy Week (to avoid the traffic). By land, it is no easy feat getting to Vigan City and we made the 437-km. long haul drive in about 10 hrs., including breakfast and nature calls, with me and Grace taking turns driving.  The kids were mostly asleep the whole time.   Our arrival at the beautiful Quirino (Banaoang) Bridge heralded our entry into Bantay and Vigan City.

Quirino Bridge

Upon our arrival at Vigan City, we parked our Toyota Revo somewhere near the narrow Mena Crisologo St. as cars are now allowed along this street to protect the cobble stones and preserve the ambiance of the place.  This street, located south of Vigan Cathedral, was the Chinese mestizo quarter, popularly known, in the olden days, as Kasanglayan.  We checked in at Cordillera Inn, one of many ancestral homes in the city turned into cozy hotels and pension houses. Our group occupied 3 (out of 23) airconditioned family rooms with private bath and cable TV (PhP1,500).

Check out “Hotel and Inn Review: Cordillera Inn“

Cordillera Inn

After settling in at Cordillera Inn, we all left to join the others for a late lunch at nearby Cafe Leona, walking along the length of cobblestoned Mena Crisologo Street to get there, passing some of the country’s best remaining colonial architecture.

Check out “Restaurant Review: Cafe Leona“

Leona Florentino House