Romantic Obidos

So during this trip I found the perfect place for my dream wedding (sosyal! good luck, boyfriend!!! haha). Obidos, Portugal! A quaint, medieval town about an hour away from the capital. I completely fell in love with the place!!!

I plan to walk this really long cobbled street in a flowy white dress and gold sandals. hahaha It's perfect because there's a church at the end of the street! Yes, I am serious about this. 

See?! Here's the door to the church. 

The entire street is lined with nice little stores selling clothes and trinkets as well as beautiful little bars and restaurants.


I'm not much of a drinker, but I felt I had to try the sour cherry liqueur that Obidos is known for. It's called Ginja de Obidos. It is poured in a small chocolate cup, which you have to eat afterwards (the best part!!).

  

It was actually good and I especially loved the chocolate cup! I could munch on those all day!

Behind the church is a big, arched, stone opening which leads to the castle. It's really beautiful and it has the most amazing view.

We didn't want to leave, but our tour guide came looking for us because everyone else was already inside the bus. (WOOPS!)

We all wanted to go back to check the shops and eat in the restaurants. However, we were only in Portugal for a few days, and Obidos is still quite far from Lisbon-- especially if you don't have any transportation available. 

Oh well, that just gives us more reason to go back to this country. haha!

Filipinos Chocolate Covered Biscuits

Err... Should we be insulted??? haha :/ It was quite good though!

Fatima, Portugal

Our Lady of Fatima Basilica

Fatima, Portugal. They say it is a place of miracles. This is where Our Lady of Fatima appeared to 3 little shepherds-- Jacinta, Francisco and Luisa-- back in 1917.

Kneeling in front of the Chapel of Apparitions

Every 13th of May, thousands of people visit Fatima for their pilgrimage. This is the said anniversary of the first Marian Apparition. We actually arrived a week before the 13th and there were already so many people.

In another area, there was a group gathered around the crucifix. They started going around in smaller and smaller circles, hands all linked together.

Faith. It is a beautiful thing. It is what keeps us alive. :)

Salcedo Market: Where the Cool Kids Hang Out!

There are few places in this country where kids can run freely. I remember the days when all we needed were our playmates and we'd be set for an entire day of running and playing games like patintero, magic box and langit lupa!

Salcedo Market provides a venue for kids and oldies to share a fun Saturday together. While the oldies eat (and they have a VAST food selection) kids can play at the playground near by. 

For people who don't ever want to get dark. This just might be better than a sun block!

Jino got the Frankfurter and I got the Cheesy Sausage!

Had a hard time choosing what to eat next!

I love weekends like this! 

Visit Salcedo Market every Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Stone Walls and Horses

We wanted to do something different for our Valentine's date. We didn't want to have the expensive, fine dining dinner since we were already doing that with my family. I also couldn't go out of town, so after much thought, we realized... Why not tour Manila? 


With the pollution and the overcrowded streets, we tend to forget what a beautiful place this city is.


We have been hearing a lot of raves about Carlos Celdran's walking tour of Old Manila.  It is said to be very witty and highly informative-- a controversial guide giving you a tour which he calls, "Intramuros: If these walls could talk". Wouldn't you be intrigued?

We had to use Google Maps to find our way around Intramuros. Haha and I'm pretty sure you'd get lost too! It's time we get to know this country better!


The meeting place was outside Fort Santiago. We all expected to start the day with a quick tour of the fort, BUT our beloved president's family had the place closed down for a wedding. Or so we were told. Urk.


We all walked to the Manila Cathedral for the first part of the tour. And let me warn you, if you do not have a good sense of humor, you probably should not take this tour. You might end up whacking Carlos Celdran on the head. Otherwise, this is the best way to learn about our history. I promise you, you will not fall asleep.

First built in the 1500's, it has been destroyed and renovated a number of times already.

We needed to ride a Kalesa (my first time) in order to get to the next stop of the tour, Baluarte de San Diego. You have to move fast though, so many people would join the tour and there aren't enough Kalesas to accommodate everyone. The others had to take a pedicab.

Baluarte de San Diego is one of the oldest stone fortifications in Manila. We were given a few minutes to go around and take pictures.

This kind of looks like a miniature version of Rome's Collosseum! haha

A nice view of the Manila Hotel. You have to be really careful about taking pictures in this area. A girl lost a slipper. hahaha She was probably taking jump shots!

I hit my head when i stood up. haha

You won't have to worry about getting dehydrated. They carry around coolers with drinks that you can buy!

Before leaving Baluarte de San Diego, we all gathered for Carlos Celdran's discussion on the American Period of the Philippine History. I've always loved history, but I was never so fond of the stories on American Colonization. I just never had any interest in politics and the government-- but Carlos Celdran's lecture changed all that! He sure got me to listen. He's VERY entertaining. I learned so much that day!

Walked past Victoria Street for the lecture on the Japanese Colonization of the Philippines. 

Second to the last stop was the San Agustin Church. It's the oldest standing church in the country, it was able to withstand earthquakes and the war.

We ended the tour by heading to one of the small inns across the street. After almost 3 hours of walking, we were finally able to rest our tired feet. And the best part is, we were all given refreshing Halo-Halo to eat while Carlos Celdran ended the tour. 

All in all a great learning experience! I now wish that all of Manila still looks like Intramuros, stone walls and all!