Visited the old city again as I played tourist guide to my niece, Phoebe. Each visit makes me appreciate the history of this great country. I was proud to show my niece bits and pieces of the old manila.
After spending time at Intramuros, we went to Luneta for more history tour. The place was swarming with people and buzzing with activities — families having picnics, friends laughing and talking, children flying kites, etc. It was one happy summer afternoon in this amazing city.
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How to get there: To go to Luneta and Intramuros, heck, just take the cab. haha. Really, you can take the Roxas Boulevard route.
Accomodations in Manila: You may want to stay in any hotel at Roxas Boulevard and be enchanted by the famous Manila Bay sunset. Check this for hotel list.
You may, of course, also stay in Makati, which is just about ten minutes to Manila. List of Makati Hotels.
Transportation: Try the LRT, the jeepneys, buses, and cabs. Every driver in the metro knows where Intramuros and Luneta are.
Things to do: Walk back to history. Enjoy every charming little corners, secret passages, and beautiful old buildings. Drop by the by chapel of the Lady of Guadalupe, Rizal Shrine, and museums around the area. Take lots of pictures. Make a quick stop at the Manila Cathedral and then make your way to Luneta.
Buy dirty ice cream, enjoy the gardens, watch the changing of guards at the Rizal Monument, fly a kite, people-watch. Just linger in Luneta. As my friend Imee would say: “If you want a glimpse of life, this is the place to be.”
One more thing: Take lots of water with you! And oh, the best person (and I mean, BEST) who could show you Manila is Carlos Celdran. Go ahead, contact him for your Manila tour.
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Photos by Aileen Siroy. All rights reserved.
Manila. April 2008.
