Legazpi City Tour

After a wonderful 3 days ad 2 nights family vacation at Misibis Bay Resort, we decided to stay for another day in Legazpi City in the province of Albay Philippines to visit some famous tourist spots in the area. Through the kindness of Misibis Bay Resort, we were dropped off to our next destination hotel - the Casablanca Suites located very near the airport. We chose to stay in this two floor hotel because the rooms have a great view of the active Mayon Volcano known worldwide for its almost perfect cone. Casablanca Suites is very friendly when it comes to room reservation. You just have to call them and they do not ask for any down payment at all.

Casablanca Suites

And so we arrived around two in the afternoon and checked in at the hotel. The staff were very friendly and very accommodating. We felt welcome and they were quick to respond to your every need.  Free WiFi internet connection in every room and they also provide free use of computers at the ground floor. Cool! You don't find that complementary use of gadgets in many hotels at all. We were escorted to our deluxe room and immediately looked at the window to take a look at the Mayon Volcano. Unfortunately the volcano was hidden in the clouds. It was raining in the volcano area I think. I inspected the room as I usually do before unpacking our things. I was disappointed because the smoke alarm was missing, the air conditioning unit blades are broken and the headboard light was busted. I called up the front desk for bulb replacement but they had no stock then. 

Casablanca Suites Deluxe Room Missing Smoke Alarm

Casablanca Suites Deluxe Room Defective Air-Conditioning Blades

Casablanca Suites Deluxe Room Busted Head Board Light

I felt unsafe without any smoke alarm in the room specially when my family is with me so I requested to transfer to another room. My request was granted immediately and the new room seemed okay until I took a shower. The shower head needed a replacement! The TV set was defective too. It was not the cable connection because when I hooked my camera on the TV set, the same screen problem occurred. Oh well, tired and eager to tour the city we decided to settle in that room.

Casablanca Suites Deluxe Room Shower Head...Eeeeeew

Defective LCD TV at Casablanca Suites

Finally we were set to go. We contracted a taxi for Php1500.00 for the first three hours and additional of Php300.00 every excess hour. That's the going rate according to the hotel. The first trip was to visit the Cagsawa Church Ruins. In February 1, 1814, Mt. Mayon began its most violent and deadly eruption to date and during that eruption about 1,200 people took refuge in the stone church of Cagsawa. All of them perished when lahar and pyroclastic flows engulfed the church leaving only the belfry of the Cagsawa church unburried. For two hundred years the belfry of the Cagsawa church has withstood time and nature to become one of the most recognizable landmarks of Albay Province in the Philippines. The place was full of tourists but still you can feel something different in the place that I cannot describe. Anyway we just enjoyed the visit and took some pictures.

 

Belfry of Cagsawa Church

Souvenir and Food Kiosk at Cagsawa Church

Incredible Hulk??

Next destination was the Daraga Church built in 1773. After the Cagsawa church was buried by the eruption of the Mayon Volcano, the remaining believers transferred to this church to worship.

Daraga Church 1773

 

Daraga Church 1773

After a short prayer inside the Daraga Church, we proceeded to the Lignon Nature park. It's a small hill where you can get a full view of Mayon Volcano. Unfortunately since it was already late in the afternoon, the volcano was covered with clouds and it was raining too. We were not able to see Mayon Volcano but rather we just took a picture of the whole Legazpi City.

Legazpi City View from Lignon Nature Park

Zac Efron ATV Tour to Mayon Volcano Lava Front

Going down the hill, we spotted this poster of Zac Efron promoting adventure tour to the Lava Front of Mayon Volcano using All Terrain Vehicle. We wanted to try it but due to the rain, we thought it won't be safe for the kids. It was getting dark already so we decided to go to a mall and did a little shopping and dinner. It was a short three hour city tour but it was well worth it. We went back to the hotel and retired for the night.

Waking up the next morning, I took my camera and finally got a good shot of Mayon Volcano right from our hotel room window. Mayon Volcano is so beautiful indeed! I woke up my family to catch a glimpse of this amazing volcano before it hides again in the clouds. The picture would have been better without the power lines in view. I requested the hotel staff to allow me to take a shot of Mayon Volcano from their rooftop but I was denied.

Mayon Volcano from Casablanca Suites Deluxe Room Window

Breakfast time was simple and ordinary at Casablanca suites. It was a buffet set up but with very few choices -rice, bread, two viands, juice drinks, coffee and fruits. Just worth the price of Php300.00 per person and 50% off for kids below 12 years old.

 

Casablanca Suites Breakfast Buffet

Finally we were off to the airport which is less than 5 minutes from the hotel. Would I stay again at Casablanca Suites? Yes I would but I would choose a better room next time. The hotel staff are very respectful and accommodating.

Legazpi Airport Compound

AirPhil Express - Our ride back home.