Cebu

Cebu from the Marco Polo

May marked someone's birthday.  We decided to head to Cebu, the second largest city in the country, and one I'd been wanting to visit.  I'd heard lots of good things about it and wanted to see for myself.  Mely, a good friend living further south in Davao, flew in to join us.  And by luck, Marina, another friend from the US, happened to be staying in town and also joined us.

We stayed at the Marco Polo, just up the hill from central Cebu.  Mely had already arrived and was meeting with someone for work related stuff in the lobby who, after their meeting, took it upon herself to play tour guide.  Ellen took us to lunch at Golden Cowrie, home of some really delicious local dishes. The deconstructed kare kare was a surprising treat.  She then drove us all over town and beyond showing us the hospitality that Filipinos are so noted for.  Thanks Ellen!

Tony, Mely, Marina, Bill

The following day, we decided to take a boat out to the nearby island of Olango and have lunch at one of the floating restaurants.  Instead of hiring a boat for lots of money, we took the 20 minute ride on the public bangka for a whole 15 pesos each, 35 cents US!  Once there, we took a tricycle (a motorcycle with a sidecar commonly used for public transit here) out to the "floating" restaurants.  They're actually not floating, but built just offshore on stilts.  Once you get out there on a small boat, you pick from fresh seafood available that day and they cook it there for you.  Turns out the pricing was a bit of a tourist ripoff, but we sure did have fun.  On the return boat trip back to shore, we hadn't factored in that the tide had gone out.  The small boat couldn't get to shore.  Three of us were able to just take off our shoes and walk the remaining 10 feet to shore, but Mely had jeans on and had to be carried on the back of one of the helpers.  Oh how I wish I'd gotten a photo of that!  It was a delightful way to bring in a new year.  

I was thoroughly impressed with Cebu.  Even though the second largest city, it pales in comparison in size to Manila.  But that means congestion, pollution and other urban ills are much much less.  It sits on the water, but has mountains just behind it.  Access to other tropical islands throughout the middle of the country is quick and easy.  It doesn't get the typhoons that frequent the north.  If we had friends or family down there, I'd consider moving to the area.

For more Cebu photos, CLICK HERE.