Taal

Taal Lake is a fresh water lake about 40 miles south of metro Manila.  Most people only see it from the north side on visits to Tagaytay, but on Stephen's recent visit (his 2nd!), we spent a day driving around the entire lake.

Our main objective was to visit the town of Taal, a national heritage site.  With Asia's largest basilica and a number of ancestral homes dating back to the Spanish colonial era, the town has a unique historic character I'd heard was worth seeing.  First stop was the basilica.  Surprisingly big for such a small town, the current building dates back to the 1700's, earlier structures having been destroyed by a volcano!  We then walked the town streets, toured one historic home and wandered the town market.

  

The lake actually sits within a volcanic caldera formed thousands of years ago.  Views of the lake, and the small active volcano within the lake, are usually from the 1500 foot high ridge ringing the caldera, but a side trip to the town of San Nicolas brought us to a beautiful spot lakeside.  It was a unique perspective I hadn't seen before.

We continued our way around the lake coming into Tagaytay from the west.  We promised Stephen a stop at a Starbucks like he'd never seen before.  Sitting in a newly built, multi level very modern building on the Tagaytay ridge, this Starbucks has an incredible view overlooking the lake and the volcano.  I don't think he was disappointed.  

 

CLICK HERE for more photos of Taal and our day trip.