Orientation
Baguio's centrepiece is Burnham Park , a sort of hilltop version of Rizal Park in Manila. It's a nice place for a stroll, with a boating lake and strange little three-wheeled bicycles for rent. The park area was designed by Daniel Burnham, who was also responsible for parts of Chicago and Washington DC. On the eastern edge of the park is Harrison Road and immediately behind that and running almost parallel to it is the city's congested main artery, Session Road, where you'll find shops and restaurants. Standing imperiously above Session Road, and reached on foot by a flight of a hundred steep steps, is Baguio Cathedral , an example of "wedding cake gothic" in an eye-catching shade of rose pink. At the St Louis University Silver Shop, just a few paces away from the cathedral, you can watch silver craftsmen at work and buy the jewellery they make. The southern end of Session Road leads to Magsaysay Drive and the City Market , which sells produce from the Cordilleras such as strawberries, peanut brittle, sweet wine, honey, textiles, handicrafts and jewellery. The best museum in Baguio is the St Louis University Museum of Arts and Culture (Mon-Sat 9am-4.30pm; tel 074/442 3043), near St Louis Hospital on Bonifacio Street, a fifteen-minute walk north of Session Road. The museum has hundreds of artefacts from the Cordilleras. Travelling out of the city eastwards on Leonard Wood Road for 4km brings you to Wright Park where you can hire horses for riding, and a little further to Mine's View Park , where there are souvenir stalls, antique shops and some restaurants. Jeepneys to Wright Park and Mine's View leave from the northern end of Session Road. The Baguio Botanical Gardens are nearby in Park Road. For some ethnic shopping try the Easter School of Weaving , Easter Road, on the northwestern outskirts of the city. Weavers produce everything from clothing to tablecloths and you are allowed to watch them at work. You can get there by jeepney from Kayang Street, at the northern end of Burnham Park.
freezing pointandrea nicu says "its cool! not only the climate but the place! ride a bus in cubao (victory).at P380 one way fare, youre set to baguio! approx 6hr ride. when you reach the terminal, a lot of tourist guides are friendly to assuist you. the transient rooms are best recommended, for P800 a day, its pretty good. you have your own CR and cable tv. actually, were first timers to went up with no exact plans. but the experience is great! visit burnham park and ride the paddling boats for P100 only an hour. see the bell church and take a chance to share their culture. visit the strawberry farm in benguet and have a kilo of strawberries for P140 depending the season. also in mines view park. it has breath taking view! all we did is ride a jeepney and we reached almost all the spots for P7.50- P15 only. dont forget to buy some pasalubong or treats for your loved ones. brittles, jams, keychains, shirts- theyre all affordable! but you have to scout for the best prices and quality. at $80 budget, you can afford to travel in baguio. people there are warm, all are accomodating when we ask for directions. but mind you about the igorots or natives when youll take your pictures coz they oblige you to give them money (hehe!). the experience we had is truly for backpackers! you pack and you go!"
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