~ Photographs & Memories To Spice Up Your Life ~: Our Visit to Fort Santiago, Manila Hotel and More

We had a start of the year visit to Fort Santiago. It was my first time and I was really amazed on how beautiful it is. There is really so much to see and learn in the Philippines. So much beauty that not everybody have seen yet.

And Fort Santiago is one of those places and I am glad we went.

WIKIPEDIA: Fort Santiago (Spanish: Fuerza de Santiago Tagalog: Moog ng Santiago) is a citadel first built by Spanish conquistador, Miguel López de Legazpi for the new established city of Manila in the Philippines. The defense fortress is part of the structures of the walled city of Manila referred to as Intramuros ("within the walls").

The fort is one of the most important historical sites in Manila. Several lives were lost in its prisons during the Spanish Colonial Period and World War II. José Rizal, the Philippines' national hero, was imprisoned here before his execution in 1896. The Rizal Shrine museum displays memorabilia of the hero in their collection and the fort features, embedded onto the ground in bronze, his footsteps representing his final walk from his cell to the location of the actual execution. ~

We were offered by a tour guide to ride a carousel to see the whole place. But we decided to just take a walk and see the beauty around. If you want to experience riding a calesa (carousel,esp. for tourist) looking around, then by all means go ride and feel the excitement but you can actually go around the place without riding one and i think it is much better because there is no rush. You can take your time doing your stuff, taking pictures and staying longer in one place. Riding the carousel, you can get into each places very easy and no sweat but there is time limit but of course the tour guide is there to tell you about the History of the place and how things were before you were born.

Although we did not really stayed long, because there are other places we wanted to go to but I was able to take pictures on each site we've been but Fort Santiago is really beautiful.

Just take note, it is better to ride a taxi going there and somewhere else in Manila (with meter), it is safer. Better to take the taxi number as well, just in case you will need it.

There are some place in manila that is not safe to go around especially during night time, maybe crowded but not always safe. You need to play safe anywhere in the world. But would not elaborate on that, will just charge to experience.

After Fort Santiago, we also went to Manila Hotel....Ooops not really dressed for that one. It was not planned but we did drop by, ate pizza and just enjoyed sitting there for an hour or more and then off we go.......Really nice and friendly staff they have. Hope we can stay there next time, maybe,lols.

It was a great weekend and just wanted to really share the pics and the experience and there is always next time right.

Stay Cool and Be Safe!