Back to the Lowlands

We took a leisurely breakfast on the verandah and then went to the bakery to pick up our orders - Raisin bread for Loly, French apple pie for me. We decided to take Kennon Road down to the lowlands. There were areas of potholes and washouts but we could see crews at work doing repairs unlike Marcos Highway. We made it to the end of the expressway in Manila in about 5 hours. It then took us more than anhour to drive 16 km. in Metro-Manila to home. The hardships of the travel are worth the enjoyment of the destination.

Exploring

On our second day in Baguio we started off with breakfast on the Verandah. We watched some golfers tee off but the tournament seemed to be taking a time out. We met up with some old friends who treated us to breakfast.

We took a taxi to the top of Session Road and stepped into the Tibetan shop, Namaste, in the Porta Vaga building. So many beautiful things but sadly, expensive. We walked down to the bottom of Session Road and entered the market. First stop was the coffee vendor. Loly got Benguet coffee beans and had them ground. The aroma was terrific. Next stop was the wholesale flower market, a dark, damp and narrow corridor that descends below ground level. Couldn't find any gardenias.

After that it was out to the general area of the market. The strawberries were still early in the season and so the price was high -P200 per kilo. No sale. Loly brought chinese cabbage and I got some baskets to use for Christmas. We took a taxi back to the Club.

Lunch again on the Veranda and then off to the strip mall (Mile High) at Camp John Hay. Our favorite outlet had gone out of business so again, no sale. We then went to Good Shepherd Convent to pick up some pasalubong and Christmas give-aways. We passed through Mines View Park where anarchy reigns. Tourist buses are parked so that the road is only one lane wide. When we got back to the Club, it was time for a favorite pasttime.

Our room overlooks the entire 9th hole - from tee to green. As the foursomes would go to the tee, Loly and I would each pick the person that we thought would win the hole. As we didn't know the players by name, we had to identify them by appearance. There was umbrella boy, red hat, green shirt, suspenders pot belly(Sorry for that)and a myriad of others. I won the contest by one point. Loly will have to wait until next year to get even. We always stay in the same room 332. We had dinner on the Verandah and then watched heavy fog rolling from our balcony.

On The Road Again

We left Manila at 6:15 Am in order to beat the rush hour traffic. The expressways - North Luzon Expressway and SCTX- were fine. The problems began when we had to take the provincial roads. Some roads in Tarlac are 4 lanes wide. The problem is that the locals find that the outer lanes of the road are the perfect place to dry their rice grains thus effectively turning the roads back to 2 lanes. And then there are the ever pesky tricycles, hogging the roads while they putter along.
We took Marcos Highway to climb the mountains. What a disappointment. The damages done by the typhoons last year have not yet been repaired. 14 months of inactivity.
We arrived at the Baguio Country Club in time for a late lunch. As you enter the Club you are greeted by the delicious aromas wafting from the Bakery. Heaven.
We rested after lunch and enjoyed the cool air and green scenery. Dinner at the Japanese restaurant and off to bed to rest up for tomorrow's adventures.