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| The Cape Bojeador Lighthouse also known as the Burgos Lighthouse. |
We took a tricycle to reach the lighthouse from the site's designated parking lot. Upon arriving, we were looking at the many steps to climb to reach the actual lighthouse building. We readied our legs for the stair-climbing session.
Cape Bojeador Lighthouse was designed in 1887 and first lit in 1892 during the Spanish Colonial period. The tower is octagonal in shape and is 66 feet (20 meters) tall.
It was declared a National Historical Landmark on August 13, 2004 and as a National Cultural Historical Treasure on June 20, 2005. It is one of the most accessible lighthouses in the country.
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| A mini-leg workout is required to reach the lighthouse. |
The lighthouse has had to undergo repairs on different occasions due to natural calamities as well as for maintenance. The first time we visited, we could not go up the actual lighthouse due to it being renovated. This time around, it was still not accessible. However, visitors can take pictures outside the tower and get a spectacular view of the Ilocos landscape.
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| View of the town and coastline from Cape Bojeador. |
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| A more expansive view of the scene before us. |
Taking pictures at such a height was quite challenging as the wind was very strong. So be sure to maintain a firm grip on your cameras and celfones as you snap away.
Also, since the tower was very tall, it was almost impossible to take a picture of people on the ground with the tower included as background. The structure is on top of a steep hill which had only minimal walking space outside of it before it cut off straight down. The cliff edge is also not easy to spot as it is covered by a variety of plants.
I'm sure it would be possible with the right equipment and techniques to take the picture but the strong wind, the cliff-hanger landscape, our flimsy celfones and small cameras and the buwis-buhay efforts to take said picture didn't seem worth it; so we opted to appreciate the scenery instead.
We went back down after taking pictures and our friends decided to just walk back to the parking lot since it was just a short distance away.
Our last spot before going back to Vigan was Paoay Church, a huge church with an impressive structure that made it irresistible for us to just pass by. We parked the van and trooped to the church to explore and take our pictures.
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| Paoay Church with the wedding car waiting at the entrance. |
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| A view of Paoay Church from one of its side gates. |
We had been to many old churches but Paoay Church was built differently from the rest of them. It's Spanish name is Iglesia de San Agustin de Paoay. It was built in 1710 and is famous for its unique structure.
It's most famous and noticeable feature are its 24 thick buttresses which makes the whole structure strong enough to withstand earthquakes. It's walls are made of large coral stones on the lower levels and bricks on the upper levels and its facade is built leaning towards the front.
The bell tower is built separately from the church and is also made of corals. It has 3 stories resembling the structure of a pagoda. It is located some distance away from the church also as a protection from earthquakes.
We could not go inside because there was a wedding being held but our short stopover made us wonder in awe at this massive and old structure. Of course, we took our selfies but the church is so big that we look like ants in the picture.
After this last picturesque spot, we were on our way back to Vigan to get ready for the next day's destination.
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