Northern exposure

The decision to go to Laoag Ilocos Norte was born of one thing: cheap flights. We figured we could get on a plane to Laoag, spend a day there, and then get on a bus to Vigan, Ilocos Sur—the more tourist-famous of the Ilocos provinces—where we imagined we would want to stay. Heritage! Culture! Empanada! Vigan was the way to go.

But there we were, two days in Laoag and already thinking of stretching it another day. We hit the beaches of Pagudpud and thought we’d stay there the rest of the week, but found ourselves on a bus back to Laoag after a day, and then onto a bus to Batac for some Marcos nostalgia, empanada, and lomi. There was the option of doing another Museo Ilocos Norte visit, though walking the city one last time—or getting on those kalesas that rule the streets—would’ve been good enough, too.