Paris1972-Versailles2003

Well I did said that my updates would be over but but really some of these old posts deserves more viewing. I guess they were done when had not many followers and I feel these were wonderful travel memories. So therefore, a lot more picky but will showcase some of these older travels again in my blog.  This time will tell you about Cebu city. The trip was very busy with work so little time to see anything, anyway ,it was a great opportunity to revisit Cebu, especially. Therefore, let me tell you on the curiosities of Cebu, part I !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I

A bit on the province region of Cebu. Cebu is a province located in the Central Visayas (Region VII) region, and consists of a main island and 167 surrounding islands and islets. Its capital is Cebu City, known as the Queen City of the South, the oldest city and first capital of the Philippines, which is politically independent from the provincial government. The Metro Cebu is formed by 7 neighboring cities such as Carcar City, Cebu City (I was base here), Danao City, Lapu-Lapu City (passed by here) , Mandaue City (passed by here), Naga City, and Talisay City; and 6 smaller towns like Compostela, Consolacion, Cordova, Liloan, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. Cebu City as the main center of commerce, trade, education and industry in the Visayas.
Mactan – Cebu International Airport, located on Mactan Island, is the second busiest airport in the Philippines and about 20 km from Cebu city.

I left home by car at 4h or 4 am on my way to Nantes airport to catch AF to Paris CDG, there took the Emirates airline to Dubai International airport,and then hop again on Emirates to Cebu airport!!! And of course the return was even slower as leaving Cebu the plane waited an hour at Clark Manila before taken off again for Dubai. I do not think will do this again, this route and airlines  Emirates read they were good but boy did they screw up not knowing the allow luggage weight the slowness of it all and the poor meals on the plane. I thing try them once more and that is it, Air France is mine!

For references passing places Dubai international airport (see post): https://www.dubaiairports.ae/home-page

And Clark International airport: https://clarkinternationalairport.com/

The Marcelo Fernan Bridge is an extradosed cable-stayed bridge located in Metro Cebu. It spans across Mactan Channel connecting from Cebu to Mandaue City and to Lapu-Lapu City in Mactan Island (where the airport is located). It is currently the longest cable-stayed bridge in the Philippines. It has a total length of 1237 meters (4058feet) with a center span of 185 meters (607 feet), and was completed and inaugurated by President Joseph Estrada on August 3, 1999. And this is the bridge I passed each time there from the airport to city center Cebu! Nice ride! And after all, I give the most famous bridge in all of the
Philippines and yours truly has passed and enjoy it on several occasions. A great souvenir to remember forever.

Once landed the rest was easy and friendly with the locals, some I knew already in addition to new found friends. The ride to my hotel was nice and not too much traffic as normally the case.  I did not needed any visas but did pay 750 PHP pesos leaving the airport as an airport tax. I believe this has been eliminated for stays shorter than 21 days. More info here: http://www.tourism.gov.ph/immigration_custom.aspx#

My hotel for the entire stayed was the wonderful Best Western Lex Cebu right in town. Centrally located for shopping and eating in town. The KAI restaurant for breakfast lunch and dinner is nice, friendly and well done with glass walls to see the hustle of the city main artery before you. Lex Cebu webpage: http://best-western-plus-lex-cebu.hotels-cebu-ph.com/en/

And a bit more on the KAI resto: https://www.zomato.com/it/cebu/kai-restaurant-capitol-site-cebu-city

Some of the things to see an enjoy here are the Sinulog held each year, festival and ritual dance of nine days organized from the third Sunday in January to celebrate the baby Jesus of Cebu: Santo Nino. It’s a ritual dance, two steps forward then one step back, to the sound of percussion. I have been twice at the beginning of it with lots of actions activities in town, a real fun way to visit Cebu! Until 1980, the Sinulog, which falls every third Sunday in January, was not a major event in Cebu, but the regional director of the Ministry of Sports wanted to give it new impetus and organize a larger parade, mainly around the Cebu Basilica. Supported by authorities, the festival has grown in importance and is now one of the most important events in the Philippines. It is huge!!! There are a number of significant Spanish colonial constructions in the City such as the Basilica of the Holy Child , Fort San Pedro, the Casa Gorordo museum and the Magellanic Cross. The Taoist temple of Cebu dominates the city and its neighbors of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu.

On the Mactan Island side of the bridge, there is a park called the Millennium Park at the base of the bridge’s piers, and the
Filipino Seafarers Memorial is located in that park. Also, the bridge has two pedestrian walkways, one on the north side of the bridge, and one on the south side. On the Cebu Island side of the bridge, there is Mandaue City, and the bridge is accessed via United Nations Avenue. The Mactan Island side of the bridge, which is in Lapu-Lapu City, is accessed by Old Patiller Road, a spur road of the Manuel L. Quezon National Highway.

Shopping galore on good prices compare to home and malls that reminds me of those in the USA big ,huge even,and plenty of choices for shopping and eating nice and safe. Most of these with posts in my blog. One of them was the Ayala Terraces Mall with the great Huskad Philippines cuisine overlooking the great seaside port. Another one was briefly in was the Parkmall, one of the newest ones there; right in town. And even more was the J Centre ,also in town great malls too easy town shopping and eating. The newest mall there and tried by yours truly ::) And one more at SM city mall just in Cebu city, great shopping and food here too; I had a great pizza pepperoni with San Miguel beer call Veneto Pizzeria Ristorante! nice! And the resto is showing in Zomato reviews site very good: https://www.zomato.com/it/cebu/a-veneto-pizzeria-north-reclamation-area-cebu-city

However, the best action in town and one I made my home central on many nights was the Howlings Dogs , superbe. One can stay there forever!! Check if still open. webapge: https://howlingdogssportsbar.com/

At Cebu, nearby Mandaue city, we went to the Jump Shot Sports Bar, a rather rocking place with a terrace overlooking the main street. Plenty of cheers good beers and friendly company. We had great fun here and came back couple times more to the Jump Shot Sports Bar. Recommended.

A bit of history I like tell us that it was on April 7, 1521 that Fernand de Magellan landed in Cebu. He is greeted by Rajah Humabon, King of Cebu, and the Queen who converted to Catholicism on April 14 with 800 Magellan natives, however, failed to claim the island for the crown of Spain, having been killed by the king of Mactan Lapu-Lapu on April 27, 1521 during the battle of Mactan. On April 27, 1565, the expedition led by Miguel López de Legazpi begins the colonization of the region with the Augustinian brother Andrés de Urdaneta. The Villa de San Miguel is the first founded by Legazpi in the archipelago on May 8, 1565. The villa becomes a city with all the rights relating thereto, on January 1, 1571, thanks to a royal decree of king Felipe II under the name of Ciudad del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús or City of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. In 1898, the city was ceded to the United States of America after the Spanish-American War and the American-Philippine War. In 1901, it was administered for a brief period by the United States and obtained a special status of self-government in 1936 allowing it to be managed independently by Filipino politicians. Occupied by the Japanese during WWII, the city eventually integrated the Republic of the Philippines by July 4 1946.

The tourist office of the Philippines on Cebu: https://itsmorefuninthephilippines.co.uk/cebu-bohol/

The Cebu tourist office:https://cebucitytourism.org/

There you go a wonderful spot and I just touch the surface, there is a lot more along the coast. Something to think about and come back, one day time permitting and the travel lines open again. The memories and friendship will endure and hoping one day to be back there. Time will tell, in the meantime, thank you for the warm wonderful welcome each time. Again, hope you enjoy the post on curiosities of Cebu !!! as I.

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!