OLD MOVIE STARS, THE GREAT FLOOD, AND CALLE CRISOLOGO

  
“What the hell do people come here for?” This was my first uninspired outburst at 10 years old when I first visited the Heritage Village in Calle Crisologo, Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
The road trip is back breaking and the derelict structures seem to wear the remnants of the Great Flood. Should I be impressed?

Many years later, I am back in these cobbled streets. Like reuniting with an old movie star. The face older than the last, more cracks and fault lines. 

  
   
Vigan is in the same detritus state I remember. The smell of horse shit perfuming the streets, alternating with the whiff of a long forgotten, crumpled 20 Peso bill. 

But there is an even larger throng of tourists now, would you believe? If it was difficult to appreciate it as a kid, now it is close to excruciating.

What am I missing? 

In everything there is beauty. I know I just have to try hard enough. Vigan proves a challenge. But I like challenges. This is the start of what I found:

   
    
    
 Goes to show, there are rewards if one stops being a whiny little shit.