My Intramuros Walking Tour Route (late afternoon to evening)

Final installment of my Intramuros walking tour summary:

The drizzle turned out to last for just a couple of minutes, so I continued to walk along Muralla Street.

Passed by the Boys and Girls Scout monument in an island just across Puerta Isabel II.

Reached the abandoned Aduana building which was situated at the center of Intramuros' Pasig River entrance.

Walked towards Plaza España - an island with King Felipe II's monument across Muralla Street from the Aduana Building.

From there I looked for Plaza Sto. Tomas, which was surprisingly difficult to see as it was hidden by the massive BF Condominium. 

I found the Plaza in the corner of Solana and Sto. Tomas Streets - between the BF Condominium and the Colegio de Sta. Rosa

Walked down Sto. Tomas Street, and in the process passing by some squalid surroundings which stretched all the way to Magallanes Street (the ugliest street in Intramuros.) 

Finally reached the Ayuntamiento ruins, and consequently Manila Cathedral and Plaza Roma. 

Lingered in the area for a while to decide what I should do next.  Took a few more pictures

From Plaza Roma, walked along A. Soriano Avenue until I exited at the gate beside Plaza Willard.

Walked well outside the walls until I reached the Anda Circle in the middle of Bonifacio Drive to take pictures of the Anda monument.

Walked back to the gate, further along A. Soriano Avenue, then all the way back to the Aduana Building to see if I can observe the reconstruction of the curtain wall.  The site was fenced with tall sheets of plywood, so I wasn't able to do so.

Encircled the Aduana Building to take a look at Plaza Mexico along the southern bank of the Pasig River.  There were a lot of homeless living in the Plaza.

At around 6 pm, I got hungry again so I walked towards the corner of Cabildo Street and A. Soriano Avenue to dine at Chow King.  From the restaurant, one has a sweeping view of the Ayuntamiento ruins, the Manila Cathedral, Plaza Roma and even the Palacio del Gobernador.

After dinner, I went to Plaza Roma to smoke and take a few pictures of Manila Cathedral and the Palacio del Gobernador.  Spent some time in Plaza Roma inspecting an exhibit on biblical history under a tent.

Proceeded to General Luna Street with the intention of hailing a cab.  Got stopped by an SUV with an "8" plate number at the corner of Beaterio and General Luna Streets.  The occupants (who looked like bodyguards) were asking for directions to Patio Victoria.  I told them they are on the correct street, but they need to go all the way back around 100 meters.

Walked further along until I reached the San Agustin Church.  Took pictures of the facade.

Finally boarded a cab in front of the NCCA building in the corner of General Luna and Sta. Potenciana Streets.









 

My Intramuros Walking Tour Route (afternoon)

This is the continuation of my blog of the Intramuros walking tour.  The previous blog can be accessed here.  In the afternoon I endeavored to walk the perimeter of the old walled city.  Here is the summary of the route I took:

After yosi break, I then walked the length of Sta. Clara Street then turned left to Arzobispo Street.

I intended to look for the ruins of the San Ignacio Church, so I crossed A. Soriano Street and went straight until I reached the site in the corner of Arzobispo and Anda Streets.

Turned right to Anda Street to get to the front of the ruins which faced Sta. Lucia Street, and passing by the old Ateneo Municipal de Manila site.

Went up the Baluarte Plano Luneta de Sta. Isabel, which was at the section of the wall across Sta. Lucia Street from the San Ignacio Church ruins.

Descended the Baluarte and proceeded to Puerta de Sta. Lucia.  Walked out the gate towards the Hidalgo monument along Bonifacio Drive.

Went back to to Intramuros through Puerta Sta. Lucia and went up the Baluartillo de San Eugenio.  Descended the Baluartillo and walked towards the ruins of the Cuartel de Artilleria de Montaña which was nearby.

Walked further towards the Baluartillo de San Jose and viewed the Reducto de San Pedro, which was a few meters outside the walls.

Descended the Baluartillo and went back to Sta. Lucia Street.  Tried to enter the Baluarte de San Diego at the corner of Sta. Lucia and Muralla Streets but it was closed due to a private function.

Turned left at the corner to Muralla Street (where PLM is) and proceeded to Puerta Real.  It was closed at that time so I was not able to proceed to the Revellin de Real de Bagumbayan

Walked a bit more and reached the Intramuros main entrance leading to General Luna Street.

Went up the walls again to reach the Baluarte de San Andres.  The National Museum is visible in the distance outside the walls, while within, the buildings of DOLE and the Manila Bulletin are the ones near the Baluarte.

Walked along the walls to view the Revellin de Recolletos. then walked some more until I went over the Victoria Street entrance.

Got hungry so I descended the walls and had a 2 p.m. lunch at Mc Donald's (!?!) near the corner of Victoria and Muralla Streets.

After lunch, I looked for a store that sold cigarettes so I walked further along Victoria Street until I reached a squalid area at the back of Manila High School.  Couldn't stand the ugly surroundings to I walked back to Mc Donald's to finish my ciggie.

After smoking, I went back up the walls and proceeded to Baluarte de Dilao.  The Post Office and the back of the old Metropolitan Theater is visible in the distance outside the walls, while within, Mapua Institute of Technology is the building nearest to the Baluarte.

Descended the Baluarte to take pictures of the Puerta del Parian and the Revellin del Parian.  Passed by the Lyceum of the Philippines on the way there.

Went back inside Intramuros through the Puerta del Parian and then went up the Baluarte de San Gabriel near Colegio de San Juan de Letran.

Descended the Baluarte to walk towards the Puerta de Isabel II.  It was closed, but there was a little unnamed gate between the Baluarte and the Puerta which led to a small garden outside the walls.  Spent a minute exploring that garden.

A light drizzle began so I looked for shelter before proceeding.

My Intramuros Walking Tour Route (before noon)

Here's a summary of the path I took in touring Intramuros in the morning of December 21:

Got off the cab at the Fort Santiago Entrance.

Carlos Celdran's tour started at Plaza Moriones near the Intramuros Visitors' Center.

Walked for a short distance towards the War Memorial still in Plaza Moriones for a short lecture.

Walked towards the Fort Santiago gate for another lecture.

Walked back to Plaza Moriones, up to the Fort Santiago exit.

Boarded calesas in Sta. Clara Street.

Calesa ride route: left to Arzobispo Street, left to A. Soriano Avenue, right to General Luna Street, right to Anda Street, left to Sta. Lucia Street, left to Muralla St., then finally left to General Luna Street.

Disembarked from calesa beside the San Agustin Church.

Walked straight to the San Agustin Church Garden for a short lecture.

Proceeded to the San Agustin crypts for another lecture.

Exited the Church compound and crossed the street to Plaza San Luis.

From the Plaza San Luis courtyard, went up the stairs three floors up for another short lecture.

Went back to the ground floor in another part of Plaza San Luis for the closing lecture and the free Halo-halo.

After Carlos Celdran's tour, walked towards Plazuela de Sta. Isabel in the corner of General Luna and Anda Streets.

Walked towards the Manila Cathedral and Plaza Roma.

Walked back towards Fort Santiago.

Went through the tunnel towards Reducto de San Francisco, then went up back up the Baluartillo da San Francisco.

Went through the Fort Santiago main gate again.

Went up the Baluarte San Miguel and walked through a section of the wall.

Was about to enter the 3rd floor of the Rizal Shrine from the wall, but was told that I had to go down the ground floor towards the actual entrance of the building.

Went back down from the wall and entered the Rizal Shrine, then exited through another way that leads to the Almacenes Reales ruins.

Went back up the wall towards Baluarte de Sta. Barbara.

Went down towards the Falsabraga de Sta. Barbara and Falsabraga de Media Naranja.

Walked back towards the memorial for the dead found in the dungeons during World War II.

Tried to go to the dungeons, but the entrance was locked.

Walked back towards the Fort Santiago main gate, passing by the Dulaang Raja Soliman.

Walked the length of Plaza Moriones towards the exit.

Had an iced tea and a cigarette at the stall in the corner of General Luna and Sta. Clara Streets.