Albay as a whole still keeps many little-known awe-inspiring spots – some of them lurking right behind busy depots.
Thanks to a brute shift in weather, we were shooed away to one of those destinations all the way from Bacacay: Legazpi Boulevard, a sleepy port area that’s a mish-mash of all things lovable about the outdoors.
And I couldn’t be happier for the shooing that occurred.
One will never run out of cliche’d travel adjectives to use for this miles-long coastal road. Picturesque. Spectacular. A charming destination with a sweeping and panoramic view as far as the eye can see (that’s three in one sweep). And overused as they are, they are all absolutely true.
Even in glum grey weather, this quiet spot in Albay’s capital makes for a rich and compelling chill-out spot. It soothes and renews the worn-out. Certainly it’s no wonder locals flock the place for their extracurriculars.
Beyond black break water rocks are golden specks of children. I watched them merrily buoy against the water as harsh monsoon winds bore down and tipped small vessels to the side. Across the port , by the quiet road is a small seafront resto perched at the foot of lovely Kapuntukan Hill, fondly called Sleeping Lion by locals.
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Within view is a rappelling cum rock climbing wall and a zipline (which sadly, was closed during that time due to the weather). It’s a beauty from end to end. Too bad I can’t stay till nightfall. I heard the boulevard bears an amazing aura at night when street lamps fire up.
And did I mention it lies just around the block from swanky Embarcadero, Bicol’s first and sole waterfront mall?
It’s not drop dead gorgeous. In fact, inside, the mall is rather melancholic and just a few shops short of barren (or maybe we came on a bad day?). But it gets huge plus points for straddling part of the old Legazpi port and sporting a BGC-like feel to it (plus a Biggs Diner fronting the sea!)
A hill and the sea right smack in the middle of a busy city. Now what sight could be more refreshing than that?
