Searching for Baguio (part 1)

As a kid, I remember Baguio to be THE vacation spot.  The city of pines.  It only took us 4 hours to go up by Kennon road.  And while I don't think the roads were done or were in any better condition, there were much less cars on the road.  Oh the excitement I felt when we had the last pit stop at that round restaurant at the junction of Rosario.  Up Kennon, it was a must to stop at the Lion's head.  With open windows, the cool breeze on my face eased any car sickness i felt.  And I smelled the trees.  It was the scent of vacation!

It was ages before we went back up especially after the 1990 earthquake.  But, after John Hay's Manor was put up, life came back to Baguio City, and we started going up the mountain again. We saw so much change in the last 3 visits - 2001, 2003 and 2005.  But this trip (april 2008), I realized sadly, Baguio has lost its charm.

These past few trips, we used the more reliable Marcos Highway going up, albeit about 30 minutes longer.  Not a lot of trees or forest-y smells but it was wider and less steep.  I've always enjoyed seeing the Marcos head.  It was always something to point out - "can you imagine he carved his face on the mountain??!!!" It was a testament to his vanity and narcissism, an excellent conversation piece. And in the previous 3 trips, I would see less and less of it.  This trip, I reached Baguio without seeing it at all! They knocked it out of the mountain.  While I have no love for the former president, i do feel they  blew up a piece of history. 

Marcos Head ala Mount Rushmore courtesy of bbc news

Marcos Highway

We booked ourselves at a reasonably priced 5 year old hotel (we found on the internet) on the highway, 2 minutes before the rotonda - Summer Place Hotel.   With their 50% off promo it was very reasonable. A junior suite for 3 nights was only P5250, with 2 queen sized beds and a very spacious bathroom, it accomodated us well - 3 adults and 2 kids.  It wasn't the Shangri-La but it was clean, homey and very spacious.  The staff was friendly and helpful and the location was accessible.

From the hotel we had a view of a part of the city.  Yes, some greenery but alot of roofs.  Gray G.I. sheets interspersed with the foliage.

Baguio seemed to be more crowded and traffic seemed to be more knotted.  Gone are the days when you can reach the other side of the city in just 10 to 15 minutes.  Now everything had a line.  And the flyover! Yes, a flyover from marcos highway to Maharlika road (i think), bypassing the rotonda where Petron and Pancake house are.  Man, is this still Baguio?  Ah, the price of progress.  Shortly after the flyover is SM City Baguio just where Pines Hotel used to be.  

It was a monstrosity!  I'm a (somewhat) patron of SM but really... Baguio City?  

Next: Searching for Baguio - Part 2 - Touristy Things to see and do