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SAN FERNANDO (LA
UNION) |
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SAN FERNANDO in La Union, as opposed to San Fernando in Pampanga, is
the capital of La Union province and a good place to rest up for a few
days during a tour of the north. The city itself is the usual jumble of
jeepneys and fast-food restaurants. The main road is Quezon Avenue, also
known as the National Road, which runs through the city from south to
north. Buses from Manila heading north stop at the Town Plaza. The
tourist information office (tel 072/412 411) is close by in the Mabang
Justice Hall on General Luna Street, and the post office is a five-minute
walk northeast on P Tavera Street. It's worth taking a walk south along
Gapuz Zigzag road to Freedom Park , also known as Heroes' Hill, from
where you get good views over the South China Sea. The views from the
Provincial Capitol Building, immediately opposite, are arguably even
better. Along Quezon Aenue on the northern outskirts of San Fernando is
the impressive Ma-Cho temple , testament to the influence of the Chinese
in the area, many of whose ancestors arrived before the Spanish did.
Philippine Rabbit and Victory Liner buses from Manila (P120) are marked
for San Fernando, Loaog, Vigan or Abra. You can catch buses from San
Fernando to Baguio from the Eso-Nice Terminal in Rizal Street. Buses
from Baguio also terminate here.
The best accommodation in the area is on the northern outskirts of San
Fernando at the Sea and Sky Hotel (tel 072/415 279; $10-25) on Quezon
Avenue. It has clean double rooms with air-con and shower plus a number
of suites. Centrally located near the Town Plaza is the Plaza Hotel (tel
072/412 996; $10-15), offering good singles and doubles with air-con and
shower. Casa Blanca Hotel (tel 072/871 235; $10-20), on Rizal Sreet, is
a modern place with functional but well-maintained rooms.
About 10km north of San Fernando is the small town of SAN JUAN , which
is becoming popular with surfers. Activity seems to centre on the
popular La Union Surf Resort (tel 072/242 4544; $5-20), although there
are other resorts nearby. Accommodation ranges from budget rooms with
shared bathroom to cottages with fan and fridge. Buses bound for Loaog,
Vigan or Abra pass through San Juan; ask the driver to let you off at
Se-Bay Resort, San Juan, a big place next to La Union Surf Resort. They
all know where this is. The easiest way here from San Fernando town is
by tricycle to Se-Bay.
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