Calle Cristolo or Mena Crisologo
Street is name after Mena Pecson Crisologo who is the most respected
sons of Ilocos. He actually wrote Mining wenno Ayat ti Kararwa which is
compared to Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tangere; he is also the author of Don
Calixtofaro de la Kota Caballero de la Luna and Codigo Municipal.
According
to some traveler I spoke to, this street is said to be one of the
most beautiful in the Philippines. No
motor vehicles are allowed within its vicinity, but some calesa operates in some parts of the streets.
The
street itself is made up of cobblestone, with the heritage
houses of the former Filipino-Chinese traders on the sides. Majority of the houses
have thick walls made of cement, brown and red bricks; the doors are
wide made up of shiny and solid woods; the sliding windows are perfectly
made from capiz shells, designed with iron grills and wood. The
ceilings are created higher, maybe this is for ventilation purposes.
Today,
some of the century-old houses were converted into commercial shops,
museums, restaurants, cafe and hotels. Each shops are selling antiques,
woven products, bags, basi, chicharon, jewelry, woodcraft and many
more. In night time, the gorgeous light in different, colors in each
shops added an additional effects that registers in the camera.