Southern Luzon - The Rough Guide to the Philippines - page 215

Vista al Mayon Washington Drive T 052 481 0308,
E [e-mail]. A good choice among the
city's inexpensive options, with knick-knacks dotted about
the entrance hall and comfortable rooms with little wicker

details; there's also a piano, billiards table and a small
swimming pool in the courtyard (the pool is used for
children's lessons at the w eekend, when it can get a bit
noisy and crowded). P1450

EATING
1st Colonial Grill Pacific mall, City Proper T 052 481
1213. This popular restaurant within Pacific mall is
renowned for its unique pink chilli ice cream (P79) that
gives quite a kick; other flavours include roasted rice and
pili nut. The menu features spring rolls (P149), fish and
seafood dishes (P210) and meats (P150) that are large
enough to share. Daily 9am-8pm.
7 Degrees Grill Bar Rizal St, City Proper T 052 480
8887. This popular restaurant with laidback seating and
wicker chairs features an extensive menu of Filipino dishes.
The bestseller is the crispy pata (P370) - deep-fried pork
- that is large enough for four people to share. Nightly
live bands at 7pm. Daily 10am-midnight.
★

480 1393. The most atmospheric dining experience in the
city, located in an ancestral home complete with family
pictures and old photographs of Mayon. The menu covers all
the Filipino standards, with some twists on Bicolano cuisine
(see box opposite) including pasta with Bicol Express (P105)
and the fiery Mayon stuffed pizza, with laing , longganisa
sausage and Bicol Express (P265). Daily 11am-10pm.
Ysabelle's Rizal St, Albay District T 052 480 0555. This
colonial restaurant, with original floorboards, a lovely
wooden ceiling and background jazz, offers a range of
Filipino dishes; bestsellers include smoked baby back ribs
(P300) and authentic Bicol Express (P130); rice is served in
cute wooden bowls, and all the juices (P70) and home-
made cakes (P80) are freshly prepared. Daily 10am-10pm. Small Talk 51 Doña Aurora St, Albay district T 052

DIRECTORY
Banks There are numerous banks on Rizal Ave as well as
ATMs in the shopping malls. In the Albay district, you'll find
a Land Bank ATM in the Provincial Capitol Annex.
Internet access There are plenty of internet cafés in City
Proper. Try Globalink, 3rd Floor, Pacific mall (daily 9am-
8pm; P15/hr; T 0918 606 9326) or Mocha Bytes Internet

Café, Albay Capitol Annexe (daily 8am-7pm; P15/hr;
T 052 742 0678).
Police The Albay police provincial o ce is at Camp Gen.
Simeon A. Ola ( T 052 820 6440), west of the Albay district.
Post o ce On Lapu-Lapu St at Quezon Ave in City Proper
(Mon-Fri 8am-5pm).

4

Mount Mayon
The elegantly smooth cone of MOUNT MAYON (2460m) may look benign from a
distance, but don't be deceived. The most active volcano in the country, Mayon has
erupted more than forty times since 1616, the date of its first recorded eruption.
The most deadly single eruption was in 1814 when around 1200 people were killed
and the church at Cagsawa (see p.220) was destroyed; 77 people, including
American volcanologists, were killed in a 1993 eruption. In August 2006, an
“extended danger zone” was enforced but the expected eruption did not occur.
Three months later, however, Typhoon Durian caused mudslides of volcanic ash
and boulders on Mayon that killed hundreds. Further eruptions and ash ejections
have occurred since.
The presence of Mayon results in strange weather conditions in and around Legazpi,
with the volcano and the surrounding area often soaked in rain when the rest of the
country is basking in unbroken sunshine.

Climbing Mount Mayon
The traditional window of opportunity for an ascent of Mount Mayon is February
to April , and even then you'll have to be well prepared for cold nights at altitude
and the possibility of showers. At any other time of year you could be hanging
around for days waiting for a break in the weather. Though the slopes look smooth,
it takes at least two days to reach the highest point of the trail, working your way
slowly through forest, grassland and deserts of boulders. Above 1800m there's the
possibility of being affected by poisonous gases, although some guides will offer to
take you to 2000m.