Gullible. Trusting. Naive. Did you describe yourself this way after a trip to Intramuros? I did.
It was my fault. My mistake. But it doesn’t have to be your mistake, too.
It’s okay to be compassionate but please try not to get scammed. I have a soft spot for men who have children. They work hard to feed their family. They sacrifice for their kids. So I sympathized. Maybe, way too much.
Not everyone will trick you, yet some will. So be careful. And it doesn’t hurt to be a little suspicious of pedicab drivers offering their service. It’s easy to say ‘yes’ to a 30-minute tour for P350, but before you know it, each minute beyond this period can incur exorbitant fees.
The same person above warned me about scammers in Intramuros. He cited carriages that charge a hefty tour fee as an example. Take a look at this picture.
Now, out with the Scams, Here are Intramuros Snaps
Last June was my third visit to Intramuros. The first one was back in college, when I thought of bringing my siblings there for a holiday tour. The next one was a segway ride with Em, and the third was a few hours before my La Union assignment.
The problem with being spontaneous? You miss simple protocols like checking the opening hours of museums and gardens. My flight arrived early and I went straight to Intramuros. I later found out that only universities are open as early as 6am.
And it was June 4, 2018, it was also the first day of classes in PLM and other universities. I saw plenty of anxious freshmen, confident sophomores, and unmotivated third year uni students.
Well, it brought back memories.
Let me give you what you were actually after. Photos of my trip to Intramuros. Apologies if I couldn’t show you the entire city – most historic spots were closed during my visit.
Here are some notable buildings you will spot in and from Intramuros.
It was a snappy tour and I wanted more. Maybe fourth time’s a charm?
Happy Rizal Day, everyone.
P.S. If there are specific places inside the walled city that you wish to visit, look for the blue e-trike parked outside Intramuros’ main entrance. A ride within the city only costs P25.