Visiting Baluarte at 1:00 in the afternoon on Easter Sunday wasn't exactly the best idea for a group of twenty-something pals who tagged along ze impatient parents XD Even the charming Calle Crisologo didn't win their hearts. And I say blame the summer heat that felt like 40° Celsius on our skin.
Photo by Kert Tria
And the crowd. Gazillions of people visited Chavit Singson's zoo on that fateful day. Couldn't blame them though. It was Easter Sunday and the next day was declared a non-working holiday so tourists and locals alike flocked to Baluarte. Funny thing is, there were actually more people than animals in the area. There were even more cars in the parking lot than the animals! :))
Okay so let me start with the bad things, as what I always do ;). The three majors things I didn't like about Baluarte were the crowd, the summer heat and the animals, or the lack thereof. The first two things aren't always there or are "seasonal". It was too noisy, too crowded and too hot when we visited, unlucky us! No entrance fee + summer heat + long weekend = chaos.
It's not surprising [but still a li'l bit disappointing] to see that there were only a few animals in Baluarte. I mean, anyone can just go inside for free and it'll be really heavy on the pocket to maintain a zoo with lots of animals in it without charging the visitors.
because turista shots can never be avoided! :)) must.take.pictures.whenever.wherever :))
But the best thing about Baluarte is the liberty of being in contact with the animals! As visitors, you have a lot of options to choose from - let the colorful parrots rest on your shoulder for a photo op, feed the goats and the alpaca, play with the ostrich (at your own risk), have the python "hug" you, and get in line to have your photo taken with a tiger.
   |   thiz iz the activity that i enjoyed the most! :)  up close and personal with the aloof alpaca  |
tiger to human: do not, i repeat, DO NOT dare touch me.
Even though I enjoyed playing with the animals, overall I think we should have skipped Baluarte and went over to the Juan Luna shrine instead or stayed longer in Calle Crisologo. My judgment is, of course, forever affected by ze impatient parents, the not-so-good timing of our visit, and the summer heat. But I don't think I would still go back to Baluarte on a relatively colder weekday. There's honestly not much to see!
And to end this post, here's a couple of turista pictures brought to you by our vanity and our oh-my-god-time-for-FB-profile-pic thinking.
And to end this post, here's a couple of turista pictures brought to you by our vanity and our oh-my-god-time-for-FB-profile-pic thinking.
 with Kert |  with Toto |
P.S. You can ride a a pony-driven carriage that will take you around, how should I describe this, a space? Definitely NOT around Baluarte, just around an open space that's probably 50sqm in area.
P.P.S. Coke-in-can is sold for only P25! Sweeeeet. There's also fresh sweet cane juice offered for only P20 a cup but the long line discouraged us from trying it.
P.P.P.S. Forgot to buy some pasalubongs in Calle Crisologo? Worry not! There are also souvenir shops just outside Baluarte.
P.P.S. Coke-in-can is sold for only P25! Sweeeeet. There's also fresh sweet cane juice offered for only P20 a cup but the long line discouraged us from trying it.
P.P.P.S. Forgot to buy some pasalubongs in Calle Crisologo? Worry not! There are also souvenir shops just outside Baluarte.
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