Saturday's Photo Scavenger Hunt: Community
Was very busy these past few days so was not able to take photos myself for this week's theme. Instead I chose 3 which should give you an idea of what the community I live in is like. I live in Ermita, Manila in the Philippines. Ermita is known far and wide as the tourist belt, a writers and artists village, a university town, the genteel showplace of the influential old rich. Ermita streets of yesterday were then lined with acacias and flowering banaba and pretty houses in different colors, with flower-laden front gardens, a few chic shops, an occasional Italian restaurant. Later on, it gained notoriety as the city's red-light district. Thankfully, it is no longer viewed as such.
This is Malate Church which is renowned for two points of historical interest. It is dedicated to Nuestra Senora de Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies), an image of the Virgin Mary to whom the faithful have turned in times of trouble over four centuries. The church is also historically significant as the base from which the British launched their assault on Intramuros, which then placed Manila under British rule for a two-year period. The present weathered adobe structure is actually only over 100 years old, though various predecessors have stood on the site since the end of the 16th century.
Right across is the Baywalk, that strip of Roxas Boulevard that runs from the US Embassy to the Manila Yacht Club. At night, Baywalk comes bursting into life as numerous open-air bars and cafes with live acoustic bands cater to young and old alike, wiith rainbow-colored streetlamps illuminating the whole scene. A small cruise ship (Tennessee Walker) offers a tour of the bay at a reasonable price. Famous fastfood chains have also placed small stalls along this renovated paradise by the bay.
Perhaps one of Manila's most enduring charms is the beautiful sunset across Manila Bay which has made it famous world-wide. On a clear day, the red orange burst of color across the horizon is simply breath-taking. It serves as a fitting backdrop for families enjoying their time together or for lovers' romantic pursuits.
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