On a Monday morning, we decided to take on the road to Tagaytay, but unlike our previous trips to the place, this time we went on commute mode. I used to wonder if Tagaytay is one of those places that you will not really get to enjoy as much if you don't have a private car, I got a pleasant surprise with this adventure.
My friend and I boarded the bus (P57.00/person) bound for BALIBAGO at the station in Taft Ave. Buendia, the one facing EGI Bldg. We were on the road by 8:45 am and ready to explore Tagaytay for the day. After an hour, the bus stopped at the Balibago market where we were directed to board the jeep (P35.00/person) bound for Tagaytay. We didn't expect it to be a long ride (1 hour) but we had good weather so we didn't really mind.
It was almost 11:00am when we arrived at the TAGAYTAY CITY MARKET. My friend wanted to eat at BUON GIORNO, an Italian restaurant at the CLIFFHOUSE so we asked some of the people in the station for directions. One route is to board a jeep (P7.00) to OLIVAREZ PLAZA, then once there, ride another jeepn (P7.00) bound for Magallanes Drive to get to the Cliffhouse. One of the tricycle drivers offered to take us directly to Magallanes Drive for P40.00, and since we were getting pretty hungry, we took the this route instead.
We finally arrived at BUON GIORNO just in time for lunch. The restaurant offered a very scenic view of the TAAL LAKE AND VOLCANO. To fully enjoy the ambiance, we decided to stay at the al fresco area. The restaurant had a very rustic yet comfortable and relaxing appeal. It was decked with wood furniture, drapes and pillows and little what-have-yous that reminded me of one particular show in the Lifestyle Network - Shabby Chic.
I ordered Salmon Risotto (P252) and Dalandan shake (P112). Op had Mushroom soup (P168) and Meatball Sub (P202). For dessert, we tried their Chocolate Espresso Torte (P168). It was a very hearty meal indeed, a bit pricey but the servings were quite big and can be enjoyed by two people.
Each meal is cooked to order so there's waiting time involved before you can devour their kitchen concoctions. According to the staff that we got to chat with, the restaurant has been in existence for almost five years and if you can't go to Tagaytay just yet, you may enjoy their Italian meals at their Shaw Blvd. branch.
Out of 5, we give Buon Giorno, 3.5 stars, for the meal, the ambiance and the very friendly staff.
With our tummies filled to the brim, it was time to hit the road again. We've decided to try the zipline at Picnic Grove. It took us two jeepney rides to get there - from the Cliffhouse to Olivarez Terminal (P7) and from Olivarez terminal to Picnic Grove (P10).
After paying P50 at the entrance, we headed towards the zipline area. For P300 each, we had a two-way zipline ride and a photo for each of us. This is quite expensive considering that the zipline only lasted for 8-10 seconds each. But then I guess, there is a premium to every experience, plus the scenery was also quite good.
At 3pm, we were ready to go home. We did not want to get caught in the afternoon traffic that much so we boarded a jeep back to Olivarez terminal and rode one of the San Agustin buses that stops at the Buendia-Taft station.
I know there are still a lot of things that we can do in Tagaytay and we'll definitely go back to do each of them next time. At the end of the day, it was really an afternoon well spent with a friend and just the right form of escape to get away from the demanding and busy life in the city.
Till my next adventure...
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