Lucena: Humidity, Halo-Halo, and Honestly, Just Trying to Chill
okay, so lucena. it’s…a lot. i didn’t really plan on lucena, philippines, to be honest. it was supposed to be a quick stopover on the way to somewhere else, but then my bus broke down, and i ended up spending three days wandering around, mostly fueled by halo-halo and a growing sense of bewildered amusement.
i’m a freelance photographer, and usually i’m chasing light in, like, iceland or something dramatic. lucena isn’t dramatic. it’s…sticky. i just checked and it’s eighteen point two degrees celsius, with humidity levels that feel personally targeted at my hair. it’s the kind of heat that makes your camera strap feel like it’s actively trying to melt onto your skin. the air pressure is a bit wonky, too, feels like it's pressing down on you.
the *market is insane. just a total sensory overload. i spent a good hour just photographing the fruit - mangoes the size of my head, rambutan looking like little alien creatures. i tried to haggle for some, but honestly, i just ended up paying whatever they asked. i’m terrible at haggling.
someone told me that the best lechon in the province is actually outside lucena, in a tiny roadside stall about an hour away. apparently, you have to ask for “aleng nena’s” lechon specifically. i didn’t make it that far, but it’s on the list for next time (if there is a next time).
i stayed in this little guesthouse near the port. the owner, ate elena, was an absolute sweetheart. she didn’t speak much english, and i don’t speak any tagalog beyond “salamat,” but we managed to communicate through a lot of pointing and smiling. she kept trying to feed me things. i think one of them was chicken feet. i politely declined.
the neighbors are pretty chill, mostly. if you get bored, Quezon City and Manila are just a short bus ride away, but honestly, lucena has a weird charm that’s worth sticking around for. i overheard a group of students complaining about the wifi at the library, which, honestly, sounds about right. TripAdvisor has some decent reviews of the restaurants, but take them with a grain of salt.
i spent an afternoon wandering around the Lucena Cathedral. it’s…a cathedral. pretty standard. but the plaza outside was full of life - kids flying kites, old men playing chess, vendors selling street food. it felt genuinely local*, you know? not like a tourist trap.
i heard that the best way to get around is by tricycle, but be prepared to negotiate the price. apparently, drivers will try to overcharge tourists. i mostly just walked, which was fine, except for the heat. Yelp doesn't have much on Lucena, which is kind of telling.
honestly, lucena isn’t going to win any awards for “most picturesque city.” it’s a bit rough around the edges, a bit chaotic, a bit…sweaty. but it’s real. and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. i found a local forum Lucena City Guide that might be helpful if you're planning a visit. i'm already thinking about my next adventure, maybe somewhere with less humidity. or maybe not. who knows?
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