AlbayTourist attractions:

Mayon Volcano, the world´s most perfect cone, derives its name from magayon, meaning "beatutiful". It stands majestically at 2462 m from a broad base abouth 10 km in radius. Its crater continually emits steam and gases. Since 1616, Mt. Mayon has erupted at least 40 times, the worst was in 1814 and the latest was in ????.The Mayon Conquest is an organized three-day climbing activity that attracts a large number of partipants. The Mayon Vista Lodge, formerly called Mayon Rest House, nestles on the eastern slopes at 911 meters facing Tabaco and commands a panoramic view of the neighboring towns and the Pacific Ocean.The ruins of Cagsawa church are a mute testimoney of Mayon´s destructive fury. All that remains of the town buried in the 1814 eruption are a blackened church tower and some walls of the priest´s house and the municipal building.The Cagsawa National Museum located beside the ruins showcases Bicol relics, artifacts and historical documents. Cagsawa is 3,5 kilometers northwest of Daraga.The Catholic Church at Daraga, 5 kilometers from Legaspi proper, is a baroque church on top of the hill built by Franciscan missionaries in 1773. It contains archaeological relics such as santos and religious seals carved on volcanic rocks.Kimantong Sky Drive in Daraga is a long stretch of zigzag road that has become a favorite stopover and resting place for motorists as it offers a panoramic view of Daraga and Legaspi sepecially at night.The Catholic Church at Camalig, 14 kilometers northwest of Legaspi, is another missionary church built out of volcanic rocks.Pottery, bones in burial jars and beadwork excavated from Hoyop-Hoyopan Cave in Cotmon, Camalig, said to have been the home of the area´s first inhabitants, are carefully stored and displayed for viewing in a small museum next to the church.Calabiding Caves, "caves of the bats", also in Camaling, have an undeground stream. Naglus Underground River in Jovellar town south of Camalig is largely unexplored but a bamboo raft can travel its length.St. Raphael Church in Legaspi City has an altar that is a large volcanic rock from Mayon. Near the city´s wharf is a headless statue said to have been built in memory of a gurilla hero beheaded by the Japanese.The shore close by, lined with fishermen´s houses on stilts, is called Victory Village.The coastal road on the eastern part of the province links Legaspi City to Tiwi. Along the shores of Buhatan Beach in Santo Domingo, the first town from Legaspi, lies the wreck of a Spanish galleon that serves as a reminder of the rich Manila-Acapulco trade route of Spanish times.Seven-tiered Busay Falls in Malilipot, at 250 meters, is one of the highest waterfalls in the country.Tabaco, the next town from Legaspi, is the gateway to Catanduanes and known for its metalcraft industry that forges old scrap metal into scissors and kitchen knives.Tiwi is a site of a geothermal power plant that is often made part of educational tours. The once renowned Tiwi Hot Sprins have been destroyed by geothermal activity, the springs feed the swimming pools of a youth hostel.Balubagon Boiling Lake in Manito, south of Legaspi, has steam pressure described to be stronger than the Tiwi geothermal plant. It has an outlet near the seashore where an erupting geyser canbe seen for miles.

The land: 

The province is generally mountainous with scattered fertile plains and valleys.Abouth 40 % of the land area is flat and cradled by the mountains of Masaraga, Malinao, Pantao, Catburawan and the majestic Mayon Volcano. In the north are the islands of Rapu-Rapu, Batan, Carrary and San Miguel.The eastern half of Albay has no dry season and very pronounced raidfall from November to January.The western half has rainfall evenly distributed throughout the year.

A brief history: 

Albay and its surrounding areas were known as Ibalon when Juan de Salcedo and 120 soldiers explored it in 1573. Sawangan, a small settlement by a mangrove swamp, became a town called Albaybay (meaning "by the bay") in 1616. The town was first renamed Albay, then LEgaspi, as Albay went on to refer to the province.In 1846, Masbate, Ticao and Burias were seperated from albay to form the comandancia of Masabate. Albay was then divided into four districts: Iraya, Cordillera or Tobaco, Sorsogon and Catduanes.In 1894, Sorosogon became a seperate province and Catanduanes followed suit in 1945.The province of Albay itself was created on March 10, 1917.Its colorful history includes both natural and man-made disasters. In 1649, the natives rebelled against their recruuitmenst to Cavite to build galleons. In 1814, Mayon Volcano erupted, killing 1200 people and burying the town of Cagsawa. During the early 19th century, hemp for shipping rope became an internatioanal source of wealth. Albay prospered greatly until the demand for hemp fell sharply

The people:

 The Bicol dialect spoken in Legaspi is the common tongue used, but there are variations in tone and meanings of words as one goes farther away from the city. However, the people also speak Tagalog fluently.A number of tribal communities can be found in the towns of Tiwi and Rapu-rapu.

Commerce and industy: 

While efforts are being directed toward the devolpment of industries in the province, agriculture remains the main source of livelihood. The important crops are coconut, rice, sugarcane, pinepaple, vegetables and hemp. The forests are sources of timber, rattan and pili nuts.Among the large-scale industries are Isarog Pulp and Paper Mills and Albay Industrial Development Corporation. Tiwi is the site of a major geothermal power project. Handicrafts, especially the making of Abaca products, such as hats, mats, bags, slippers and rope, are major source of income in the rural areas.Both shores of the province are rich fishing grounds.

Getting there and away: 

PAL flies to Legaspi from Manila and from Cebu. There is several bus companies who drive between Manila and Legaspi and down to Tabaco