dibidi

pirated DVDs proliferating at sidewalks along carriedo and other parts of Metro Manila

personalized mugs

ceramic mugs sold along carriedo's sidewalk, you can have it personalized made on the spot by the young entrepreneur below

cool he's making a happy birthday mug... no he didnt know its my birthday today and i didnt ordered it... just so happen he's working on it when i took this photo yesterday :)

carriedo at night

carriedo at night... still bustling with activities and lots of vendors.  check out the carriedo scene at daytime, i think the only difference is that they have umbrellas to ward of the scorching sun and occasional rain.

plaza fair

Plaza Fair located at Plaza Lacson, Carriedo, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Plaza Fair is one of Manila's first shopping centers, thriving when Escolta used to be Manila's fashion hub. Just beside the Plaza Fair is Isettan Department Store and across it the firse ever sm store used to be called just Shoe Mart.

LRT carriedo station

LRT Carriedo Station - Located at Carriedo Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

Carriedo Station is the tenth station for trains headed to Monumento and the ninth station for trains headed to Baclaran.

The station is near some famous Manila landmarks such as the Quiapo Churh (the home of the famous Black Nazarene), the historic Plaza Miranda, and is also near Escolta Street (what used to be Manila's fashion and business hub).

carriedo street

Carriedo Street, Sta. Cruz, Manila

avenida

The busy street of avenida, under the LRT Carriedo station.

During the olden days, this street was once the bustling shopping center along with Escolta, however the construction of the LRT1 leave the stretch of Avenida dark and polluted...as what modernization sometimes brings. In this advent many establishments were forced to close their shops due to lack of patrons.

A few years back, Mayor Atienza had this project of "Buhayin ang Maynila" and the Avenida/Carriedo was rehabilitated into a pedestrian shopping center. This decision was received with mixed feelings, anger from hte transport group and a welcome relief for the pedestrian and vendors. I personally liked this project and i hope that Mayor Lim will not open this section to traffic again.