Page 494 - Visitor Guides

Sightseeing & Historical Landmarks
the sparkling blue waters of
Tumon Bay, also known as
“hotel row.” Guam’s favor-
ite playground for visitors
and tourists alike, the bay
is bordered at both ends by
towering, green cliffs. At the
center is a sandbar built by
the SeaBees in 1945 to assist
in off-loading supplies from
ships just outside the fring-
ing reef. The bay is one of the
island’s five marine preserves
that offer some of best snor-
keling on island.
42
Padre San Vitores Shrine
This monument marks the
site where Chamorro Chief
Matapang executed Padre
San Vitores for baptizing
his daughter without his
permission. The murder of
San Vitores, who is credited
for bringing Catholicism to
Guam, sparked the Spanish-
Chamorro Wars shortly after
in 1672. The monument was
erected in 1942, then replaced
Sightseeing & Historical Landmarks
in 1968 after it incurred dam- Chinese Park
age from WWII. Padre San Established and
Vitores, known as a martyr in donated in 1985
the Catholic faith, was beati- by the Chinese Community
fied in 1985. of Guam, the Chinese Park
overlooks Tumon Bay from
a nearby cliffline in upper
Tumon. Within the park, visi-
tors can explore a large statue
of Confucious, a symbol of
morality, correctness of social
relationships, justice, and se-
renity in the Chinese culture.
A.B. Won Pat International
Airport Guam
Gun Beach The Guam Airport Authority
This remote beach, located at took over operations from the
the northern end of hotel row Department of Commerce in
in Tumon, hosts the remains January 1976. Since then, the
of a Japanese pillbox hous- airport has launched interna-
ing a cannon from WWII. The tional operations and numer-
gun’s rusting barrel points out ous expansions. Located on a
to the Philippine Sea, which hill overlooking Tumon from
served to protect the island the east, the A.B. Won Pat
from invading U.S. forces. The International Airport Guam
site is one of two areas on handles 2.54 million passen-
Guam where there is a Japa- gers annually in the two-termi-
nese gun sitting in its original nal facility, named for Guam’s
position. A winding adventure first U.S. Congressman.
trail along the cliffline fea-
tures beautiful ocean scenery Hagåtña
and a unique view of down-
town Tumon. A favorite spot Chief Quipuha Park
for local divers, the best time Known as the first
to enjoy the water surround- Chamorro chief
ing Gun Beach is when the wa- who converted
ter is calm. Otherwise, beware to Christianity,
of dangerous rip tides. Padre San Vitores
baptized Chief Quipuha in
1672. The chief served as a
maga’lahi, or high-ranking
male, in the society, and was
granted authority to hand
down important decisions. He
also donated land for the first
Catholic Church to be con-
structed in Hagåtña, the site
of which is now believed to
be on the same spot as Dulce
Nombre de Maria Cathedral
Basilica. The memorial site
honoring Chief Quipuha is lo-
cated near Chamorro Village.
Chamorro Village 43
(l Sengsong Chamorro)
Located next to the Hagåtña
boat basin, the Chamorro
Village is home to numerous
gift shops featuring the work
of local artists and craftsmen.
Every Wednesday and Friday
evening, the village hosts a
night market that has become
a favorite among both locals
and visitors. Complete with
live music, cultural danc-
ing, and a wide selection of
Chamorro, Asian, and Pacific
Island delicacies, the market
is home to vendors selling
everything from clothing to
handicrafts, bananas to betel
nuts. Make sure you visit at
least one time during your
stay, as it is the best place to
find local cuisine.