Macau - Vegas of the East

March 11
This morning I walked up to the bus stop to catch my bus to the Macau ferry terminal. It's been awhile since I've ridden public transit.

Turbojet provides high speed service between HK, Macau, and Kowloon. It is the first to provide round-the-clock jetfoil service and has over 50 years of shipping experience. Hong Kong skyline from the jetfoil

Macau is a small peninsula in mainland China, across the Pearl River Delta from Hong Kong. A Portuguese overseas territory until 1999, it reflects a mix of Portuguese and Chinese influences. Its giant casinos and extravagant malls have earned it the nickname, the "Las Vegas of Asia."

The majority resides on the Macau Peninsular where you can find a variety of both Oriental and Western cultural and historical places of interest and all sorts of old buildings that are either European or traditional Chinese in style. The two outlying islands of Taipa and Coloane (Cotai) connected to the Macau Peninsular by two bridges.
Both bridges are so long....

I read that all hotels provide shuttle service from the ferry terminal, so I boarded the shuttle bus to the Holiday Inn Macau only to find out I got on the wrong bus going to the wrong Holiday Inn. One on Cotai and the other in Macau (where I was supposed to go). I took the shuttle back to the ferry terminal and waited for my shuttle to come. I was so cold waiting for my ride.... I thought I was back home!

Once I checked in, I headed out to see the sights.
The Grand Lisboa casino

I stopped for a traditional Portgeous lunch which consisted in cabbage soup (warmed my tummy) and roast (rump) slices served with french fries (it tasted like roast beef). After lunch, I continued on my way to Senado Square. Senado Square, is a paved town square in Macau, China and part of the UNESCO Historic Centre of Macau World Heritage Site. I loved the tiling on the ground and the traditional Portugese influenced architecture. It's crowded and lively with plenty of shops.


Next stop, the Ruins of St. Paul's. The Ruins of St. Paul's are the ruins of a 16th-century complex in Macau including what was originally St. Paul's College and the Church of St. Paul also known as "Mater Dei", a 17th-century Portuguese church dedicated to Saint Paul the Apostle.

This is the back side of the wall

Then walked up to Fortaleza do Monte. It is the historical military centre of Macau, China. It forms part of the "Historic Centre of Macau", a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It offers a great and picturesque view of Macau.

Matteo Ricci was an Italian Jesuit priest and one of the founding figures of the Jesuit China missions.

Back to the hotel for a little rest, then back out to,check out a few casinos on Cotai. I took the shuttle back to the ferry and boarded the shuttle to the Galaxy Casino.

Walked around s bit and play the slots. Then I shuttled over to the Venetian. Lost more money in the slots then headed out to explore.

A bicycle powered rickshaw

Making cookies

Don't know what he's supposed to be!