MACAU
•
MACAU •
A Few Days in Macau
All Macau photos by Adele Berry
I told a friend that I'd be visiting Hong Kong, and she exclaimed, “Macau is just a ferry ride away. You have to go.” The former Portuguese colony, just a stone's throw from mainland China, with its mix of European architecture and Portuguese restaurants, turned out to be the highlight of my trip.
Portuguese Flair
From the golden edifice of the Grand Lisboa (shown above) to the Ruins of Saint Paul's, a Portuguese church completed in 1640, Macau's compact center was a joy to explore leisurely on foot. And did I mention Macau’s famous Portuguese egg tarts? Hello, gorgeous!
Ancient & Modern
I turned the corner on one of Macau’s wide modern boulevards and felt transported back in time to a quieter and more ancient time.
Picturesque alleys with colorful shop entrances greeted me on both sides.
Beyond Five Stars
I marveled at the interiors of Macau’s opulent and majestic casinos and wildly luxurious five-star hotels. Here, there are 5-stars, and then there are hotels that leap well beyond 5-stars. One such hotel boasted large gold sculptures in the lobby. Macau has some of the same famous hotels as Las Vegas, like the Wynn, MGM, and Venetian—but bigger, more royal versions. It's Vegas on steroids. Prada here. Hermès there. Chanel across the corridor. If I'm not mistaken, I think I saw three separate Prada stores in the same day within a few miles of each other.
Macau is an intriguing place, with many gems, easily explored on walking adventures through the city.
