Macau

I confess I’d never heard of Macau until six months before I arrived, in 2019. I told a friend that I’d be visiting Hong Kong and she exclaimed, “Macau is a 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.

Macau’s mix of architecture and cuisine is unexpected and delightful! 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 leisurely explore by foot. And did I mention Macau’s famous Portuguese egg tarts–hello gorgeous!

I turned the corner on one of Macau’s wide modern boulevards and felt transported back in time to a far simpler and more ancient time.

Picturesque alleys with colorful shop entrances greeted me on both sides.

I marveled at the interiors of Macau’s opulent and majestic casinos and insanely luxurious five star hotels. Large sculptures in solid gold in the lobby. Prada here. Hermès there. Chanel down the hall!

This is Vegas on steroids! Playground to the One Percent.

All Macau photos taken by Adele C. Berry.