Oct 5th - Macau

Macau is in the news these days because of the latest and greatest Venetian hotel that just opened on the Tai-Co. The Venetian is taunted as the second largest structure in the world, behind the pentagon. On Friday Mommy went with a friend to check out the changes and new casino. Some brief history is that Macau, like Hong Kong, was just returned to the Chinese after its 100 year lease to the Portuguese. All the signs in town are in Portuguese and the residents speak Portuguese as well as a bit of Mandarin.

Here is a classic residential building in central Macau. There is a casino by Stanley Ho (the chinese big wig who had a monopoly on the casinos until the handover) being built within walking distance to the city center. Where the other casinos are in Tai-Co.

Lovely pictures. It smells about as good as it looks.

City square, notice the Portuguese influence in the architecture.

St. Paul's - built in 1602 made of taipa and wood. In 1835 used as army barracks, a fire from the kitchen destroyed all but what you see here. The intricately carved stone facade and behind the grand staircase are all that remain.

St. Dominic's built in 1590 a site with a violent past. A military officer was murdered at the altar, it was the site of a friar sit in and protest against the soldiers, and again used for barracks.

Beautiful cream and yellow on the inside with wood detail and carved ivory statues. This church is one of many that details the history of the Roman Catholic church in Asia.