Macau, the peice of Europe that was dropped in amongst the sprawl and humanity of Asia. Founded before the British even thought of Hong Kong and given back after the Brits gave Hong Kong back this is a little piece of colonalism that time has forgot. It has long been a backwater but with the rise of casino gambling it is reinventing itself as a destination resort in Asia and next year work will start on a bridge linking Hong Kong and Macau.
I am pretty glad I have gotten here before the bridge was built as I think that the influx of Hong Kong tourists will change this tiny little enclave of imperialism for the worse.
All I could think as I was walking around in the rain was how much this remains me of the other Spanish and Portugese colonies that I have visited. Even though the Portugese langauge is being replaced by English there is still an old world feel about this place. Everywhere you look, from the four hundred year old cobblestone streets to the churches and main plaza you felt like you were back in Lisboa or Bilbao.
1. In the main plaza where life is still contemplated in the old Iberian tradition, slowly.
2. The main plaza, each building here is over four hundred years old.
3. Looking down the steps from the ruins of St. Pauls
4. The ruins of the cathedral of St Paul, never rebuilt after the fire of 1813
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