Macau: Penha Peninsula and Coloane
PHOTO: Macau Government Building
This morning I bought my ticket to Kaohsiung, Taiwan. On the way to the internet cafe I was accostd by three whores who gripped my upper arm tightly as they dried to coerce me into a "massagey" These girls start work early! I suppose they try to grab people as the all-night clubs close. I ate a ham and egg sandwich and visited the pst office where I bought Lucie many, many stamps and sent postcards. I then set out to walk the tour called "Penha Peninsula" as outlined in the Macau tourist office's "Walking Tours of Macau" pamphlet.
PHOTO (above): What I think is a school...
PHOTO (below): View of the casinos and harbor
PHOTO (above): Nossa Senhora da Penha, seat of Macau bishopry, I think
PHOTO (below): Ama Temple
The walking our led me on quite a trek up some steep hills, but I saw some beautiful architecture, mostly old churches and government buildings. Several points had great views, and although it was humid, most of the path kept me by the harbor, puffing my face with the occasional refreshing breeze. Unfortunately, many of the buildings didn't offer open courtyards or entrance, so my views were often from afar. After visiting the small, unexciting Ama Temple, I took the bus to Coloane Island.
PHOTO: Stilt aluminum house
Coloane is...quaint? The temples are tiny, but the church was beautiful. I ate at one of the overpriced restaurants on the tourist strip, a meal of bolinhos de bacalhau--fried dried salted cod balls--then had an egg tart at a baker claiming the original recipe for Macau's most famous dessert, and took the bus back to Macau proper.
PHOTO (above): Former Macau pier
PHOTO (below): Dried salted cod for sale!
PHOTO (above): Coloane Public Library
PHOTO (below): Chapel of St. Francis Xavier
When I returned, I went to the internet cafe, then retired here to the hospedaria. I look forward to Taiwan tomorrow. Macau really only takes two days to see.
PHOTO: Altar of the St. Francis Xavier Chapel