Macau - The main city

Macau  is probably the most confusing/confused place I have ever been to in my life. But this is in a good way.

Macao was a Portuguese colony till 1999. Then it was handed over to the Communist Chinese who in turn gave it over to the capitalists from Las Vegas to build casinos.

We were staying in a place called the Venetian which is a Vegas casino built in a faux Venice style. The rooms are all the overdone Italian style. The place is replete with canals gondolas and gondoliers singing O Sole Mio. The gondoliers are Chinese. The punters are Chinese the setting is Venetian.

Traditional Macao is almost non existent. Just a few small pockets still exist. They are charming. Part Chinese and part Portuguese. The rest of Macao is over-run by multi story housing blocks and huge casinos.

Macao is actually 2 islands the larger being Macau and the smaller comprising of two areas Taipa and Coloane. They are brilliantly connected to each other by 3 beautiful bridges. Macau is connected to HK by a large number of very comfortable ferries that are cheap fast and clean. The city itself is spotlessly clean and traffic is non existent. All in all a very nice place.