What happens in Macua stays in Macua?  It’s the Las Vegas of the Orient.

A former Portuguese colony handed over to China in 1999. The Portuguese government legalized gambling in the 1850’s. In 2007 it overtook Las Vegas in gaming revenues.

Signage is in English and Portuguese. However, Cantonese is their primary language, second is English and we’re not quite sure who speaks Portuguese.

The casinos are big, bright and bustling.  Free shuttles from the big casinos at the train station rotate people, mostly from mainland China and Hong Kong in like a revolving door. They don’t ask if you have a reservation.

Aside and the better side is the historic district – charming and packed full of tourists.  Portuguese mosaic stone sidewalks just like the ones we saw walking the Camino de Santiago Portuguese last year lead you to Senado Square and the Ruins of St. Paul – both UNESCO World Heritage sites.