By Jenna Wittenberg
The two atmosphere of Macau are like night and day, and that is pretty much how it is divided as well, nightlife and day life. On the one hand you have the baroque churches and stone buildings that line cobbled streets where the influences of its Portuguese predecessors are unmistakable. On the other hand you have what has been called the Las Vegas of the east with casinos and hotels popping up everywhere.
With the casinos being illegal in China and nearby Hong Kong, Macau is quickly becoming a popular destination for any gambler. Housing the world’s largest casino doesn’t hurt tourism either. The Venetian Macau is home to 3,000 rooms and suites, all with marble bathtubs and at least 230 square feet per room, 550,000 square feet of gaming space, and over 350 international shops.
Macau is not only known for its gambling but also its beautifully historic Mediterranean style. One of the most visited attractions of Macau is the ruins of St. Paul. Although the church and school were burned down in 1835 the facade remains and people flock to see it. The St. Lawrence Church unlike St, Paul, offers both a roof and some of the greatest riches and decorations in Macau.
The museums in Macau are also unique places to go see. The Wine Museum is the only one of its kind in all of Asia. The purpose of the Wine Museum is to show visitors how wine is used in Portuguese traditions. But of course it wouldn’t be a true wine experience without a little wine tasting, which the Wine Museum offers for just a small fee. In honor of the 40th anniversary of Grand Prix racing the Grand Prix Museum was built in 1933 in memory of all things Grand Prix.
Hostels in Macau are very few and far between which makes finding affordable lodging quite difficult. The Auguster’s Lodge, the San Va Hospedaria, and the Ole London Hotel make up the extent of budgeted sleeping in Macau. With the amount of money you will most likely be dropping at the casinos around Macau, finding a decent place to stay for cheap can be rather important.
