Ah, Macau!
This Chinese city was a Portuguese colony before the Portuguese decided to get up and leaving; the city grew steadily for years, but exploded in recent years as the Chinese economy surged ahead, giving local tourists more money to spend at the famous Macau casinos.
Now, Macau has eclipsed Las Vegas as the go-to place for throwing your money at a spinning wheel... Asia is the new hunting ground, and the sense of excitement and growth is surging in that corner of the world, even as Las Vegas grow dusty and cold.
The Casino Lisboa was one of the originals, built in the 1960s by a Portuguese company. It was upgraded in the 1970s to include a 12 storey tower, as it appears now.
Compared to the newer casinos, the Casino Lisboa looks antiquated and gloomy. It resembles an office building or discount hotel - not a glamorous place to shed hundred dollar bills and get your teeth capped with diamonds.
Of course, Macau's not only about the gambling... with its Portuguese roots, many of the inhabitants are half-Chinese, half-Portuguese, which may be the sexiest mix of ethnicities....
Unfortunately, I've never been to Macau, but I have had the great fortune of flying Air Macau - I was captivated by the stewardesses, who all had perfect, luxurious skin, and looked incredible in their outfits. If they had tried to sell me a flight and a week's stay at the Casino Lisboa, I believe I would have agreed and forked over my credit card...
This Chinese city was a Portuguese colony before the Portuguese decided to get up and leaving; the city grew steadily for years, but exploded in recent years as the Chinese economy surged ahead, giving local tourists more money to spend at the famous Macau casinos.
Now, Macau has eclipsed Las Vegas as the go-to place for throwing your money at a spinning wheel... Asia is the new hunting ground, and the sense of excitement and growth is surging in that corner of the world, even as Las Vegas grow dusty and cold.
The Casino Lisboa was one of the originals, built in the 1960s by a Portuguese company. It was upgraded in the 1970s to include a 12 storey tower, as it appears now.
Compared to the newer casinos, the Casino Lisboa looks antiquated and gloomy. It resembles an office building or discount hotel - not a glamorous place to shed hundred dollar bills and get your teeth capped with diamonds.
Of course, Macau's not only about the gambling... with its Portuguese roots, many of the inhabitants are half-Chinese, half-Portuguese, which may be the sexiest mix of ethnicities....
Unfortunately, I've never been to Macau, but I have had the great fortune of flying Air Macau - I was captivated by the stewardesses, who all had perfect, luxurious skin, and looked incredible in their outfits. If they had tried to sell me a flight and a week's stay at the Casino Lisboa, I believe I would have agreed and forked over my credit card...
