Thursday was our last day and we had our usual free late check out. It was actually hot and sunny, but the water in the swimming pool was freezing, so still no joy there. Maybe next time, fingers crossed.
We had a leisurely breakfast, then I decided to go out for a couple of hours before taking Peter down to the pool to sunbathe and have a drink.
I had it in mind to go and find two statues that I remembered from years ago. I wondered if they would still be there. As I left the hotel, I noticed they had started decorating for Easter.
Easter display.
Easter display.
Easter display.
My knees were hurting a bit, so instead of going to the bridge over the main road, I went to the green man crossing, in the opposite direction near the bus stop. This meant I walked through the old part of Macau behind the ruins of St Paul's. As I wandered through, I couldn't resist photographing some of the beautiful colourful buildings here.
Colourful buildings.
Colourful buildings.
Colourful buildings.
I also passed lots of street art; some I had seen before and some I hadn't. This area of Macau has been brightened up a lot in recent times and now attracts many tourists.
Street art.
Street art.
Street art.
Street art.
Street art.
Street art.
There's a popular Snoopy shop in this area. When I got there, I was surprised to see no queue outside. It's normally really busy with people taking selfies. This time I went closer to take photos and I was invited in, offered free samples of a variety of biscuits and told I was welcome to take as many photos as I liked. Even when I didn't buy anything, the shop assistants continued to be really really nice. Snoopy people are friendly people.
Snoopy store.
Snoopy store.
Snoopy store.
It wasn't on my plan of the day, but as I passed The Santa Casa da Misericórdia or Holy House of Mercy, I decided to seek out its museum. It's only very recently that I realised there was a museum here at all, because although this building is clearly old, its front is used as a chemist's. The museum is hidden up a side street.
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia dates back to 1569 when it was founded by Belchior Carneiro Leitão, the Bishop of Macau. It was the first medical clinic in Macau to provide western-style medicine and treatment. Over the years The Santa Casa da Misericórdia also provided various forms of social welfare. It was at one time an orphanage and a refuge for the widows of sailors lost at sea. Entry to the museum cost 5 patacas, about 50p.
Inside I could see an old dining room, lots of crockery, displaying the emblem of The Society of Jesus and lots of religious artefacts, such as crucifixes. There were several very Oriental looking Madonna and childs.
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia .
Belchior Carneiro Leitão.
Exhibits in the museum.
Oriental Madonna and child.
Oriental Madonna and child.
Inside the museum.
Saint Lazarus.
Inside the museum.
Room inside the museum.
Room inside the museum.
After leaving the museum I headed towards Jardim das Arts or Arts Park. I remembered going here years ago and being impressed by two rather amusing statues of Portuguese poets. I wondered if they were still there. I remembered that it was difficult to find the entrance to this park, as it involves going down an underpass. I missed the entrance, so ended up going all the way to Comendador Ho Yin Garden. This is the park that contains The Sculpture Park Of The Chinese Ethnics, which has more than fifty statues of different Chinese ethnic groups. I've been here before, but this time I had a quick look in the museum next to it too. The museum basically gives more information about the statues and has a few interactive activities and video displays.
Monument near Comendador Ho Yin Garden.
Fountain in Comendador Ho Yin Garden.
The Sculpture Park Of The Chinese Ethnics Museum.
Comendador Ho Yin Garden.
Statue in Comendador Ho Yin Garden.
Statue in Comendador Ho Yin Garden.
Statue in Comendador Ho Yin Garden.
Statue in Comendador Ho Yin Garden.
Then I walked down to Dr. Carlos d'Assumpcao Park from where I could enter the Jardim das Arts without going underground.
The Jardim das Arts is a long thin park with busy traffic filled streets down both sides. It's not exactly exciting, but it does at least provide a bit of greenery in the built up heart of the city. It has seating areas and fountains. I found a beautiful flowering cotton tree and especially liked looking at The famous Lisboa Hotel and Grand Lisboa Hotel through its branches
Cotton tree in Jardim das Artes.
Grand Lisboa and Lisboa with cotton tree.
Grand Lisboa and Lisboa with cotton tree.
Jardim das Arts.
Jardim das Arts.
I had come here to see the statues of two famous poets.
One of these statues is of José Inocêncio dos Santos Ferreira. He lived between 1919 and 1993. His father was Portuguese and his mother was Macanese. He published around twenty literary works and was dedicated to preserving the local dialect in Macau known as Patua.
I like his statue, because instead of standing on his pedestal, he is sitting on the edge of it with his arms and legs crossed and looking straight at anyone who visits him as if he's just about to engage them in conversation.
José Inocêncio dos Santos Ferreira.
The other interesting statue is of poet Camilo Pessanha and his dog Arminho. Pessanha lived from 1867 to 1926. He was born in Portugal, but migrated to Macau in 1894. He is considered to be the greatest Portuguese symbolist poet.
Camilo Pessanha isn't even on his pedestal at all. He has come down off it to go for a walk around the gardens and his beloved dog is just about to jump off the pedestal and join him.
The Camilo Pessanha Statue.
It's the uniqueness of how these two poets are depicted that makes me like this garden.
Just as I struggled to find my way into this garden, I also struggled to find the way out. No wonder there weren't many people here. When I did find the way to the underpass, I passed a lovely little cafe.
I rather liked the look of this cafe.
Since I was very near it, I decided to look at The Portuguese Military Club and The Jardim do Sao Francisco or Saint Francisco garden. The Portuguese Military Club used to be for members only, but now anyone can go to its restaurant. It's a beautiful bright pink building and it's connected to the bright pink Jardim do Sao Francisco.
The Jardim do Sao Francisco is located on the site of a former convent built by a Franciscan order from Castillo. I've explored the gardens before. This time I did not climb up to the upper section. Instead I looked at the terraced middle section and the octagonal library in the lower section. Next to the library there is an ornate fountain.
The Military Club.
Jardim de San Francisco.
Jardim de San Francisco.
Jardim de San Francisco.
Octagonal library of San Francisco.
Fountain outside the garden.
I then headed back to the hotel and took Peter down to the sixth floor to get our free drinks in the restaurant there. We also sat by the pool and enjoyed the sunshine for a while.
Waiting for our free drinks.
Going for our free drinks.
Peter by the pool.
Peter by the pool.
All too soon it was time to check out and head home. Another trip was over.
This featured blog entry was written by irenevt from the blog Macau.
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