A Walk Around The Barra Headland.

Community Highlights Asia A Walk Around The Barra Headland.

On our last day we had a free late check out until four o'clock and with it still being too cold to swim that meant I could go for a walk.

We began the day with breakfast and were surprised to see the club lounge was even busy for that. We always eat breakfast there, but most people prefer to go to the much larger buffet breakfast downstairs.

After breakfast, I set out towards the Maritime Museum. I knew it had just closed for refurbishment, but I wasn't actually going there. My intention was to explore the waterfront around the Barra Headland.

I passed The A-Má Temple which I really enjoy visiting, but didn't wander around this time.

The A-Má Temple.

Outside the temple.

Soon I came to a little park for dogs that was surrounded by beautiful street art. I took a few pictures in this area. It has certainly changed a lot.

Park for dogs.

Street art.

Skate street art.

Rooster street art.

Street art.

Dragon Street art.

Street art.

Just past this is Macao Contemporary Art Centre which is housed in the former D. Carlos I Dock Mechanical Room. I had no idea there was an art gallery here. It's only open when there are exhibitions on and there was, but I was too early. It didn't open till midday. I just photographed the outside of the building.

Macao Contemporary Art Centre.

Outside Macao Contemporary Art Centre.

Macao Contemporary Art Centre.

I continued walking around the headland and came to a monument called Homage to the Macanese Diaspora. This monument dates from 2011 and includes a representation of the A-Ma Temple, a bronze globe symbolising the Portuguese voyages of discovery, one of which brought them to Macau, and a lotus flower which is the symbol of Macau.

Homage to the Macanese Diaspora.

I continued walking, then I arrived at The Pousada de São Tiago. This is an old Portuguese fortress that has been made into a luxury hotel. I have walked past this many times in the past, but I don't think I have ever gone in, because it's a posh and fairly exclusive hotel. This time I was much braver and went inside. I was asked if I had come to visit the restaurant or cafe. I said I had come to see the chapel. They didn't understand what I meant, but let me look around anyway.

The Pousada de São Tiago Sign.

The Pousada de São Tiago.

Inside the entrance way.

The entrance way Pousada de São Tiago.

The entrance way.

The entrance way Pousada de São Tiago.

Tiles in the entrance way.

The restaurant.

The Fountain.

The Terrace.

The well.

Tree in the garden.

The Fort São Tiago means the Fort of Saint James. It was built in 1629 on the site of a former artillery battery to defend the Inner Harbour from hostile invaders. Any ships coming to Macau had to sail close to this once imposing fortification. At one time the foot of the fortress was very close to the water, but due to land reclamation this is no longer true. The fortress also continued up the hillside and had a cistern with a three thousand litre capacity. There were also store rooms for ammunition and supplies. At one time twelve cannons were positioned here. This fortress was home to an army commander and sixty of his soldiers.

There's a little chapel here named after Saint James, patron saint of the army. I had a quick look inside. An old legend states that the statue of Saint James comes to life at night and patrols the Barra area. In the morning it becomes an ordinary statue again, but often with inexplicable traces of mud on its boots.

The Chapel of Saint James.

Tiles in the chapel.

Next to the chapel there is a tiny sacristy.

In the Sacristy.

This fortress fell into decline during the second world war. Then The Tourism Department of Macau partially restored it and it became a luxury guesthouse called The Pousada de São Tiago. I'd have loved to see the guest house buildings and the swimming pool, but there were signs up saying 'Guests only past this point'. I'm not sure how much it costs to stay here, but before all the fancy hotels on Cotai Strip were built, this was the most expensive place to stay in Macau.

The way to the rooms.

The rooms.

Leaving the fortress and continuing along the front I came to a small statue of Henry Dunant. He lived from 1828 until 1910 and founded the Red Cross. He received the first ever Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. The statue was placed here in 1997 to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the establishment of the Macau Red Cross.

Henry Dunant.

I continued walking. There are some beautiful mansions in this area, not sure who lives inside.

Mansion.

There were also good views across Sai Van Lake towards The Macau Tower.

The Macau Tower.

I crossed some roads to get to the shores of Nam Van Lake and discovered there were great views back towards the former Bela Vista Hotel. At one time this was the most famous hotel in Macau.

Our Lady of Penha Church and the former Bella Vista Hotel.

The former Bella Vista Hotel.

This beautiful old building was constructed in 1870 as the private residence of a British expatriate couple. Then in 1890 this couple turned their home into The Boa Vista Hotel. Over the years, the building changed hands several times. It was used as a hospital, then a school, before becoming a hotel again in 1936. At this point it was renamed The Bela Vista Hotel. After the Handover of Macau to Mainland China in 1999, this building became the Residence of the Portuguese Consul General, and continues to be so to the present day. Although we never stayed here, we did visit once when it was still a hotel.

The former Bela Vista Hotel.

Along the shores of Nam Van Lake I enjoyed looking at the many sea creatures which were part of an exhibition called 'Light up Macau.' It ends on the 28th of February, so I won't be able to see it all lit up at night. It includes octopus statues, whales and dolphins. Even by day it was pretty interesting.

Sea creatures, Light Up Macau.