Ruins of St. Paul’s Church in Macau
Passing through Senado Square and continuing down the alley past the Church of St. Dominic,
it felt like exploring the depths of the square.
Outdoor Advertisement
It was an outdoor advertisement for a Hong Kong watch brand,
which had followed me throughout my trip to Hong Kong and Macau exactly 10 years ago in 2012.
At the inner end of Senado Square lies another representative landmark of Macau,
the Ruins of St. Paul’s Church.
Its distinctive appearance attracts many people, rather than being just an ordinary church.
The Way to Ruins of St. Paul’s Church
On the way to the church, there are many restaurants and cafes welcoming numerous tourists.
Although there were souvenir shops scattered around, most were eateries.
Whether in Korea or abroad, eating comes second after sightseeing.
Macau Currency
One inconvenience I encountered while traveling in Macau was the currency, Macau money.
Due to the different economic systems between Hong Kong and Macau, I had to use Macau money.
However, in Macau, Hong Kong dollars were also accepted.
To be precise, I could use Hong Kong dollars to pay for goods.
But when receiving change, it could only be in Macau money.
While it was no problem to use Macau money during my stay there, but I couldn’t use it back in Hong Kong.
During the trip, I had to use Macau currency for everything!
Egg Tart Shop Featured in Boys Over Flowers, K-Drama
Although the drama “Boys Over Flowers” originated from Taiwan (Meteor Garden, 2001), the Korean adaptation (2009) was also quite popular.
Even though three years had passed, I decided to try an egg tart shop featured in the drama.
One Egg Tart for 5 Macau Patacas
The currency unit in Macau is Pataca.
One egg tart in Macau costs 5 Patacas.
Two for 10 Patacas!!
Macau Egg Tart
The Macau egg tart was different from the ones in Hong Kong.
The egg tart I had in Hong Kong was softly baked on the outside,
while the Macau egg tart was crispy on the outside, maintaining a soft egg texture inside.
Jerky Street
A little further, the sweet scent of meat grabs my attention,
and could find jerky shops stretching along both sides of the street.
Jerky Street
Jerky is a popular snack or side dish even in Korea,
but in Hong Kong, jerky seemed like a remarkable tourist item.
Many tourists wandered around the shops to buy jerky as gifts.
Sampling Jerky at a Jerky Shop
Every time you pass by a jerky shop, the shopkeepers tempt you with jerky samples.
They give you a small piece to taste, and even if you don’t buy, they don’t say anything.
Perhaps due to the high number of tourists and demand,
they were friendly even if you just sampled without purchasing.
Sampling Jerky
Similar to the jerky I buy at Korean supermarkets but with a slightly softer texture and taste,
I had about three pieces but didn’t buy any separately.
St. Paul’s Church
At the end of Jerky Street, St. Paul’s Church caught my eye.
Though it looked magnificent from afar, seeing it up close left me in awe.
Walking this far in the hot weather wasn’t in vain.
Ruins of St. Paul’s Church
Leaving Jerky Street, there’s a slight uphill towards the church.
Looking at the ground, stones were finely carved and laid.
It seemed like rainwater would flow smoothly between the stones.
St. Paul’s Church
We could climb up the steep stairs to reach the church.
Many tourists were standing on the steps taking commemorative photos.
St. Paul’s Church was designed by Italian Jesuits in the early 17th century to spread Catholicism in Macau.
With the help of Japanese people who came from Nagasaki to escape religious persecution,
it was built over about 20 years starting from 1637.
Initially used as a Jesuit university, it collapsed in 1835 due to three fires and a typhoon,
and now only the five-story front wall, stairs, and underground crypt remain.
However, tourists still flock to see this iconic building in Macau.
Ruins of St. Paul’s Church
How did only the entrance structure remain?
Looking at the blueprint, it must have been huge.
St. Paul’s Church, Entrance
The entrance looked like a European cathedral.
Bronze statues of clergy caught my eye.
Though it probably had some significance, I wasn’t sure exactly what.
St. Paul’s Church, Interior
The interior of the church was eerie due to the lack of remaining structure.
But as soon as I entered through the entrance, it felt like entering a different area.
Either way, I made it into the church.
St. Paul’s Church, Transparent Glass Floor
Though the building remained as ruins, transparent glass was laid on the floor to allow viewing of the former appearance and traces of the church.
Visitors could also go downstairs to explore.
A small space like a museum was created underground,
which made me think it was indeed a religious facility.
St. Paul’s Church
There’s no shade at St. Paul’s Church.
No, there’s no shade in Macau.
There’s no shade in tourism.
In hot Macau,
there’s St. Paul’s Church.
St. Paul’s Church, Entrance
I came out through the entrance again.
There wasn’t much to see, so I didn’t stay long.
Leaving St. Paul’s Church
I looked down the path I came up from the church.
I could see the Grand Lisboa Hotel in the distance.
This scenery,
is beautiful.
Leaving the church,
I moved on to the next destination to experience more of Macau life.
Aug. 23, 2012