Ricardo was in Luanda just over a month ago; it’s interesting to see the pictures and read the Brazilian’s perspective on Angola. Here’s my translation of one of his posts:

There’s no tourism in Angola — the vast majority of foreigners that are here didn’t come to sightsee. If I called the hotel receptionist to ask for a taxi to go to the beach, she’d think I was joking. But once the minimal infrastructure is in place (within three, five, ten years?), I have no doubt that the tourists will start to show up.

Luanda’s location is wonderful: the city sits on the shores of a beach that looks more like a lagoon, protected from the open seas by a long and straight peninsula the locals call “The Island of Luanda.” Along the bay runs a road which reminds me of Malecón de Havana, with very pretty colonial buildings and a fort set atop a hill (there is no Portuguese colonial town without such a hill).

The area around the Island is the city’s playground, with extensive public beaches and — I need to make it clear that I adored this — small private beaches, served by well-run restaurants frequented by the Angolan elite and the “expatriates,” which is what they call the gringos (Portuguese included) around here.

Much like Brazil, the poverty is far too evident — outside of the central core, the city turns into an endless musseke, the Kimbundo term for Favela [the Brazilian term for shantytown -- Fil] …

I’d like to visit Angola some day. It’s nothing like the country my parents grew up in, but it’s an interesting glimpse at what my life could have been had my family stayed.

Macau is the smaller, less famous, Portuguese counterpart to Hong Kong.

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  Most signs have typographic errors or non-sensical grammar

Although a part of Portugal until 1999, Portuguese presence is primarily residual: Macau is more New Orleans than Québec. Portuguese speakers comprise less than 1% of the population; Macau’s mandatory bi-lingual signage is mostly marketing. [The law will lapse in 2049, when the 50-year transitional period ends.]

English coverage, although spotty, is far more prevalent than Portuguese (a reasonable economic decision by the Macanese).

Macau’s core retains it’s European architecture, salvaging far more of the colonial influence than neighboring Hong Kong. Like New Orleans, the effect creates a quaint colonial face that works well for tourism.

Outside of the older core, most of Macau is full of rapid, cheap construction, that is likely to be replaced by casino and hotel infrastructure.

Macau is booming; new construction is everywhere (even more than Hong Kong), as it transitions into an Asian gambling Mecca. Gigantic Vegas-style casinos are being built everywhere and real estate speculation is rampant.

Although not on the same scale as Hong Kong, shopping is a major part of Macau as well (the two share a common past as a center of trade and manufacturing).

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  A shopkeep cuts up dried beef, which is jerky-like but much sweeter

My Aunt Izilda (Zí) passed away last night in Lisbon after a painful final battle with cancer. She was a quirky, vibrant, energetic woman and will be sorely missed.