a bigger roof over our head

When we visited the site on Monday, June 2, the roof [g.i. sheets] was maybe about 40 percent done and they were digging for the maid’s quarters and ‘dirty kitchen’ – the dining room, next to the living room, and’gourmet kitchen’ will serve as ‘roof’ for that area.. Hopefully, by tomorrow, June 6, when we go back, the digging will be complete and cement work for foundation walls and pillars will have been started.

Tomorrow, we also have to decide on the type and color of roof tiles. Noel has a certain kind he likes but we found out that the price differential is considerable and delivery time (120 days) not acceptable.

We have settled on wood planks, narra, for the bedroom floors and the rest of the hosue will be mostly stone or ceramic tiles. So many little things we have to start worrying about and deciding – door knobs, shower heads, toilets, sinks, faucets, etc. etc.

......our visa trip

Where are we now??

Once a year, our visa requires us to leave the country. It can be for any length of time, just as long as you get out.

We opted to go to a nearby place where we’d feel somewhat at home and see the Wynn casino, Venetian, MGM Grand Hotel, etc. No, it wasn’t Vegas but you certainly would think you were there given the names on the casinos. Right now, Macao has some 30 casinos with many more under construction. Our local tour guide said the government gets about 70 percent of its income from the casinos …. and, at least for now, it’s the only place in China with casinos. We tried our luck .. oh well, next time.

Macao or Macau used to be Portugese territory and in the old part of town you can see the Portugese influence on the architecture. Many restaurants also serve food with a Portugese twist.