After squeezing through the town center for three hours, we took a cab all the way to Avenida Sir Anders Ljungstedt, where Dom Galo is situated. This was where we finally had our Portuguese food fix, after 12 hours of craving. 

The interior’s as kitschy as it get, which accounts for the joint’s popularity. Aside from the Iberian-inspired motif and the garish art, toys and trinkets adorn the walls and mock-balconies, providing a playful atmosphere. 

Making us feel more at home was the all-Filipino staff, which was hardly surprising at that point. Our kabayans are everywhere. These days, they even outnumber the Portuguese, the original colonizers.

The menu offers an overwhelming abundance of choices. It took our server to lead us to the best-sellers, from cod fish cakes to octopus salad, paella to a one-two punch of pork and lamb chops. Suffice to say, we had our fill. 

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Given the restaurant’s stone-throw proximity to MGM, a detour felt almost imperative. So, we crossed the street for a short peek, if only just to see the lobby. It was our first casino stop in this trip. I was certain there would be more.

Seeing that it was half past four, we still had hours to spare before sundown. Surely, we had time to salvage the itinerary. We collectively decided to give it a go. 

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I was almost ready to drop Guia Hill from the plan, especially with the Google search indicating they’d close at 5:00PM. But not only did our cab drop us off in São Lázaro 15 minutes early, visitors and joggers were still flocking in.  

With the fortress accessible only by a steep, winding trek, Mom decided to stay at the foot of the hill. Tita Anna, on the other hand, went ahead minutes earlier to survey the peak. As I made my own ascent up Rampa de Guia, the Macau Tower expectedly became more visible. But what astounded me more was seeing Grand Lisboa up close in its 856-foot, lotus-shaped majesty. It is, in fact, the second tallest building in the region.

Soon, both the fortress and lighthouse finally came into view. It was well worth the climb. 

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Constructed in the 1600s to ward off Dutch invaders, the complex consists of a fort and a Western-style lighthouse – the very first in Asia. The chapel, named Capela de Nossa Senhora de Guia, remains open to devotees every day from 10:00AM to 5:00PM except during Mondays. Nowadays, the entire complex has earned the mantle of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, though there have been controversies regarding nearby construction projects. It’s similar to what our very own Rizal Park went through a few years back.  

As the peninsula’s highest natural point, the hill’s summit offers the best panoramic view. I didn’t mind missing the sunset by a few minutes. Being there was breathtaking enough. 

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Both cabs and Ubers were elusive after we made our descent. Seeing that Hotel S was only 18 minutes away on foot, we resolved to take the leisurely route. That pretty much confirmed how walkable this place is. In no time, we found ourselves back in Rua de Felicadade, which was finally bursting with activity. There’s a reason why it literally translates to “Street of Happiness”. 

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Two renowned local eats constituted light dinner, if you can even call it light: Egg tarts, which we had to go, and a pork chop bun, which I sampled in the nearby S Blossom cafe.