São Paulo: Concrete Jungles and Pastel Dreams (Don't @ Me)
okay, so. i’m back. from são paulo. and i’m… processing. it’s a lot. like, a lot a lot. i’m a botanist, right? i’m supposed to be all about quiet observation, delicate ecosystems, the subtle beauty of a fern unfurling. são paulo is… not that. it’s a full-on sensory assault. but in a weirdly compelling way.
I just checked and it’s… a humid blanket right now. 23.07°c, feels like 23.55. the pressure’s at 1011, humidity’s a solid 81%. basically, you’re gonna sweat. embrace it. it’s part of the experience.
I was there for… well, the numbers are weird, aren’t they? 153220 and 1834185429. don’t ask. let’s just say it involved a grant, some obscure orchid, and a very persistent researcher. the orchid was cool, honestly. but the city… wow.
I spent most of my time in Vila Madalena, which is… chaotic. in the best way. Street art everywhere. Seriously, you can just wander for hours and find something new. I even saw someone painting a giant sloth on a building. A sloth! I’m pretty sure that’s illegal, but nobody seemed to care. Check out some local art collectives like this one.
Someone told me that the best coxinha in the city is at Bar do Estadão. Apparently, it’s a pilgrimage for locals. I didn’t make it, but I did have some amazing pastel at a little place near my Airbnb. Seriously, pastel is a thing here. Get it. Get lots of it.
I did a walking tour - found it on TripAdvisor, pretty decent for R$50. Here's the link. The guide was a bit… intense, but he knew his stuff. He kept going on about the city’s history with coffee and industrialization. Fascinating, if you’re into that sort of thing. I’m more into the street art, tbh.
I overheard some drunk guys arguing about which neighborhood has the best nightlife. Apparently, Pinheiros is the place to be now, but Vila Olímpia is still a classic. I didn’t really venture out that far, to be honest. I was mostly exhausted.
“Don’t trust anyone who says they’re ‘finding themselves’ in São Paulo. They’re probably just lost.”
That’s something a local warned me about. I think they were right. It’s a city that swallows you whole. But in a good way? Maybe. I’m still trying to figure it out.
If you get bored, Campinas and Santos are just a short drive away. I didn’t make it to either, but I heard Santos has a pretty decent beach.
*Pro-Tips (because I guess I have to):
*Learn some basic Portuguese. Seriously. It’ll make your life so much easier. Google Translate is your friend, but it’s not a substitute for actual conversation.
*Be aware of your surroundings. São Paulo is a big city, and petty crime is a thing. Keep your valuables close and don’t flash your cash.
*Embrace the chaos. Seriously. Just go with it. It’s part of the charm.
*Try the brigadeiro. It’s a chocolate truffle. It’s amazing. You’re welcome.
*Check out Yelp for some hidden gems.* Here's a link
I’m still processing everything. I need a nap. And maybe a very large cup of coffee. And definitely another pastel. São Paulo… you’re something else.
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- https://topiclo.com/post/the-state-of-unemployment-and-economic-growth-in-kuwait-city-a-real-talk-post
- https://topiclo.com/post/midnight-mess-in-the-city-that-never-sleeps
- https://topiclo.com/post/wandering-shiraz-with-a-halfdead-phone-battery-and-zero-regrets
- https://topiclo.com/post/hidden-gems-in-kigali-that-even-locals-dont-know-about
- https://topiclo.com/post/matsues-edge-a-photographers-drift-at-3716661-n-1332000098-e