são paulo’s allure and why i’m still stuck in this never-ending coffee loop

i woke up to the smell of espresso and regret. yeah, that’s the kind of morning where you realize you forgot to charge your laptop. again. i’m currently sitting in a café in what i now realize is the middle of nowhere, or maybe just the middle of a very aggressive humidity. i just checked and it’s that humid thing where your skin feels like it’s in a sauna. and i’m not even complaining. damn, it’s like this city decided to take a bath in a plastic bag and forgot to turn off the tap.

this weather? it’s the kind of thing that makes you rethink everything. like why i came here in the first place. maybe it’s the same reason i’m still here. maybe i’m a digital nomad for a reason. or maybe i’m just bad at packing. either way, the heat is this thick you can almost taste it. it’s like a handshake from the tropics. and honestly? i’m here for it. or maybe i’m here for the weird vibe. you know what i mean? the one where you’re not sure if you’re doing something right or if the air itself is judging you.

speaking of vibes, if you get bored, the beach is a short drive away. or maybe a random museum. who knows? i heard a guy getting drunk on a bus said the street tacos are the real deal. i’m still confused. i tried one and it was like eating cardboard dipped in regret. but then again, who am i to judge? local rumors say the food here is overrated. but then again, someone might’ve been too drunk to tell the truth. i heard that maybe. speaking of which, i saw a sign for a place called ‘taco palace’ on a local board. if you’re looking for something that’s not a chain, maybe check it out. or don’t. i don’t know. i’m just here.

i don’t even know what i’m doing anymore. i started this post to talk about the weather, but now i’m here talking about tacos and drunks on buses. it’s chaotic, right? that’s the point. this post is supposed to be messy. like my life. like this city. like the coffee i just drank. it’s strong. it’s bitter. it’s basically a metaphor for everything.

here’s a map if you’re lost. or if you just want to pretend you know where you are.

i took some photos today. not clear. not great. but they’re here.

did you know? there’s a place called ‘the escapes’ on tripadvisor that everyone swears by. i haven’t been, but the reviews are all over the place. some say it’s a hidden gem. others say it’s a trap. i’m leaning toward trap. but maybe i’ll go. maybe. also, yelp has a page for a market near the beach. if you’re into selling weird stuff or buying something suspiciously cheap, that might be your jam. and for those local board posts? there’s a ddg link for a neighborhood board. it’s got rumors about a ghost in the subway. i didn’t believe it. but who am i to say?

i’m gonna end this by saying i’m still here. i don’t know why. maybe it’s the coffee. maybe it’s the humidity. maybe it’s that i’m too cheap to leave. either way, if you’re thinking of coming here, don’t take my word for it. go check the reviews. the ones that sound like they’re written by someone who’s either bored or trying to scam you. but hey, that’s the point. this is a real place. it’s not gonna be perfect. but it’s also not gonna be boring. unless you’re a certain type of person. and maybe that’s you.

p.s. if you’re a fan of vintage clothes, there’s a place called ‘retro rush’ on unsplash. i don’t know what that is. but it’s a photo. so take your chances.

and that’s it. messy. human. done.