Sao Paulo has a pretty frightening reputation. Currently there are approximately 2700 homicides a year and this has halved since the year 2000. The Department of State rates the crime rate for Sao Paulo as CRITICAL. Despite various organisations and state government entities reporting decreases in crime levels throughout Sao Paulo state, crime is still widespread with various degrees of severity. Violent crimes such as murder, rape, kidnappings, armed assaults and burglaries have become a part of normal everyday life. We decided to give it a whirl. We´d been recommended by some friends to stay in a neighbourhood called Villa Madelena. An arty, bohemian and above all safer part of town. We also took their advice on the hostel and stayed at Casa Club, a party hostel with only dorm rooms. The earplugs came in very
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