Sao Paulo Highlights

---

According to some urban legends I heard wafting around, Sao Paulo's metropolitan area is half the size of the Republic of Ireland. I wouldn't be at all surprised. Something close to 20 million people live in this sprawl of concrete jungle, the third biggest metropolitan area in the world (after Mexico City and Seoul).

We ventured out from our hotel on Rua Dom José de Barros and spotted the European-styled cultural centre of the city, the Republican Square. It's got old columned buildings, full of the grandeur and imperial design of the original builders. I went along with Aoife to the Banco de Brasil building, one of the tallest in Sao Paulo, and we went up to the top (for free, I might add - value for money) and marvelled at the awesome skyline. You really cannot spot any greenery from the top of this tower. Santos on the coast catches your eye as the Atlantic glistens beyond it, and then inland, all you can see for miles and miles are the high-rise towers that seem to go on forever. Think looking over New York and then multiplied by three or four. It really is that big (that's what she said).

Hot women all over the shop in SP but I was more concerned with keeping my belongings on me. My uncle nearly got his wallet robbed but luckily he was quick and batted the kid away before he could get anything. He used a bunch of fliers thrown in the air to disguise his escape - none of us even saw him go.

Bought a cap and some fake Adidas runners, they are almost indistinguishable from the originals. Can't wait to show them off on Moore Street - must buy some tracksuit bottoms now too!

Rio tomorrow, pictures to come, I promise. Probably more interesting writing, too.

---

Photos

Centro do Sao Paulo
Main thoroughfare of SP that ran underneath a park

Sao Paulo Vista
The vastness of SP can't really be captured on camera, but damned if I won't try

Goodyear?
No, the worst

Birthplace of Sao Paulo
Jesuit church at the square of the birthplace.. the tower from which I took the preceding pictures is visible in the background

Electioneering
Campaigning in full swing - in the foreground, a van supporting Lula and his fellow party men, and in the background a semi-statue of Heloisa Helena, one of his opponents for the presidency

The Fountain
that stank of stale piss... and the wind which blew it in our general direction

Condemned
Huge condemned and uninhabited apartment block in Sao Paulo, near Sao Jose market

Rua Dom Jose de Barros
Spot the Europeans!

Comments

[X]

Sigh...
I suppose you think you're well travelled and cultured now?! HA!

[Brazil-Nut]

robbers
how dare you speak of my peoples as robbers we are beautiful peopls. leave my countre!

[daithibrazil]

Ah piss off back to your favela.