São Paulo: Where our Brazil trip begins

You know your trip is going to be amazing when you’re sitting at the Retiro bus station in Buenos Aires and the following happens:

1.  Someone tries to pull the “(tap tap on your shoulder) there’s ketchup on your shirt, here’s a tissue…your hands are free for me for me to take your unattended electronic device from your pocket? Don’t mind if I do” game but luckily, you know better and keep briskly walking because you’ve had a friend experience this first hand and was not so lucky.

2.  You fail to read the departure time on your bus ticket correctly and end up missing your bus to Brazil by a few hours (stupid military 24-hr time) thus feeling too embarrassed to return back to your friend Archie’s house and rather, decide to spend oodles of your pesos on a room at the Marriott Plaza because it just so happened to be across the street from the station.

Well-rested and ON-TIME for our departure the following day, we board our 30+ hour bus ride to São Paolo.  The city had exceeded my expectations and to be honest, I didn’t know exactly what they were.  We had no trouble getting around with their efficient metro system and we were able to get to our hostel, Lime Time Hostel without a hitch.

We had previously agreed on a meeting point to reunite with Trevor, our Buenos Aires roommate, at the Museum of Art (MASP).  Great museum!  Then dealt with some torrential rain, where we ducked into a cafe for half an hour and watched Trevor gleefully play (for the first time) Angry Birds.  Mind you, he has been living abroad for the past 5-6 years sans smart phone so his fascination with the game was so entertaining.

We were graciously hosted by Trevor’s good friends and São Paolo natives, Be and Gabi.  They were wonderful and took us to Vila Madalena, an awesome street full of more bars than the eye can see.  Be’s mom also invited us to lunch at their home the following day.  I can most definitely say that I LOVE Brazilian food, if that’s what I’m assuming Be’s mom had prepared. Nom Nom.  We also visited the top of the Unique Hotel (pronounced ooh-nicki) for some cocktails.  Felt a little under-dressed but I can’t say I cared too much after a few drinks.  It had the best view of São Paolo at night and it’s unique watermelon slice shape had me oohing and ahhing as we walked up.

A few more pit stops:  Soccer stadium – Estadio Municipal Paulo Machado Carvalho (clearly not my choosing but had an surprisingly interesting museum all about the art form of soccer – or fútbol – excuse me), the district of Liberdade (we would call it Japantown) and downtown.

Fun facts I learned while in SP:  1.  Brazil houses the largest population of Japanese outside of Japan, mostly concentrated in São Paolo.  2.  Brazilian children typically live with their parents until they’re married (Be’s mom couldn’t understand why American children are so quick to want to leave at 18).  3.  And the most amazing and fresh juice you’ll ever have can be found in the multitude of juice stands strewn about all over the city.

Two thumbs up.  Thank you to Be, Be’s family and Gabi for your immeasurable hospitality!