Big City Brazil
Last weekend's '36 Hours in São Paulo' describes it well: "the ugliest, most dangerous city you'll ever love". I never quite got to the love part, but then again I'm not a big-city kind of person. The New York Times article lays out a great itinerary for those who plan to spend some time in São Paulo, which is usually unavoidable if you are flying internationally to Brazil. Personally, I would take the extra effort to continue on to other parts of the country. It is a big, busy city that hides Brazil's diverse cultural aspects. If you don't speak Portuguese and you don't know anyone in the city, then you are not likely to find these treasures.
That being said, if you are looking for the finest of Paulista (a native of São Paulo) designers - and there are many - and the best high-end restaurants, this is the place to come. It is a far cry from the beach-loving surf culture of Rio de Janeiro or the cultural vibe of Bahia or the natural wonder of the Amazon, so prepare yourself.
The article is great - and I think it may be the beginning of a series.
Personally I'm a big fan of super-short/packed international trips.
Adds some adventure...
Posted by: aop | October 19, 2007 at 11:44 AM