If you are going to be in São Paulo on the dates previous to the carnival and want to feel what the carnival atmosphere is like you might well attend one of the numerous rehearsals of the samba schools. Its importance has grown in recent years as they have become an additional source of income for the schools.

To avoid disappointment it should be made clear that a samba school rehearsal is more of a party than a rehearsal as such. There are no giant floats or wonderful costumes involved. It’s all about dancing and drinking and singing non-stop.

Local newspaper Folha de São Paulo published recently a full schedule of rehearsals with the name of the school, address, times and entry prices: Escolas de samba de SP promovem ensaios nas quadras; programe-se.

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destination: São Paulo

[see also our five reasons to love São Paulo]

1. A city where the car is king. São Paulo was designed with the car in mind –in that regard, it is no different from many American cities. The pedestrian, the cyclist, the public transportation user, they are all nuisances in the way of the private vehicle. When it comes to assign public investments, cars rule.

2. A city damaging to your health. São Paulo’s atmosphere is so polluted that the mere fact of living in São Paulo takes two years away from your average life expectancy. And pollution keeps growing year after year.

3. A dirty city. São Paulo is a city where litter strikes you. There is rubbish everywhere.

4. An ugly city. I can’t blame anybody who’s been to São Paulo for a day a found it one giant eyesore. They were probably unlucky and no one took them to the nice corners of the city. But corners they are. Overall concrete, tarmac, dirt, electricity wires come together to create a urban landscape as ugly as sin.

5. Unequal city. Class differences that are the backbone of Brazilian society are as evident in São Paulo as anywhere else in Brazil. Ostentatious display of wealth and slave labour are found in the same city.

It is for these reasons and a few other that a recent survey showed that, if given the chance, 57% of the inhabitants of São Paulo would move somewhere else. Some figure it is.

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five reasons to love São Paulo
São Paulo’s top ten
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youth hostels in São Paulo

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[see also our five reasons to hate São Paulo]

1. Open city. Being an stranger in São Paulo is an absolutely irrelevant condition. The prosperity and the identity of São Paulo were built with the contribution of inmigrants from all over the planet. A stranger is nothing more than a paulistano (citizen of São Paulo) who’s been around for a shorter time. Contrary to what is the norm in most Brazilian tourist destinations, where there is a clear-cut distinction between locals and visitors, in São Paulo the clothes, the colour of the skin or the accent are unlikely to raise any eyebrows.

2. The melting pot. Cultures intertwine in São Paulo like nowhere else in Brazil.

3. Culinary paradise. The overwhelming diversity of São Paulo restaurants is a true joy. Contrary to what the mainstream media might lead you to believe, you can eat really well in São Paulo at affordable prices (well, that was certainly the case not that long ago before prices rocketed in the largest Brazilian city). Just run away from the usual suspects recommended in the “best of” lists.

4. Tolerance. Though tolerance is far from being exercised by the entire population of São Paulo, it shows considerable health in the city. It is no wonder that the most popular festive event of São Paulo is, by a long mile, the Gay Parade.

5. Splendid graffitis. São Paulo graffitis help smarten up a city that has more than its fair share of eyesores. Passion for graffit has put São Paulo at the top of the worldwide street art league.

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São Paulo’s top ten
São Paulo getaways
youth hostels in São Paulo

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Although traces of European colonization in the southern region of Brazil are well-known by tourists, there is a town in the Mantiqueira Mountains, in the state of São Paulo, that is hardly ever visited by foreign tourists: Campos do Jordão. A two-hour drive from the city of São Paulo, Campos do Jordão is a place where the visitor will find Central European architecture, mountains, cold temperatures, a fireplace at their pousada, artesanal beer and German sausages… a tad fake, if you ask me.

Campos do Jordão features as one of our recommended São Paulo getaways.

Welcome to the Brazil Travel Blog and our special report on the 2011 Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix at Interlagos.

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1. THE DATES

GP Brasil Formula 1 will be held at the Interlagos circuit on Sunday 27 November 2010 (training sessions on days 25 and 26). Full schedule of events at the GP’s official website (it has an English-language version).

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2. HOW TO GET TO INTERLAGOS

Do avoid getting to Interlagos circuit on your own car. During the celebration of the GP, the traffic jams on the region of the circuit are horrendous.

1. Shuttle buses.

Every year the local transport authority runs shuttle buses from five different points in the city of São Paulo:

• Shopping Interlagos
• terminal Jabaquara (subway, line 1, blue)
• Praça da República
• Shopping SP Market
• Congonhas airport (domestic flights, shuttle bus operating from 7 am).

The Praça da República option is good for those staying in the area of Avenida Paulista.

Longer but much faster is the Jabaquara option. Take the subway till the end of the blue line and hop in one of the shuttle buses.

2. Suburban train (CPTM)

This is an option of interest for those staying near the Pinheiros river (mainly in the Avenida Berrini area). Take the train (line 9, direction Grajaú) and get off at the Interlagos station. There is no direct access to the circuit from the station, you will have to find your way around. Follow the crowds.

3. Private transfers

Most hotels hire their own fleet of vans. Do find out.

4. Taxi

It is impossible to figure out the cost of a trip to Interlagos, but due to the horrendous traffic it can set you back anything between R$60 and way more than R$100.

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3. WHAT TO DO IN SÃO PAULO

At São Paulo’s top ten I pointed out a few outstanding highlights in the city. If you have a few days to spare, you have plenty of interesting ideas at São Paulo getaways.

If you read Spanish, you might be interested on my very own 142-page Guía de São Paulo.

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According to an international hotel price index just published, Río de Janeiro has the most expensive 4* hotels in the world. São Paulo comes second on the list. When all hotel categories are taken into account, Rio de Janeiro features in 9th place while São Paulo takes the 21st place.

The top placings of Rio and São Paulo are due to a large extent to the power of the local currency, the real. While hotels in both cities are expensive, an overvalued real makes them even more so, in particular on the eyes of the foreign traveler. If you’re looking for accommodation on any of those two cities and are bewildered by the range of prices you’re finding out, rest assured the problem is not yours. It is the reality of accommodation in the two largest Brazilian cities.

This blog has one main entry devoted to Rio de Janeiro and another one devoted to São Paulo: destination: Rio de Janeiro and destination: São Paulo.

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since 2003, the value of Brazilian real has increased 122 percent against the once mighty dollar
low season in Rio de Janeiro – a thing of the past
sky-high prices, a new Brazilian reality

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Between 12 and 14 November 2011 the city of Paulínia, in the state of São Paulo, will be host to the second edition of the SWU festival, the Brazilian Woodstock. Among the bands lined-up for this year, The Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dog, Peter Gabriel, Duran Duran, Faith no More, Alice in Chains and Sonic Youth. Read all the information on the festival at its English-version official website.

Between 7 and 8 April 2012 São Paulo’s Jockey Club will be the venue for the debut of the Brazilian edition of the veteran festival Lollapalooza. Find all the information at the festival’s official website.

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After two editions of the Cow Parade, it is the turn now for rhinos to take the streets of São Paulo through Rino Mania.

From 20 September till 20 October 60 fiberglass rhinos (no fear of uncontrolled beasts charging against innocent by-standers) will occupy public and private spaces in the city of São Paulo, mainly in the center, Avenida Paulista and Jardins areas.

At the official website of the event there is a map with the location of the rhinos.

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RELATED POSTS:
São Paulo getaways
São Paulo’s top ten
Museu do Futebol (football/soccer museum)
Morumbi stadium (São Paulo FC)
Octavio Café, São Paulo
terminal Tietê bus station in São Paulo
the São Paulo subway system
how to go from Guarulhos international airport in São Paulo to town
Accommodation at Guarulhos aiport in São Paulo
taxis from Congonhas domestic airport in São Paulo
taxis from Guarulhos int’l airport in São Paulo

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Local newspaper Folha de São Paulo published recently on its English-language edition a short feature on the quality of air in São Paulo: Air in São Paulo is unfit during 70% of the year. Essential reading for anyone suffering from any breathing disorder.

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An institutional video produced by the local tourism authorities with an array of São Paulo images. I have to confess that some of the images would make me want to visit the city – had I not lived there for nearly 10 years. But some of the shots paint a portrait of pretty unnatractive metropolis. The naked truth, so to speak.

Heading to São Paulo? Have a look at our São Paulo’s top ten and also out our preferred São Paulo getaways.

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