Knowing a city is knowing the streets and its people

----------- Knowing Brazil is not something you can do in one day, but you can do quiet a lot in São Paulo in this short amount of time. far away from really knowing it, that would a lot of things. In my opinion you should start for the non touristic ones first, but for this, having a Portuguese speaker company is quiet good. Here are some examples and I will try to improve then with time, as much as come with more "real" things and correct the mistakes, even the grammar ones.

Going to the “Anhangabaú” Valley down town and getting to know this nice and old long square (valley) from a once developing city, pay attention a and give a look to the buildings around and common people here and there. One must know streets if you want to know a city, not shopping centers, right? To reach there you can use the subway that goes to the “Anhangabaú” station on the map. Since this is not really a touristic hint, I mean, i would advice not to be taking pictures everywhere like if one was the most happy guy on earth with a camera. It is always better to feel the place as a common guy, not being observed, what you think? The place has always been a nice garden in old times, now people just don't feel like "resting" there anymore. But this still a deep place. If you decide to take a walk around, it may be that you find some “samba” circle that probably will be playing somewhere around there on this Saturday afternoon. Try it slow, for it's not carnival the whole time in Brazil, although we might think this way while we watch the TV. Observe that girl and see if you learn some samba with her. I meant the feet!. I have been trying to get it too. If you don't wanna stay there, take a walk, go to Republica Square some blocks ahead, and take a bus or the Subway again to go back.

It is already getting a little late, you'd better hurry up if you wanna get a sit at the night's classical game of the “great São Paulo” at its big house “Morumbi” stadium. Tonight we are gonna beat one more on the path heading to the fourth South American Championship trophy. “Corinthians” soccer club better sit and learn! The Stadium although is a little out of the way in a matter of public transport. One can take a bus at the Paulista Avenue or try to get there on a cabin. But also, it is better to check the São Paulo's Official web site for the next matches and get there a Little earlier so you can find a good place, students pay half as in most places. Chose the yellow sits and you will be fine, but don't expect exactly to sit man!

At night, people usually would tell you to go to the “Augusta Street”, crossing Paulista Avenue, where there is this junkie ambient and some disco or rock parties, watch out for the beer, for it uses to be very much over priced there, specially at the big night clubs. Anyway, you can look all around or in the parallels streets and try to find a more ordinary and calm place where you can simply sit and have some good conversation with your mates, whiling drinking something. It's full of them, specially crossing back the paulista to other side or in the Bela Cintra's Street. If you agree with me and just don't wanna stay there, I would advice you going to a simple (very) and ordinary bar not so far away from there. It is the "Bar do Cidão" (Cidão's Bar). Here is the adress. I am sure that is not a real samba cradle, but there you'll hear some great musicians playing with seven strings guitars, maybe, or more. If you want to find place by the name, try using the Apontador.com, as it stays at the links above, this service is like a local google maps with most of the local data stored.

On this very way, there is a young movement of “Maracatu” ( one of a very kinds of Brazilians rhythyms) happening right under our noses at a not so “roots” region of Vila Madalena. I mean, who would imagine that a Maractus's Block would emerge there? These Guys really take the thing seriously and borrow the old traditions with dignity from the old guys from northeast, where the sound actually has its roots, I would risk to say. They play every Saturday Afternoon at a public school near from the Avenida Paulista, at this adress, you can track then in their site too, If you reach the “sumaré” subway station on green line, just step out and go walking. Monstrously easy. I could't imagine how hard they can beat that percussions.

Of course there is a lot of museums to go from where you can learn some more about brazilian's culture and history, but it is a not very easy hint to give, since they have each one it's particularities, if you ask in any flat or so they can give you those kinds of maps with the museums relations. One very "real" thing to do is getting the Tuesday seven o' clock session of Brazilian Instrumental session at the “SESC Avenida Paulista”, free and contemporary international Brazilian artists are always playing over there, the tickets are for free. The address is “Avenida Paulista 119”.Don't even check the program, go to the balcon and grab you entrance before someone else make it, and it's always the last one!. Looking at internet is a good way of knowing about things. One of the best legitime sites for dynamic culture in São Paulo, in my opinion, is also an ONG, and it goes under this adress: Catraca Livre. You can also take a look at this one that is very functional, with quiet no adds and real things. Stay with these guys and you will b okay for a while. In other case, just stand still and invite yourself for the first opportunity that crosses your way, kidnapings are good for discoverings, forget the cultural programs if it's necessary. In case they don't notice you or give you attentions, ignore then, they are surely going to some shopping center.

Feel free to write also if you want.