São Paulo. A State. And A City...

Friday, August 11, 2023

São Paulo is a Brazilian state. And also the largest city in Brazil in terms of population. A megacity where old meets new, a hub for commerce and technologies, São Paulo is an industrial metropolis, home to many factories and stores for a vast array of products. It is vibrant, diverse in its cultures, and always lively. Hereafter a curated album of pictures from my latest Brazilian trip. Too bad my phone was stolen and I don't have any means of recovering those photos anymore...

Let's get started with the Pinacotheca. It is located on the same street facing the Museum of the Portuguese Language, and the old train station, beautifully maintained and where you can, more often than not, witness live dance and music shows.

Street Overview: Pinacotheca, Museum of the Portuguese Language, and Old Train Station

São Paulo is a huge melting pot. And in many locations, the old and the new will stand side by side, with no pretense, often in genuinely exquisite contrast. Next to the old theater building, another historic construction that was restored currently houses a small mall with many shops and eateries and a gem of a bar/restaurant on the roof. Abaru is a chic place to step in for a quick lunch or coffee. At night, you can experience their signature mixed drinks by Alê D'Agostino, a renowned Brazilian mixologist. Chef Onildo Rocha didn't stop with the Abrau concept. The other side of the rooftop (7th floor) showcases Notiê restaurant, which serves exclusive avant-guard Brazilian dishes in the form of 5 to 10-course tasting dinner menus. To get to the roof, you will step into the Espaço Priceless by MasterCard, take an ancient elevator, and experience Brazilian gastronomy at its finest. Hereafter, a few pictures...

One cannot stroll around the city of São Paulo and miss the street art! Many walls show graffiti and some building façades are just aesthetically catching to the eye. You can book walk/art tours if you want to enjoy explanations provided by guides or roam around on foot or by bike. Below are a few colorful pictures. Let me know what you think...

The old center of the city of São Paulo houses skyscrapers for banks and offices. One of the tallest buildings in that area, Farol, provides a skyline view of the whole city. And because São Paulo gathers so many ethnicities and communities from many countries in the world, I was still ecstatic to discover a bakery that makes German bread and pretzels, the German way! It didn't stop me from exploring other coffee shops as you can see in the following set of photos. Don't get drooling over your screen now, ok? 🤪