Sao Paulo

São Paulo is a multi-cultural metropolis of Paulistas - local inhabitants - who are descended from the large populations of Portuguese, Italians, Germans, Turks, Africans and Arabs that have arrived here over the centuries. However, there is less of an African influence here than in the other cites to the North such as Rio and Salvador. Over the last decade there has been a large influx of migrants from the North East. São Paulo also has one of the biggest populations of ethnic Japanese outside of Japan. As such there is every type of restaurant with every type of culinary delight that you can imagine in this city. The Metro is fairy efficient and the trains ...  Read the complete review

Sao Paulo is a strange city. It is home to the multi million pound grand prix circus that visits Brazil once a year. Yet next to the Sao Paulo circuit's glitz and glamour lies the poverty of the shanty towns that make up the majority of the city. Here people are begging and struggling to feed their families in one of the fastest growing civilisations in the world. People often think of the Rio carnival when they talk of Brazil or the lavely beaches. People often forget the other side to Brazil. The side of disease and poverty and poor quality of living. There is a very distinct "them and us" culture developing in Brazil. You either have it or you dont. ...  Read the complete review

As a native of the city I must say São Paulo does not have all the typical features of a Brazilian city as seen in adverts. No abundant green, but there's a wonderful and enjoyable park, the Ibirapuera, which is the main one and most popular and some more. The nearest beach is almost two hours down the tableland. Wilde animals only at the zoo and also on the Simba safari. São Paulo is a big and cosmopolitan metropolis with everything you find in any major city of the world, good or bad: polution, good parks, increased violence, some service facilities, major investments, very good food, all the shopping. I'm not an expert in figures, but I imagine that the ...  Read the complete review