Being the largest city in Brazil (11 million people within the city and over 30 million in its metropolitan area), Sao Paolo has all the positive and negative traits of a big metropole. On one hand it is full of museums, theatres, nice restaurants and bars, cool business area, big parks, all kinds of markets and shopping malls and so on, but on the other it has very bad traffic, it’s quite dirty and has no personality.

Avenida Paulista, its famous boulevard considered as the “Champs Elysee” did not impress us at all: just a long street with common buildings (ugly) on both sides, mostly shopping areas and offices. As we reached the historic center the image started to change a little bit and we were able to see some nice architectural pieces, mostly copying the cool New York style of the 20s. However, considering the fact that it has the largest Japanese community outside Japan, we would have expected to see some Asian influences throughout the city but the only sign for this is represented by the multiple sushi bars in all neighborhoods.

It is certainly not a city we would live in, but still we really enjoyed some of its parts. Villa Magdalena neighborhood is absolutely amazing with all the cool street art and lively hippie bars full of young people drinking beers and having fun. In addition, though considered “too touristic”, the Municipal Market is a nice experience – shopping all kind of fruit, vegetables, salty fish, cachacha, etc. in a nice historic building while having a delicious traditional sandwich…unique! And the rainbows at sunset, on a pinkish – reddish sky…phenomenal! Just a perfect moment to end up a one year travel around the world.