São Paulo, Brazil (Nature and Street Life)
Back in São Paulo, I love to write about this city, and I can write for a long time. Usually, my longest entries are from here, as I have so much to discuss about this city. In a previous entry, I talked a little about museums and food in São Paulo, but today I will be talking a little about the street culture and the nature in São Paulo.
Even if this might not be what comes to the top of your mind when you think about São Paulo, coexistence is very prevalent in the city. São Paulo has an enormous population of over 12 million people, and there is a craving for nature and a need for street culture from different people with different preferences.
Nature, Parks, Wilderness
There are many options for nature lovers in the city, even if many might not agree. Of course not quite as many as if I lived in Rio, or a very nature-focused city, but for a city quite as big as São Paulo, having access to as many nature spots so close by and within reach makes it accessible.
For those more into hiking and trekking, there are some great options in the city or greater São Paulo for beautiful hikes. They are usually national/state parks or preserved Atlantic Rainforest reservations, which have the fauna and flora of the biome in the middle of such a big city. It is honestly one of a kind.
My favorite personal favorite is Trilha da Pedra Grande, a hike in the Cantareira State Park. It is a somewhat strenuous hike, so keep that in mind if you are a beginner. The cool thing about the hike is that after the hike up, you'll see one big rock from which you can see the entire city of São Paulo from up, which is not a pretty view, due to the brutalist architecture we have, it just contrasts with the nature around. The one thing I don't like about this hike is that it is paved. I hate paved hikes, so that I would keep that in mind. You'll need to pay a fee to go in for this one, about R$19.
Opposed to that, one that is not paved and is beautiful is Trilha da Nascente, but this is a very short hike, less than 1km compared to the previous total of 10km, and on top of a wooden platform. It is in State Park right in the middle of the city, which makes it even more interesting, so if you are not willing to spend a lot of time hiking, but maybe just an early morning, give it a go.
If you are not a hike-type pal, we also have many options for you! São Paulo has so many parks that you can just go for a lunch picnic, or a Sunday morning bike ride. Of course, the best one will always be Parque Ibirapuera, some paulistas (people from São Paulo) from Zona Leste might try to convince you that Parque Villa Lobos (tell you about it in a minute), but it is not!
Ibirapuera has so much to offer; they have so many good quality restaurants in there, in case, after the bike ride, you might be hungry for a bit of lunch (of course, I'd circle back for food). They also have so many museums, such as Museu Afro Brasil (mentioned in my previous entry) and the Oca, which now and then have super fun exhibitions, like the one they had about Formula 1! A planetarium, the museum of modern art, and another planetarium, look at that. It is awesome. They also have an Obelisco, a vast lake that is very well kept. They have many sports courts, and you can rent bikes there.
In Parque Villa Lobos, I'm no critic of it; it is underwhelming compared to Ibirapuera. They also have sports courts, even more so than Ibirapuera, which is interesting if you are into that. They are near the Ferris Wheel, which is surprisingly the largest in Latin America, so visit. They also have many bike rental and restaurant options, although they are not quite as good as Ibirapuera.
Street Life - What's it Like in the City
São Paulo is known across the country for its nightlife, even if I'm not going to be talking particularly about this, it is something interesting to keep in mind when thinking about the city, as it shapes a lot of the culture. Around SP, as in any town, neighborhoods divide and are tailored to specific lifestyles or values. For example, more hippie neighborhoods such as Vila Madalena, where you'll see bars open till late at night, parties and clubs, don't match and fit with the lifestyle of those who live in neighborhoods such as Higienópolis, with more older people.
In this section, I will talk about some hotspots in street life in São Paulo and what to do. In Vila Madalena, one of the most visited and touristy neighborhoods, they are artsy and colorful and known for the graffiti. São Paulo is known for having tons of graffiti, but in this neighborhood, they have an alley just for graffiti. Vila Madalena is perfect for thrifting if that's your vibe (I can maybe write an entry on that? Let me know if you guys are interested!) And to go to cafés.
Another nice neighborhood is Liberdade, our Chinatown, but a Japanese version. Interestingly, this neighborhood was first a neighborhood in which the Afro-descendants stayed until the Japanese immigrants started to dominate the region. There are a lot of sushi restaurants there, and Japanese stores, like those which sell asian candy and stuff. There are street fairs, and they even have a big celebration of the Lunar New Year. Everything is very authentic, as we have many immigrants.
Another immigrant neighborhood is Bixiga, but this time Italian, there are a lot of Italian restaurants and pasta for sure, and there is this one cool restaurant called Cê Que Sabe that in the middle of the meal a band starts singing Italian songs and throwing dishes on the floor, not quite authentic but it's hilarious.
Contrary to all that, there is the Pinheiros neighborhood, which is a more luxurious neighborhood, together with Itaim. They have more trendy restaurants, with Michelin stars and fancy designer stores. São Paulo has lots to offer everyone and all sorts of likes and dislikes.