Maniquí me: São Paulo sorrows

I'm back from Sampa and it's raining so hard in Rio, I might as well have stayed at Antonio's for a few more days. Class was canceled today because this city can't handle anything except for extreme sunlight, so it looks like another day inside the apartment with the family.

The rest of my stay in São Paulo was filled with lazy daytime and hardcore nights. It rained almost everyday but Antonio and I managed to go to the city's really famous market in the centro. They have every kind of fruit and meat available on the continent as well as a second floor of bars and restaurants that serve these 1 kilo bologna sandwiches. We also went out to lunch at a vegan restaurant and I ate my heart out for $R20 ($US11.35). Saturday was Bruno's birthday and I was so happy celebrating with all my new paulista friends. I want to go back already! I'm the worst Carioca ever, all I think about is São Paulo and I love people from Cuiabá haha terrible.

On a serious note though I can imagine myself living in São Paulo for a year or so. The city is 100 percent buildings but the grandeur and massiveness is really inspiring to me and stimulating in a way that Rio just doesn't do for me. I didn't see a single tourist while I was there nor did I look blatantly gringa because people are less concerned about being tan and actually wear complete outfits as opposed to bikinis and sandals. Another interesting thing about Sampa is that a few years ago they banned all big corporate advertisements so you don't see any Coca-cola adds or McDonald's arches and instead there's all these public art projects that have taken over billboard space. There's a feeling of change and revolution there also that I'd like to be involved in for the upcoming years. So watch out Sampa I'm coming for you!

Something I notice more and more about Brazil is that there's no concept of planning ahead. For example, no one ever packs food for bus rides, work, school etc. Whenever I bust out crackers or pieces of chocolate on a bus ride people think I'm crazy, as well as when I walk anywhere while eating a banana. Eating and walking culture is awesome, thanks USA! Also, I think one of the best things about the states (theoretically) is the concept of free water and free refills. Here it's pay as you go and bottled water forever, lame.