Entrance to Brazil’s claim-to-fame shop: flip flops
I’m ready for the next country! I did one of those every six month recharger sleeps, where I went 13 hours without really awakening for much longer than a cute text or an email schedule. That was day two of Sao Paulo.
Today I was ready to take on the world. Went and found myself a sugar free red bull (an impossible accomplishment in Istanbul), jogged 3 1/2 miles before it got to 97 degrees and discovered the Madison Avenue of Sao Paulo. With a name like Rua Oscar Friere, how could I not know!? All my favorites were there: Chanel, Dior, Max Mara, Roberto Cavalli, Hagaan Daas and then all the Portuguese/Brazilian designers! It was def the high rent district which I was beginning to wonder even exists. I guess it does.
But here’s what I learned today about Brazil, it is wicked expensive. I thought I sensed that on my first jet-lagged, out-the-night-before-I-left daze. But then yesterday I couldn’t leave my hotel room given the workload and my slumber. Everything in Brazil is double the price at home, MY home. It is even more exxy than London. Clothing, food, accommodation, cocktails, massage (all my usual business expenses) are crazy price. Which is fine I guess, but then I feel this sort of city-wide arrogance. Perhaps it is the fact that I didn’t teach myself a lick of Portuguese, but come on, have the Brazilians surpassed the French in snobbery? Um… yes.
I learned today the Brazilian economy has more than doubled in less than four years. Or so I was told. By one of the arrogant but English speaking Brazilians. No, it’s not that bad. But there’s an edge. A chip on the shoulder, just walking by someone. So it’s not a language thing. It’s a ‘I’m going to look at you like I’ll kick your ass’ thing. But not in a drug cartel hostage way, GRAM! 🙂 Not like that at all.
Was a challenge (again) to find a solid dinner tonight. It’s always that something is closed, or having a private party, or I’m not cool enough… who knows. It seems to be always something. And I’m less than impressed with the over-eagerness of my hotel staff, to the point of deadbolt and ‘do NOT disturb’.
So what is all this hype about Havaianas flips!!? I got all sucked up in it… and am not even clear why! But “everyone in da club gettin’ Havaianas! Heyyyy, Ohhh….. must be da money!”. Apologies to 50 Cent and Nelly who I think I just mixed together.
Off to Argentina tomorrow. Couldn’t be soon enough. Thankfully, I have an amazing friend who had me dialed into the finer intricacies of the city, from a local’s standpoint. I’m quite grateful to experience my salad at Oui Oui in Palermo SoHo. 🙂
Cannot wait! Am a bit over the Brazilians at this point!!! City #1 of 4, sigh…
AJ, you’d be proud, I just opened the Pringles. 😀
Sao Paulo’s unimpressive ‘Madison Avenue’
