Sao Paulo Reports

[The Cane]

In my first visit to Medellin many years ago I bought a t-shirt with some sort of sports insignia on it. I got thumbs up from some guys and harsh looks from others. I learnt my lesson.

If I wear any kind of football shirt in Brazil, it's the national team colors. Nobody has a problem with that LOL.

[Stinky Squid]

I really don't get what y'all are going on about wearing special clothes and being all scared in Sampa. I've been in Jabaquara to Santana and it's just fine.

Even I thought Santana was iffy, but it has a few addresses that kept coming up, some Dr. Cesar 209 and Henrique Bernadelli 119. Now I checked personally, and they are all in fine commercial neighborhoods. No worries. I can't even find Cesar 209 as these are all fine stores. And the Bernadelli 119 is a pretty nice looking Villa. I'm trying to muster some hornyness to actually go in and try them out for you, but I don't feel the need.

Earlier I got annoyed by another scam (like nothing really bad, just totally not what's advertized. Then another one, which I saved my time by telling the person per WhatsApp straight on that I walk out if it's not what's advertized, and that got me no response and then a block. So I knew.

Anyway, Bernadelli 119, I would go visit if I'm in the mood. And don't worry so much.

[Turgid]

This may work in RJ, but wearing bombeiro gear or other shit you mention in Jardins, Moema, Itaim or Vila Olimpia, where I go out on weekends in SP, is a sure way to draw unnecessary attention.....

In my first visit to Medellin many years ago I bought a t-shirt with some sort of sports insignia on it. I got thumbs up from some guys and harsh looks from others. I learnt my lesson.

[Jet69]

Dang, have to change my plans for day one in SP. Got to hit the malls and El Centro for the proper clothes. Who would have thought. My gringo looks will disappear in a flash. Thanks!

Further, I find the following helpful for security. (Buy local brands)

[Nordico]

Decathlon, a global brand, shop here if you are coming to Brazil, and it is widely available in Brazil.

Invictus (not 5. 11) tactical cloths, same as what off duty policia federal wear, which sends a message, context dependent (don't wear it to a favela).

Red Cross Brazil shirt, bought somewhere in centro.

South & Co beach wear, especially the cargo shorts with lots of small pockets including with zippers -- the locals pick up on local brands almost immediately. Bella donna went out and bought Vagabundo 1000 reais worth of South & Co beach wear because she hated, hated the bombeiro cloths.

This may work in RJ, but wearing bombeiro gear or other shit you mention in Jardins, Moema, Itaim or Vila Olimpia, where I go out on weekends in SP, is a sure way to draw unnecessary attention. When I'm in SP I dress exactly the same way I dress at home; jeans, shirt, t-shirt or polo shirt and nice shoes and that is how the locals dress in those areas when they go out. I'm sure it's different in RJ, but that is not the way to go in SP. Kudos to Bella Donna for slowing you down.

[SamaRiding]

Was at Caserao about 6 weeks ago, was not impressed at all. Unfriendly door guys, crap music, not many girls and the ones there I wouldn't do anything more than have a drink and chit chat for company, which is what I did. And that was on a Thursday night around 10 pm. Maybe it gets better.

Lonster.

Casarao is a late night boate. It doesn't open until 10 p. I made the same mistake the first time I went. Got there just after 10 p and it was dead. It filled up a little but I was getting bored and planning my exit to Scandallo at 12 a. When I paid my bill and was heading out the door, a group of hot girls walked past me and walked in. I was WTF and thought for a sec and followed them back into the club. Best decision I made. The club started to pack in after. So, don't go to Casaroa much before midnight, that's when a lot of girls start showing up.

[Anaggie]

Excuse the newbie question, but what's the best (well safest way for a newbie gringo) way of getting to Scandallo? Uber?

If you want to take company back to the hotel, also Uber?

Yes. And yes. They will also have taxis outside Scandello which are perfectly safe to take.

[Vagabundo1]

Further, I find the following helpful for security.

Humor. Most times I talk to a local, I say of myself, Sou Carioca do fake or Carioca falsa, because obviously with my gringo accent, I am a fake in contrast to a carioca the gema. I find some humor does help de escalate, and is a little verbal judo.

Other brands that I wear in order of helpfulness.

Decathlon, a global brand, shop here if you are coming to Brazil, and it is widely available in Brazil.

Invictus (not 5. 11) tactical cloths, same as what off duty policia federal wear, which sends a message, context dependent (don't wear it to a favela).

Red Cross Brazil shirt, bought somewhere in centro.

South & Co beach wear, especially the cargo shorts with lots of small pockets including with zippers -- the locals pick up on local brands almost immediately. Bella donna went out and bought Vagabundo 1000 reais worth of South & Co beach wear because she hated, hated the bombeiro cloths.

Bad Boy Jiu Jitsu tank top. Internash, to his credit, went with me and a brit into the popular mercado at metro uruguiana, and turned down the suggestion to buy a vasco futbol shirt, but opted instead for a MMA light shirt, a Bad Boy Jiu jitsu tank top; he did buy at the Casa de bombeiro a guardio do piscina light cap, super light and comfortable, and again, licensed by the city, and no one is going to sweat you wearing a lifeguard ball cap, but it accomplishes the mission of making the criminal move onto the next target in the 6 second identify friend or foe.

Finally, and real story, the bombeiro wallet. About a year ago, vagabundo was in an uber in zona norte with monique. We were stopped by policia militar. We were searched. They found a half smoked joint on her. The also found a bombeiro wallet on Vagabundo, and one cop said to the other, "bombeiro" and decided against taking us to the station. For that alone all my various shopping at the casa bombeiro was well worth it, to me.

Ah, senor anaggie, we both know that neither of us are brancos, haha.

[Carpaccio18]

Excuse the newbie question, but what's the best (well safest way for a newbie gringo) way of getting to Scandallo? Uber?

If you want to take company back to the hotel, also Uber?

[Stinky Squid]

When you go on Photoacompanhante and you look for Centro, Bela Vista, Republica and Higienopolis-Mackenzie, chances are more often than not the girl is in Rua Avanhandava 459. It's always like teeth pulling to get their actual address. The ads of these girls are enticing with lovely photos. The stupid web site might even say the photos are verified (useless idiots these people who run photoacompanhantes.com.br and photoprepagos. Co and sexoservidora. Mx.) But the truth is a different one. Last night I was looking frantically for a quick blowjob before bedtime while in centro. And all these lovely chicks advertise there. But something smelled fishy whenever they said they were at Rua Avanhandava 459. Some of their auto-greetings on whatsapp were even exactly the same.

I had a super session with lovely and friendly girl down in Jabaquara before noon, so I was in very good mood. Let me get that out of the way. I am so happy. That girl works in a pretty frequented establishment, but me going in the morning evaded the crowd and had a chance of getting her fresh, unused in the morning. I usually have more interaction on WhatsApp (for good reasons that become clear below) with her I didn't, simply because I really liked her physique in the pictures, and her ad seemed real, the text less boiler plate and more personal. I just had to meet her, and so I set up the meeting for when she'd start her day and went. When we met we had instant chemistry, and she was really nice. She had a little alcohol I smelled that from her breath, but I got to smell her from really close up which means we actually made love, kissing and face to face sex with some eye gazing. She was going all moaning and almost screaming, which I thought was exaggerated and unnecessary for me, but it went along with some real connection, so didn't seem only a performance. I enjoyed her and I think I will have her for an all-nighter on Sunday or so (in a hotel that won't scold me for a loudly moaning girl in my room, haha). I am a little in love, not really, although we might even be friends, as she is studying in my area and we had good conversation about that subject. This girl made not only my day, she wiped out my blues from a bad time in Rio.

Anyway, as I returned back to centro, I decided I need to check out some of these lovely girls from the ads close to where I stay. And all those ads were leading me to Rua Avanhandava 459. I was worried that would be a scheme like Alvaro de Carvalho 107, where they suck you in with pretty ads and you go and wait and some girl comes to attend you who you haven't ever messaged. Not so here. It is just a normal apartment building, but lots of girls there. Something of the kind that Rua Major Diogo 39 once was (and apparently is no more). I went and the girl who opened the door was actually quite pretty for my taste, perhaps a 3 years older version from the super cute girl in the photos, what she was at 18 years old or so. Not sure. Probably not the same girl, but close. I liked her. But oh the attitude sucked very quickly. And that was the one time that I didn't ask probing questions on WhatsApp before. I do that quite a bit, I ask them specifically about the things they check on their profiles, and very often I am getting ignored or get evasive answers. Then I already know it's not going to be worth it. It's frustrating when what you hope for blows up in smoke over messages. But better this than wasting an hour of my day to go down like with this one. The way she told me I was supposed to lie down, this way, not that way, then she rubbed her hands with a liquid and I said, oh, you want to give me a massage? And she like "no, that's alcohol". Oh man. Very stiff and bureaucratic. When she took out the condom for the BJ, that was advertised as BBBJ, I complained. And then she gave me a lecture about HPV and shit like this, and I just cancelled the session, lost the money, but saved my time and sanity.

As I complained that her ad was all lies, she said she isn't responsible for the ad, she just works for an agency as do most girls around there. And that's the thing here. These fucking agencies who try to get clients with these exaggerated ads. This was also why so many at Major Diogo 39 sucked (except for the one girl I told you couple of years ago you had to visit while she lasted). Now I have a much better feel for looking for signs of authenticity in the ads, and just not waste my time any more about these perfect ads when there is any red flag.

Tomorrow I go back to Vila Mariana to a session with another super pretty one (too good to be true? But she confirmed to my probing question that she will squirt for me. So I will give her this chance. At least she isn't in Rua Avanhandava 459.

[Stinky Squid]

You have been in Rio long enough to be able to read the environment, others have been in Sampa long enough to feel the same way you do in Rio. I have been in both for very long period of time and I can say that I feel unsafe in Rio, even walking like a local wearing just a zunga, havaianas and a towel in front of Ipanema beach. Regarding football fans, once you go to a Corinthians vs Palmeiras game, we can sit an exchange impressions.

I used to live in Rio for the long term, lived on top of a favela even. I have had a bullet from an AK47 pierce through a brick wall (these thing ones they use here) and land on my porch. I have hidden in the inner bathroom as armed bandits were jumping over the roofs around us. I had my girlfriend almost killed. And yet, down below, I have always heard that it's even less safe, because you're exposed to random crime, which isn't the case on the hill. Rio is the most beautiful city in the world but with this lush geography of green hills and parks and beach comes two MAJOR problems (1) the whole city is sprinkled with favelas, from where the robbers emerge and disappear., and (2) this geography also causes very long ways between places with traffic jams and all. If you try to go from Copacabana to Jacarepagua, it's an odyssey. If you go from Centro Se to Japaquara, it's just a metro trip.

In Rio, I had all my valuables stolen on a fucking bus at the Novo Rio bus terminal by some molek who snatched my backpack from the luggage rack and just went out. Rio is a disaster that way. You can feel it if you compare the Rio bus terminal with Sampa Tiete, what a peaceful experience in Sao Paulo!

For years I drove by Sao Paulo and thought how ugly Sampa is and how I would never want to live here. But the truth is, if you like big cities, like Belin for example, and you stay in Centro, Bela Vista, for example, you live that same life of urban tranquility. The homeless around the cathedral are a nuisance, but they don't pose a threat other than petty crime maybe. And lately I even like mongering in Sao Paulo more than in Rio. I just came from Rio to Sao Paulo and already much happier with my day today.

[Gigi Buffon]

Crime Fear in SP.

I agree.

SP is actually more dangerous than Rio IMHO and experience.

SP is not as happy, as it doesn't have the beach.

Brazilians flock to SP for money, including criminals who target gringos.

The Rio bombeiro cloths suite / suit works even better in cities outside of Rio.

No one in their right mind attacks an off duty military fireman (bombeiro militar) from Rio, who wears vasco gear too (vasco is famous for the most violent fans, the ones who will crack skulls in games over small offenses because they have nothing better to do. Vasco fans are Brazil's Afghans, they fight small wars because futbol isn't violent enough in itself, the broken bones, and occasional deaths, be damned, it is better than boredom).

You have been in Rio long enough to be able to read the environment, others have been in Sampa long enough to feel the same way you do in Rio. I have been in both for very long period of time and I can say that I feel unsafe in Rio, even walking like a local wearing just a zunga, havaianas and a towel in front of Ipanema beach. Regarding football fans, once you go to a Corinthians vs Palmeiras game, we can sit an exchange impressions.

[Kcrl01]

I have been going to SP for 10+ yrs consistently and never felt any danger. I feel Copa is way more dangerous and the only time I have been robbed in all my travels was in Copa, not paying attention to my surroundings and being a gringo. Bike robber got my chain. Wasn't injured but I grabbed his hand and it slipped out because he was sweaty. Oh well. Lesson learned.

I've lived in SP for 8 yrs, been going to Rio off and on for 45 yrs. The only problems I've had in Rio were street punks trying to snatch and' grab cellphone, wallet, or parcels I was carrying home from the mercado. Was attacked in SP by a homeless and possibly mentally challenged older gentleman. I went for my folding knife and sliced him across the triceps. He scurried away quickly experiencing I imagine intense discomfort.

My Portuguese is decent, I'm also a USN combat vet who works out, 65 yrs old with a gray beard so I have the appearance of prey. Not!

Cheers,

Stay Toxic, my friends!

[The Cane]

A gringo wearing a vasco suit or a bombeiro shirt is still a gringo. Albeit with a different set of clothes. Not going to stop the robbers. They will size him up in a second, realize he is a gringo and realize he doesn't speak the language and do their deed.

Now. A gringo who is confident and street smart, maintains eye contact with the locals, smiles when needs be and knows the basic language skills might make it to a restaurant or bar to duck into if he is being followed.

I have been going to SP for 10+ yrs consistently and never felt any danger. I feel Copa is way more dangerous and the only time I have been robbed in all my travels was in Copa, not paying attention to my surroundings and being a gringo. Bike robber got my chain. Wasn't injured but I grabbed his hand and it slipped out because he was sweaty. Oh well. Lesson learned.

I also feel more danger in Rio than in Sampa, particularly in Copa and in Centro at night in some of those dark streets. That said, there are so many parts of Sampa I have not been to. I'm sure it has its own really bad spots. I know it does. But from a personal experience standpoint, and except for driving where I think the Paulistas are worse than the Cariocas (imagine that), for me I fear crime more in Rio than in Sampa. For this reason, I'm always on extra alert in Rio. Compare that for example to Moema where I have felt zero fear at all times of day and night. Lucky for me nothing bad has happened to me in either city. One thing that really helps me is that I look Brazilian. I easily pass for Brazilian and for the most part can move about without drawing any unnecessary and / or unwanted attention to myself. And that's how I like to keep it too.

[Vagabundo1]

Ah, senor anaggie, we both know that neither of us are brancos, haha.

A part Asian who could be a Brazilian in coloring wearing bombeiro vasco local cloths who keeps his mouth shut especially in SP which has the most Asian population of any Brazilian city is better than the average gringo monger who wears a nascar shirt. A gringo who wears bombeiro vasco cloths who also "is confident and street smart, maintains eye contact with the locals, smiles when needs be and knows the basic language skills" is, all else equal, better off than the gringo who wears gringo cloths. Most criminals make their identify friend or foe (IFF) decision as fast as fighter pilots or infantry men with a rifle -- 6 seconds. The goal of wearing local cloths is to make the criminal move on to the next target.

I also agree completely with your statement: "I feel Copa is way more dangerous and the only time I have been robbed in all my travels was in Copa, not paying attention to my surroundings and being a gringo."

A gringo wearing a vasco suit or a bombeiro shirt is still a gringo. Albeit with a different set of clothes. Not going to stop the robbers. They will size him up in a second, realize he is a gringo and realize he doesn't speak the language and do their deed.

Now. A gringo who is confident and street smart, maintains eye contact with the locals, smiles when needs be and knows the basic language skills might make it to a restaurant or bar to duck into if he is being followed.

I have been going to SP for 10+ yrs consistently and never felt any danger. I feel Copa is way more dangerous and the only time I have been robbed in all my travels was in Copa, not paying attention to my surroundings and being a gringo. Bike robber got my chain. Wasn't injured but I grabbed his hand and it slipped out because he was sweaty. Oh well. Lesson learned.