A day in Sao Paulo

Well, I explored the city. I went to the MASP- Museo do Arte Sao Paulo... or something like that. Amazing... again, I was hit with the feeling of why me?! Why do I get to enjoy all of this culture and exposure to life?! Well, I don´t take it for granted and I know how lucky I am. With that being said... I am living up every moment of it!
The museum had amazing pieces... I saw Renoir, Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, Matisse, Cézanne and many more. Wow... what else can I say. I have been to museums before, but there is something about going to a museum solo, in a foreign land that makes it seem all the more impressive. For all of you ´art´ people out there... here were my favorites... the titles of the paintings are in Portuguese...

Edovard Vuillard-- A Princesa Bibesco c. 1920
-- She is sitting on a chaise lounge in a shabby chic room... I just wanted to be her!

Paul Cézanne-- O Grande Pinheiro 1896
-- it was of a tree, very fluid, strong colors of burnt orange and green / blue sky

Picasso-- Natureza- Morta com Melancia e cacto 1948
and Toalete (Fernande) 1906

A Modigliani that looked unlike the others they had of his. Most of his paintings were of people with ovular shaped heads and really long skinny necks- I didn~t care for them. But there was this one that was way more abstract though still defined... it was Retrato de Diego De rivera 1916.

I also went to explore China town / Japan town. They are the same area. Actually it is Chinese, Japanese and Koreans all together. Totally different than New York... and you don´t have to dodge snot rockets or smell the nasty fish markets like you do in China Town in NYC. It was okay... but I wouldn´t come to Sao Paulo to see it. I ended up eating at this fast food buffet place because I waited way to long to find a place to eat... I was starving. Anyway, they weigh your plate and that is how they price it. Of course they put all the yummy things at the end so you load up your plate with way too much. Well, I should say it looked yummy... because as starving as I was, it didn´t skew the fact that this food was nasty! Just terrible.

As i was heading to downtown Sao Paulo to check it out, I noticed all the fast food restaurants the dudes on the plain told me to go to... to think I laughed at their suggestions... I should have listened! (did I tell you guys about them?!)

Well downtown Sao Paulo reminds me of old school west 181st street... exactly like it... dudes selling fruit on a stick and tacky, tacky cheap clothing stores. What was odd though, was that among these cheapy stores were really nice jewelry stores... but I wouldn´t dare buy anything there... yeah right, can we scream tourist?!... I would buy, they would rob me as soon as I stepped foot out the door! I have had no problems with crime here, but it is apparent that stuff goes on... I do not feel as safe as I did in BsAs... but that is just a fact and even Brazilians will tell you so. It is a dangerous and corrupt city as is Rio.

Speaking of corrupt... when I was at the roof top pool in my building, a man and his son were up there. I told Leo about them and Leo shared their story with me. This man was married to the daughter of what once was a very important judge. I think his name was Lalao or something like that. The judge was shaddy and had side stuff going on to say the very least. He had an enormous apartment is Miami to entertain guests and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. Well, this man and woman were getting a divorce. He asked for the house and other material items and she refused. He threatened to give up the fathers secrets if they didn´t comply and he did just that! The judge is now on permanent house arrest, lost his other homes and his career is done... all because of the man I was swimming with. I think I will stay on his good side...though what am i gonna give him, my back pack?! He can have it!