Interesting in meeting people who live like I do.

Very nice to know Reddit can help. Do you post here? Or like.. in solo travel or what?

I feel like I talked so much about safety I almost make it scary, but safety is important there but I do want to elaborate and say that it’s gorgeous. I love the grit of São Paulo, it made me feel alive. There is artwork everywhere, it’s so colorful, and the expression through the artwork is just palpable and everywhere. The animals even in the city are crazy, I saw macaws and there are even the very rare and occasional Toucan. Beautiful foliage and large parks, like Ibirapuera. There’s many nice museums and good transportation. The metro is clean and nice. Lots of music and concerts. Psychedelic mushrooms are also legal in Brasil and available for next day delivery to your door there if you’re into that kind of thing. I bought a ton online and had a few nice trips with my friends at the beach (you can take a bus to Ilhabela or Caraguatatuba for the weekend)

My Portuguese is okay. I’m functional but not exactly fluent. I’ve about 7 months of learning through immersion and DuoLingo. No one really speaks Spanish there. It can help if it’s all you got to work with but obviously preferably know some Portuguese. 30% of Brazilians speak English, maybe closer to 50% will speak some level of English in SP. Brazil is my only LATAM experience but I want to go back and stay in Brazil again and then visit Argentina, Chile, Peru, and a few others.

I left because I was jaded and tired of U.S. politics, and life, and wage slaving, I also got really sick in 2023 and was in the hospital in and out over months, and I kind of finally just said fuck it? I haven’t been sick again since I quit my job and left the States and I’m enjoying life so much now. There’s hospitals overseas if I do randomly relapse with the illness.

São Paulo was amazing, the Brasileiros are a very warm and energetic people. They’re very proud of Brazil, and appreciate when people try to learn their culture. A little effort there goes a long way with the locals.

It was cheap to live there and the food was great, best thing to do is go to any local Lanchonete and ask them the Pratos da dia, plates of the day.

There is a huge wealth disparity so it is wise to dress down. I’m not a very flashy person anyways but no Jewelry, don’t walk with your phone out on the street, I waistband my phone in São Paulo, same with any large metro there, Curitiba, Rio, Salavador— it’s just better to wait until you’re in an establishment or at home to text or call. If you’re careless it’s almost 100% certain you’ll have your phone taken. Generally if you see locals on their phone you should be okay to check the time or your map directions on the street. I also thrift all my clothes too so, older worn out stuff. It’s just a good idea to blend in. It’s not as dangerous as people act like online but you gotta follow some rules.

Don’t walk on the streets after dark. Period. End of story. Take the Uber every time. I learned my lesson as I was in fact robbed at 6am near Praça Da República. One of the most dangerous areas in the city for this kind of thing, but during the day the same Praça has markets and street vendors and you can walk through fine and safe.

São Paulo has a ton to offer but you gotta respect her. Just use common sense, watch your back at ATMs. Don’t wonder in Cracolândia. Generally be aware of who is around you. There are pick pockets and there are bag snatchers. It’s just what it is.

If you watch out for your phone and only Uber after dark I can say that is 95% of what is going to keep you safe there.

Pro-tip, get a CPF. It’s their tax ID card, you can apply as a foreigner and you need it for all kinds of shit there. Some bars need it for the tab, bus tickets, buying a ticket to museums online may require it, I think you need it for IFood, their version of DoorDash or whatever.