Sao Paulo, Brazil, is it safe?

[Jims5543]

What the title says. My brother and I are toying with going to the last F-1 race of the season and seeing MS's last race.

Has anyone else been there? Is it safer F-1 weekend due to international crowd?

Or should I stay away?

[speeder]

No and yes, if safety is the main factor. My brother lived in Brazil for a while, there is a saying, "go to Sao Paulo" which means *go to hell*, basically.

[dd74]

I've been. It's fine. Just don't catch any babies when the gypsies throw them at you.

[TheMentat]

I've never been, but have passed though and spoken to several people who have been. The best analogy is that hanging around in a city like that is like commuting on a motorcycle. I find that when people get into trouble in places like that, they often have themselves to blame for not taking the place seriously enough.

On my way back from Argentina in February, I spoke to some people who were in Sao Paulo. They cut their vacation short because of the brazen petty crime. Nobody really felt safe. The straw that broke the camel's back was when a thief actually swung open the taxi door at an intersection to grab their camera from their lap!

Another group I spoke to mentioned the fact tht they all carried whistles. One person from the group was lagging behind the rest and was confronted on the street by a mugger. The whistle prevented a potentially dangerous situation.

Other people I've spoken to really like the city, but nobody can honestly say its a "safe" place. But what one person might consider dangerous, another might consider exciting ;-)

[serge944]

Go watch the movie "City of God."

[89911]

Wear lots of gaudy jewelry and act like a filthy rich American. Make sure someone close to you has enough ransom money.

[ruf-porsche]

Spend the money on a plasma screen tv and watch it on Speed channel.

[Dottore]

A lot of gross exaggerations!

Assuming you stay in a decent hotel, take hotel cars or hotel recommended taxis, don't display your wealth conspicuously, and use the same sort of judgment about where you go and what you do at night as you would in, say, Washington D.C. - you'll be just fine.

[Don Plumley]

+1 what Dottore said.

If I went down to Rio/Sao Paulo when I was in my 20's, I'd never have come back...

[jriera]

Originally posted by Dottore
A lot of gross exaggerations!

Assuming you stay in a decent hotel, take hotel cars or hotel recommended taxis, don't display your wealth conspicuously, and use the same sort of judgment about where you go and what you do at night as you would in, say, Washington D.C. - you'll be just fine.

+1, Sao Paulo is no different (well it is) than any other large city, but if you stay within what Dottore recommends should not be too bad. Be REALLY street smart.

Been there many times and is not one of my favorites places to visit. Sao Paulo and sorrounding areas have about 25 million people (+/- 5 million) where a great percentage lives in poverty and very poor conditions (favelas).

Great food (rodizios and feijoadas), word of advice, NO MORE THAN 3 CAIPIRINHAS!!

On your way back stay a couple of days in Rio (follow same advices) and enjoy the views!!

[Don Plumley]

Originally posted by jriera
NO MORE THAN 3 CAIPIRINHAS!!

Per hour. Makes a Mojito look like 7-Up

And +1 on Rio. Oh man...

[Jims5543]

So basically act like your in NYC in the 80's? Got it.

Now, to convince the wife I NEED to go to this race.

[Rikao4]

But, Honeyyyyyyyyyy it's Michaels last race...I will bring you something back.

Rika

[trekkor]

I like the "get a big screen" option instead, too.

Except I'd ad a little bossa nova music in the background during the commercials.


KT

[svandamme]

Originally posted by Don Plumley
Per hour. Makes a Mojito look like 7-Up

And +1 on Rio. Oh man...

i always though Mojito's are Cuban 7-ups?


anways, Caipirinhas , aka Jungle Juice
never while sitting , or hanging by the bar

the only way to digest those suckers at any decent rate is to dance the forbidden dance, or something like it...

oh yeah , great tip right here

if after like 12 Caipirinha's you feel a bit buzzing, and you think you won't be able to sleep.. don't drink 2 Duvels to mellow out..

you will mellow out allright, and get a free braintumor in the morning... ask me how i know...