Sexy & Savage

"It's just like New York… but full of sexy people"

That's how one of my buddies described S?o Paulo.

After 96 hours here, I can safely say he's spot on.

If New York City is the city that never sleeps, S?o Paulo is the city that never sleeps... alone.

Both places are buzzing metropolises that serve as nerve centers. Yet, while the Big??often likes to think of itself as the center of the world,?

Imagine NY?after a facelift, a personality transplant, a shot of Latino charm, and a sprinkle of affordability - that’s S?o Paulo for you.

The Paulistas - you gotta love that name - have a kind of infectious zest for life that makes Andrew Tate look like an incel with a new PlayStation.

Both cities have their towering skyscrapers and dizzying nightlife, but SP offers a more colorful, friendlier, and far cheaper alternative to the often grey and grimy NYC. And unlike Manhattan, where people seem perpetually searching for something they never find, even the addicts in S?o Paulo have time to stop and chat.

(There's a whole area not far from where I'm staying called Cracolandia, but let's not go there ;)

S?o Paulo’s crime rate? Let’s just say it’s been on a more successful diet than most of us during the pandemic. The city’s safety has improved dramatically in recent years. You’re more likely to be disarmed?by the charm of a Paulista than actually robbed. Meanwhile, in New York, you might find yourself leaving the subway system with PTSD, a highly infectious disease, and minus a kidney.

New York may have bagels and hot dogs, but S?o Paulo has feijoada and pastel.

It’s like comparing a Ford Pinto to a Lamborghini. Not only are the portions generous, but the flavors in Brazilian cuisine make my tastebuds feel like they've been to a samba party.

I went to my usual breakfast joint this morning which is open 24 hours and it was full of cheerful Brazilians - very jolly and nowhere near as mildly terrifying as being around smashed Brits or Aussies.

Uber's cheap as chips and acts as an impromptu Portuguese language class.

S?o Paulo has a certain *je ne sais quoi* (or should I say, *n?o sei o que*:) that sets it apart from the rest.?

Apart from visiting the Temple of Soloman, my number two reason was the mixed martial arts scene. Here in Brazil, MMA isn’t just a sport – it’s a way of life. Cage fighting?is as ubiquitous as overpriced coffee in New York.

Every other person you meet has some connection to it. My?Uber driver? A BJJ purple?belt. The?bartender? Capoeira enthusiast. Even the?hottie selling fruits has a mean armbar (don't find out the hard way).?

If I had a nickel for every beautiful woman I’ve seen in S?o Paulo, I’d probably be able to afford a steak?in New York. The city is teeming with stunning, confident, and vivacious women who can dance the samba like the devil.?

They've got that amazing Paulista spirit that's the lifeblood of S?o Paulo. They’re friendly, they’re welcoming, and they love a good party. Despite the city's manic pace, the people here always have time to stop and chat.?They have a zest for life that's infectious. It’s like they've got this secret source of energy that I can’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it’s in the caipirinhas. Or the acai. Or maybe it’s just in the air here. Whatever it is, it’s?infectious,

S?o Paulo in a nutshell – a city of fights, fiestas, and fabulous women. It's vibrant, it's chaotic, and it's downright addictive.

Com amor e samba,?

Paul