Leaving São Paulo!

Waking up on a check out date always sucks... But it's even worse hung over. 

My plan was to eat quickly and go up to pack. But I did the mistake of sitting at the Brazilian's table! As we had seen each other over the days, we got to the stage where they told me about their personal lives... Which quite frankly, I had no time for. 

Without trying to be rude, I managed to cut them off as they begun loading photos on Facebook in order for me to understand better! 

Upstairs, most of the room was in check out mode also. Whilst we rolled up our clothes, we joked about last night's occurances. We all packed so well that there was room left at the top of the backpack, yet we all know that's not a good sign, it probably means we left stuff behind!

-my left over stuff was on my bed.

Once all was finally inside a bag and zipped up, dressed like a real gringa for a winter day at the park in São Paulo: flip flops, shorts and a tshirt, I check out and go hang out at Praca da Republica. 

I got there and because it's Sunday there was market. Typical stuff bought in China market crap. I wasn't there for that thought. I was there because my father had lived there in the 70s and I was curious. I walk around the entire park and try to picture it as it might've been before. I'm also looking for a jewelry store, cuz that's what he said it was on top of. 

Without luck, I go to a bench and sit. Then I realized there's a well dressed old man beside me, so I ask him if he knows the park well and he says he does. He's known it for 50 years! He continues to tell me all about the park and the changes it's gone thru, about São Paulo, about his love for Recife, about his two children and 5 grandchildren, about fruits he loves, about the amazon, about NYC and so on. I had to cut him off to go back to the hostel to pick my bags to go to the bus station. I was glad I spoke to him, he was happy!

I get my stuff and go to Tiete, the bus terminal, it's really confusing because it's huge! I print out my ticket, and go wait... Till I realize there are no bathrooms in the downstairs floor and I got like 15 minutes to catch my bus. 

Lucky I was to rush up make it in time, because in Brazil things are rarely on time!

So goodbye São Paulo. The people were nice. There was a lot of concrete. I felt safer than in Rio, but it will never compare!

I get in the "Cometa" bus which is spacious, but you slide down the huge seat that it's uncomfortable and I manage to fall asleep as we exit SP. 

Only to wake up at the slowest speed ever and notice I am somewhere with a lot of trees and jungle.

Oh Brazil, you are so beautiful and it's so refreshing to be out of Sampa!