São Paulo Series - Mosteiro de São Bento

This is my last weekend at São Paulo.

Today I went into the old town to hear Mass at Mosteiro de São Bento, where the Benedictine monks chant at the Mass. High expectations but low fulfilment. There were only three monks chanting with organ music backing, but the church was packed with churchgoers and tourists, standing room only. It was like a circus and it lacked the dignity and solemness of the occasion. I observed some people arriving in shorts and flip flops as if they were going to the beach.

Today the Bishop was in attendance. He was at the end of the procession that walked up to the altar at the beginning of the mass; he was a small man with a nice smile and he blessed everyone on his short trip to the altar. I don't remember such rituals when I was a young girl attending mass at Hong Kong.

Mosteiro de São Bento entrance

The basilica

The nave, before the crowd descended

 

São Paulo Series - Citdade Jardim

There are some high end shopping malls in São Paulo where all the names that need to be there are there. Citdade Jardim is no exception. Here, security guards with ear phones and walkie talkies lurk in every corner. But what I like about the place is the proliferation of greenery, the lack of foot traffic, and the quietness to hear my own foot steps. On a Saturday though I am not sure if that is good news to the retailers.



Citdade Jardim, Sao Paulo

The shopping mall is on 5 floors including the rooftop, plus two levels of underground car park. The restaurants on the 4th floor have open views to the surrounding areas. The one I visited was a subdued place where the diners were making conversations that did not invade other people's privacy. Also I noticed that no one socialising with his/her mobile phone.

Trees and shrubs in the attrium

Where is everybody?

The idealised female shapes for the beach

It was like half of Bond Street London under one roof. This was exactly the opposite of Morumbi Shopping Mall where the noise was defeaning and the display of tattoos was a bit overwhelming.

São Paulo Series - Here, there and somewhere

I've to admit that I have not explored much of São Paulo, partly due to security reasons, partly due to the hot weather, and partly due to a lack of interest. But the times that I ventured out of the hotel and had the camera with me, I saw a glimpse of the lives of people around me.

Chateau Margaux

The wealth of the residents in the area near the hotel is evident. Here, people live behind 2 to 3 tiers of security gates, with security guards patrolling day and night in their walkies talkies. Some of these security guards even wear a suit in the hot summer months. Some have fountains and carefully manicured lawns at the front, all have underground car parks that have two security gates to prevent tailgating, and some have brightly lit trees during Christmastime. Today, I saw a white Rolls Royce emerging from one of these condominiums. Premium cars are a rare sight in São Paulo probably because of security concerns. Next to the hotel is Edificio des Arts: one building called Monet and the other Rodin. In this photo, the grandiose complex is named Chateau Margaux - it is a statement of wealth.






A man mending wicker-backed chairs near the hotel. I was surprised to see this local enterprise and the fact that people in the area actually care to mend the chairs rather than buying new ones. These chairs are hardly antiques.

A store in Morumbi shopping centre selling bean bags and some cute stuffed neck support. I was tempted to buy one but then desisted as I would not like to care one of these bulky things back to UK.

View of Paulista from the hotel balcony. I like the balcony, a place to step out of the air conditioned room to check out the temperature and to enjoy the feel of an apartment. It's not much of a view but it's a view nevertheless.

 

The waiting room of my ophthalmologist - a medical captain who is full of joie de vivre, trained in Paris and combined treatment with a glorious sense of humour. The locals who have medical insurance don't have to pay. For a visitor like me, each consultation is 280 BRL plus prescription charges when buying the medication from a pharmacist.

 

 

The newly-opend TAM lounge at Guarulhos International Airport, Terminal 3. Previously there was only one Executive Lounge which was less than adequate. This new addition has made the wait more pleasant, with better selection of drinks and canapes.

 

 

Local guys practising ta-kwan-tao in slow motion at Ibirapeura Park. Sometimes the space is taken up by atheletes or other types of martial arts followers.

 

 

I post this photo because I found it so cute that two small dogs were being ferried in the pannier by their owners. Dogs at Sao Paulo are beautifully groomed. This pair surprisingly has no hair ornaments.

 

 

Ahhh, what a lovely way to relax.

São Paulo Series - Ibirapuera Park

I've been to the Ibirapeura Park a few times, and each time I see something new. The pictures here are taken in the park between gates 7 and 9. The cityscape shown in the photos are in the north, with the the towers in the Paulista area evident.

The Afro Brazilian Musuem. What a waste of time.

The Japanese pavilion. Not much else to see apart from the pond.

Beautiful mural

 

São Paulo Series - Street Market at Vila Nova Conceição

There is a Saturday market near the Ibirapeura Park, less than 1 km from the hotel. It was recommended to me by a colleague who waxed lyrical about the quality of fresh fruit there.

The market did not disappoint. There, I found fruit so fresh that I have not experienced since leaving Hong Kong: mangoes, custard apples, peaches, apples, pineapples, figs, strawberries etc. The stallholder would cut a slice for prospective customers to taste, and once tasted the juicy, sweet and succulent fruit, buying was inevitable.

Succulent, juicy, sweet, delicious fruit

Bananas, bananas, bananas

I passed a stall that specialised in bananas. It was an eye opener: the varieties and the difference in prices.

Stall selling beans, onions, sauces

A woman preparing herbs for sale

Flower stall

Also present in the market were quick food stalls: tapioca, pastels, sugar cane juice. There were also stalls selling work uniforms, hardware, jewellry, cheap clothing, fish and sea food. I love the place - just to wander among the stalls and watch the world go by.