Sao Paulo is a beautiful and busy city. The group experienced the crowded, fast-paced roads traveling from the airport Tuesday. Today, we experienced the crowded, fast-paced streets downtown as well as the subway and the famous Mercado Municipal Paulisto.
The subway in this enormous city is used by 4 million people per day. Both times we used it today, we were crammed into crowded trains. ... For a group from rural Caldwell and Surry counties in N.C., it was quite a different experience from what we're all used to.
Our tour this morning/afternoon included a historic Gothic cathedral downtown, a look at Sao Paulo's version of Wall Street (Paulista Avenue), a popular green space surrounded by the city and the Pateo do Collegio historic site, which dates back to 1554.
CCC&TI's Jimmie Griffith shared interesting tidbits of Brazilian and Colonial Portuguese history.
We wrapped up the day at Mercado Municipal Paulista, a huge famous market with restaurants and food vendors of all types. At several vendors, our group sampled delicious Brazilian fruits and treats such as corn ice cream. The sights and sounds of the market, as well as the street vendors surrounding the market.
Another highlight of the day was eating pastels at a popular restaurant. A pastel is a fried pastry with filling. Members of our group tried beef filling and shrimp filling. Cheese, crab, chicken and cod pastels also were on the menu. These have been popular everywhere we've traveled in Brazil - which is not surprising. They're delicious.
An interesting fact about today: June 12 is Dia Dos Namorados, the Brazilian version of Valentine's Day. Seeing bouquets of flowers in the hands of commuters this afternoon was common.
On Thursday, we visit the campus of IMPACTA - our longtime partner in the exchange program. We'll tour their campus as well as meet with their students and administrators.
(sorry for the crooked photos - blogging from a phone. We'll never take free wi-fi for granted ever again)
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