The people from Sao Paulo call themselves paulistanos. They are 20 000 000 paulistanos, this is a megacity indeed.
The city was founded in 1554. But the developpment in its early times(a megacity has also a childhood!) was very slowly. In 1822 Brazil became independent from Portugal, and this took place in Sao Paulo. But the city was still not important, and numbered 200 000 people in 1880. Then took place the miracle: due to the coffee plantations in the neighborhood area Sao Paulo started its developpment, which is unstoppable.
In 1902 the same places were looking like this:
Nowadays Sao Paulo is the biggest city in the southern hemisphere, the most important industry, trade and cultural centre of Brazil, and the world’s fifth or sixth megacity. It also enjoys another funny title: the most important german industry centre(there are more than 1000 german companies working here).
But in Sao Paolo are not only german immigrants. On the contrary. Most of paulistanos are italians, portuguese, japans, etc. More than 100 nations are very well represented in Sao Paolo. 65% are white colored.
A megacity has its megaproblems: poverty, air and water pollution, criminality(it is one of the most dangerous city of the world). You can see, feel and smell the poverty in favelas=ilegal build quarters. Police and authorities try sometimes to destroy them, but those poor paulistanos come ever back. And enjoy a cleaner air than the centre luxury quarters, but have no public services.
Sao Paolo is an industry city, but due globalization and relocation many industrial factory close, and is not possible to create so many service jobs. The result is an increasing poverty, you can even make poverty tourism in Sao Paolo!
But Sao Paolo is also a culture city with many universities, theatres, museums. I would mention first the MASP-Museo de Arte de Sao Paolo, which is by far the most important, biggest and richest art museum in South America.
And it lies of course on Avenida Paulista.
You are going to love Sao Paolo, I am sure! May be even try to live there for a time, it happens very often to gringos.
Next time about Sao Paolo hotels.
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