Tale of 2 (Brazilian) Cities

So, after spending 5 days in the 2 main cities of Brazil (Sao Paolo & Rio de Janeiro), here are some of the things we learnt about the country and its people.

1. Prices are similar to Singapore. But taxes aren't. It's really not easy to survive in Brazil: pay is not high although living standards are. 2. Rio de Janeiro isn't just about the beaches and the Redeemer, there is an important part of its history behind the cultural buildings in centro. The Rio free walking tour is highly recommended even if you don't remember all the names the guide mentions.

Free Walking Tour Meeting Point

Free Walking Tour Group

3. The Brazilians can really drink; anytime and anywhere. And they prefer to drink outdoors, standing on the street, as opposed to indoors. The outdoors seats are always filled first.

4. Vik feels that contrary to the common perception, there are more better looking men than women: The men all work out, and you hardly see a pretty girl, much less an Adriana Lima, or Alessandro Ambrosio.

Perfection

5. Following that point, you hardly see a guy wearing a top. They all seem to have abs, some on top of a slight belly bulge.

6. You can smell pee almost anywhere, even near the alleys of the city centre.

Catedral Metropolitana de São Paulo

7. Melissa's and Havaianas are dirt cheap. Duh. Prices are about one third of Singapore prices.

8. The bus drivers should drive race cars. What is supposed to be an hour bus ride according to Google map took 35mins.

9. They create jobs for everything. They have 2 people on every bus (one to drive, the other to manage the gantry/cashier on the bus). They even hire goalkeepers for recreational football games, so that no one has to sacrificed to stand in goal.

10. Language barrier was bigger than we expected; they don't really speak english, despite them hosting the world cup the previous year.