Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
de São Paulo (MASP), Av Paulista 1578;
M
Trianon-
Masp; map p.499.
Comprising mostly medals, old letters
and ceramics, this is a fun place to browse, but don't expect
to find much worth buying.
Sun 10am-5pm.
Mercado Municipal
Rua da Cantareira 306, Centro
(see also p.491);
M
Luz or São Bento; map p.489.
About
the most fantastic array of fruit, vegetables, herbs, meat,
fish and dairy produce that you're likely to find anywhere in
Brazil. For taking home, you'll find interesting jams,
preserves, pepper sauces and other packaged items.
Excellent meals and snacks are also available.
Mon-Sat
6am-6pm, Sun 6am-4pm.
DIRECTORY
Consulates
Argentina, Av Paulista 2313, Cerqueira
César (
T
11 3897 9522); Australia, Alameda Santos 700,
9th floor, suite 92, Cerqueira César (
T
11 2112 6200);
Canada, Av das Naçôes Unidas 12901, 16th floor, Itaim
Bibi (
T
11 5509 4321); Ireland, Alameda Joaquim
Eugenio de Lima 447, Jardim Paulista (
T
11 3147 7788);
New Zealand, Alameda Campinas 579, 15th floor,
Cerqueira César (
T
11 3253 6296); South Africa, Av
Paulista 1754, 12th floor, Cerqueira César (
T
11 3265
0449); UK, Rua Ferreira de Araújo 741, 2nd floor,
Pinheiros (
T
11 3094 2700); US, Rua Henri Dunant 500,
Campo Belo (
T
11 5186 7000).
Football
There are two major first-division teams based in
São Paulo: Corinthians (
W
corinthians.com.br), who play
their home games at the new Arena Corinthians in Itaquera
(
M
Corinthians-Itaquera); and São Paulo (
W
saopaulofc
.net), who play at Morumbi Stadium (bus #7241 from Praça
República). Matches are generally held on Wed and Sat.
Ticket prices start at R$30; better seats go for R$100.
Anyone with even the faintest interest in the sport should
make time to visit Pacaembu's marvellous Museu do
Futebol (see p.496).
Health
The private Hospital Albert Einstein, Av Albert
Einstein 627, Morumbi (
T
11 2151 1233,
W
einstein.br), is
considered to be the best hospital in Brazil.
For dentistry,
Banatti, Av Paulista 925, 13th floor, Cerqueira César
(
T
11 3141 1061,
W
benattiodontologia.com.br), is central
and English-speaking.
Money and exchange
Branches are concentrated along
avenidas
Paulista and Brigadeiro Faria Lima, and Rua 15 de
Novembro. The best exchange rates for cash can be found at
casas da cambio
on
avenidas
São Luís and Paulista.
Newspapers
and magazines
Most newspaper kiosks
downtown and in Jardins sell English-language
newspapers: the
Financial Times
,
Miami Herald
and
International Herald Tribune
are the most widely available.
Police
DEATUR, a special police unit for tourists (
T
11
3257 4475), is located at Rua Consolação 247, and has posts
at the two airports.
Post o
ce
The main post o
ce is downtown at Praça
Correio, at the corner of Avenida São João (Mon-Fri
9am-6pm, Sat 9am-1pm). Smaller o
ces (Mon-Fri
9am-5pm), with their distinctive yellow signage, are
scattered throughout the city, including several along
Avenida Paulista.
Public holidays
In addition to the normal Brazilian public
holidays (see p.49), most things close in São Paulo on
January 25 (Founding of the City) and on Ash Wednesday
(the day after Mardi Gras).
Visas
To extend your visa, visit the Polícia Federal, Rua
Hugo D'Antola 95, 3rd floor, Lapa de Baixo (Mon-Fri
8am-2pm;
T
11 3538 5000;
M
Lapa).
8
Around São Paulo and upstate
What only a few years ago were clearly identifiable small towns or villages
around São
Paulo
are today part of Greater São Paulo. Despite the tra
c, escaping from the city is
surprisingly easy, and there are even some points on the coast that can make for good
excursions. Easy day-trips from town include the arty market at
Embu
, the old train
depot of
Paranapiacaba
, the former sugar entrepôt of
Campinas
, and the port of
Santos
. Further afield, you can check out the US Confederate influence at
Santa
Bárbara d'Oeste
and the Dutch influence at
Holambra
, or take the mountain air in
Campos do Jordão
.
Embu
Founded in 1554,
EMBU
was a mere village before São Paulo's explosive growth in the
twentieth century. Located just 27km west of the city, Embu (often now called Embu
das Artes) has now effectively merged with its massive neighbour, and yet, surprisingly,
it has managed to retain its colonial feel. Quaint buildings predominate in the town's
compact centre, which is tra
c-free.
