"These are the Places in the Neighborhood"......

Sao Paulo is a BIG city.  It stretches out to engulf 38 villages and towns, making the population of greater Sao Paulo over 22 million people, ranking behind Tokyo and Mexico City.  It occupies more land that Delaware and Rhode Island put together.

There are more than 8 million automobiles in Sao Paulo.   To keep traffic flowing downtown, you may not turn left from main streets.  Instead you have to make a big "return loop" of 3 right hand turns to navigate the opposite direction.





this line of buses went as far back as we could see



Where we are it's not quite as bad as downtown but the traffic is pretty intense.  You may stand on a 5 ft. wide median as a stream of buses pass you on both sides.  You cross the street one half at a time and wait for a second light to go the rest of the way.

There may also be a steady line of cars in the other lanes with motorcycles in-between every lane.  They all honk when they are next to you, so you know you better not be thinking of changing lanes.

The motor-boys "lane" is the white lines that divide the other traffic.

There are hundreds of these motor-boys who drive around, weaving in and out of cars, making speedy deliveries of all kinds.   They often have little carriers on the back of the motos.

You can imagine, pollution is high.  And more graffiti here than I've seen anywhere.

Pedestrians have no right of way.  So you will look left and right, front and back, twice before proceeding.  We have seen one man down already.

Motorcycle accidents are common as well.

I think there are also 8 million dogs in Sao Paulo also!  There are some real barkers across the street but we are getting used to it.  They take their dogs very seriously here.

There is a pet supply store on every block and

this is one example of their canine services.  I guess dogs get eczema etc. ?

This is the bakery that we like.

FIFO (fast in- fast out)  dollar store

many isles-floor to ceiling-3 ft apart

Sao Paulo Futebal Clube Stadium

We can hear the cheering during the game in our apartment.  The World Cup here was obviously a BIG deal.  Everyone was off work and school.  Even though it didn't turn out how they wanted, according to people we've talked to, it was actually a fun and exciting time to be here in the city.

We are 2,500 feet above sea level and 45 miles from the coast.  In the summer (November to March) it usually rains in the late afternoon.  Average humidity is 78% (no itchy dry skin for us here!) and temperatures typically range between 55 in winter and 88 in summer.   

It is rather pleasant now and this is my kind of winter!

This is the street market that we walk to early on Friday mornings.
Elder and Sister Craig and Christine Wilkins took us there.
They are great neighbors from American Fork.
They return home next week (mid August)  :(
They will be missed.  They have been the "senior couple" for a while and have taken the lead on many things.



This rivals the fish market in Seattle?  But no "throwing"!

 This is the sweetest girl and one of the few English speakers.  Obviously very bright but will likely spend the rest of her life selling here.

 So it is early!  And I smile when I sleep walk...

 These guys claim all their produce comes from Miami!  They think that's what we want~

 This lady makes pão de quejo or pão de carne which are deep fried,
 salty battered cheese, meat etc.

octopus anyone?

This is our local bookstore!  Haven't seen the inside yet.  It's on the other side of the street  so we usually pass it when  they are closed.

An Oasis in the Concrete Jungle



We got a chance to attend one session before they closed for all of August for some major repairs.
Randy and I used headsets for English.  We were with the Wilkins which helped a lot.

This is also the best and most economical place to have lunch or dinner!

We walk  past everyday on the way to the "Administracion" which is what they call the church office building,  across the parking lot from the Temple.