There are trees growing on trees, trees that look almost as tall as buildings around and trees growing underneath concrete with roots protruding through cracked pavement. Brazilians travelling to Canada probably take pictures of snowy streets—meanwhile, we find exotic trees absolutely fascinating.

Temperature seems to be changing every hour. Up 10⁰C! Down 10⁰C! Now it’s up again! And it’s not just my imagination, there are street clocks with temperature display everywhere.

You’ll waste probably an hour of your day in total waiting to cross Avenida Paulista. But at least, you’ll be entertained by Christmas-themed pedestrian lights—red bell for stop, green Christmas tree for go.

Somehow, you’ve also landed in Japan, especially around Libertade. You can find decent ramen everywhere and somewhat pricey imported Japanese groceries.

You can buy t-shirts of bands you haven’t heard of yet and bands you’ll never see play live again because either the singer is dead either the band split up at some point in the 1980s or 1990s. There’s even a Galeria do Rock for all your Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana and Pink Floyd t-shirt needs—feel free to get a piercing or tattoo as well since you’re here.

It pours at least once a day—or maybe it will rain all day, who knows. Watch out for flooded street corners and buy yourself a 15-reais umbrella from a banca or street vendor.

Same-sex couples feel comfortable enough to just, you know, love each other, and that’s pretty cool. I’m guessing Bolsonaro is avoiding the entire city…?

There are cool murals everywhere—the city of 12.18 million isn’t a soulless concrete jungle. In fact, São Paulo is surprisingly edgy and artsy.