10 hours in Sao Paulo

[tacocat]

iammalcolmx GilliC

I am paging you guys since you have given me a lot of info today and seem to know Brazil

We have a 10 hour layover in Sao Paulo and are debating leaving the airport. I have not done any research since I have been beyond busy with school and work so I am just trusting our travel companions but what say you? Should we leave the airport? We heard rumors of some amazing restaurants and thought about just eating and walking around for a couple of hours...

[iammalcolmx]

Let me ask my sister she used to live there. Meanwhile look up the Bourdain episode he did there.

[tacocat]

Jun 4, 2014 15:35:49 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

Let me ask my sister she used to live there. Meanwhile look up the Bourdain episode he did there.

Thank you! I love Bourdain, I am going to try and find it to watch  

[GilliC]

My boyfriend lived in São Paulo for a few years before he moved to Rio, so I asked him what he thought:

GilliC's boyfriend said:

The airport is quite far from the city center and traffic can be quite bad. São Paulo does have some nice restaurants, so if that's all they're planning it sounds okay, but keep in mind that it's a big city, and it can take quite a while to get to and from the airport.

If you have any specific questions, I can ask him tomorrow (he's not feeling well and is supposed to be sleeping, but he was awake, so I went ahead and asked).

[Deleted]

I've never been, but I'm a huge fan of the NYT 36 hours guide. I know it's 26 hours longer than you have, but they have some good ideas.

www.nytimes.com/2011/03/13/travel/13hours-saopaulo.html?pagewanted=all

Also, here's the Bourdain Layover episode:

www.travelchannel.com/video/layover-in-sao-paulo

[emilyinchile]

There's a Fogo de Chao relatively near the airport (http://www.fogodechao.com/index.php?id=178) that someone I know went to on a long layover. I wouldn't go into the city center though because you really do need to consider a couple hours each way just in case of bad traffic, and that eats up 4 of your 10 hours. Add on the time it'll take you to get out of the airport and then back through security, and you wouldn't have much time.

[iammalcolmx]

Spoke to the family. They wouldn't do it either citing the constant strikes and craziness in both Rio and Sao Paulo. My Dad said these strikes will include : Those who direct traffic, the Bus companies, Subway companies, etc. My Dad was also ASTOUNDED at the latest. Seems when people get pissed they force everyone off the buses and SET THEM ON FIRE. The phrase " I am so glad I moved out of Rio" is uttered at least five times during every phone conversation with him.

[tacocat]

Thanks everyone! I will pass all of this on to our travel companions..