24 Hours in São Paulo, The Sequel

1200 Friday: Wake up. Have a samba dance party in my room, by myself, to start the day off right.

1400: Meet friends at artsy, historic movie theater to see “Lixo Extraordinario,” a documentary about a man who photographed trash pickers in the landfills of Rio and sculpted their portraits in garbage. Highly recommended.

1700: Walk over to an Indian fast food restaurant, enroute passing the most disturbing clown I have ever seen begging in the street.

1900: Photo shoot in secret underground passageway that has art exhibits and secondhood books for sale.

2000: Return home and discuss the possibility of running with host family on Sunday morning. Explain that a wakeup time before 11am is highly unlikely.

2230: Go to the São Paulo 2011 Carnaval Parade in the sambadrome. Dance in the stands as the giant floats pass, marvel at the glittering bodies straight out of a magazine, and buy dulce de leche churros at 3am.

Saturday 0730: Bus drops me off a few blocks from my house. As I pass a gas station, a worker wishes me a good morning. I respond in kind and he hands me half an orange, saying, “Here, take this for your hangover.” I am 100% sober.

0800: Arrive home. Sleep. 

1200: Mother calls. Explain that unfortunately I can not talk as I am dying of tiredness. She asks what time I got home last night. I tell her and she says, “Child, I don’t even want to know.”