September 17 - Paulista with great friends

Our last day in São Paulo was a bit relaxing, but equally fun.

It started with a walk on Avenida Paulista, one of the biggest and most important landmark in the city. 

The avenue, same from our first day here, is car free on Sundays. Again, we witnessed a sea of people claiming urban spaces for their entertainment and socialization. 

The company could've not been better: our lovely friend Fernanda and her awesome hubby Vicentinho. From Palhoça to the Sampa heat! I love it!

After a long lunch to catch up,  Fê made sure I had my last fix of Brigadeiro, the best Brazilian dessert.

1. 1- In a pot over low heat, melt the butter, condensed milk, and cocoa powder, stirring continuously until you can see the bottom of the pot for 2-3 seconds when dragging a spatula through.
2. 2- Pour onto a greased plate, then chill for 1 hour.
3. 3- Shape and roll the chilled mixture into balls.
4. 4- Roll the balls in chocolate sprinkles
5. 5- Enjoy!

A Kobra mural of Brazil's most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer. 

https://www.eduardokobra.com

Suddenly we found ourselves in a super cool place: The Japan House São Paulo. 

As I mentioned before, this city has a huge Japanese community - the biggest outside of Japan - therefore, lots of Japanese cultural spaces and restaurants.  

At the moment, visitors can appreciate the exhibition Japan From Miniatures, by Tatsuya Tanaka. I suggest you zoom in the pictures for special discoveries. 

FROM: https://www.japanhousesp.com.br/en/exposicao/japao-em-miniaturas-tatsuya-tanaka/

Perspective and scale change

Shells, food items such as noodles and sushi, makeup items, straws, clothespins, fans, among other everyday Japanese objects, are used in 37 works, which will be divided into five main groups: Seasons and their events, scenes from traditional Japan, scenes from modern Japan, everyday life, and traditional practices.

In the original exhibition “Japan from Miniatures - Tatsuya Tanaka”, visitors will be able to recognize brush bristles that turn into rice crops, Japanese fermented soy packaging, natto, which is reminiscent of the architecture of an important Japanese castle, sushi lined up on mats reminiscent of trains and cars in traffic, and even green straws that could be confused with a bamboo grove based on the perspective and scale change.

This is the image of the zoomed photo of the previous image.

Neat, eh?



FROM : https://books.google.ca/books/about/Small_Wonders_Life_Portrait_in_Miniature.html?id=w5BavgAACAAJ&source=kp_author_description&redir_esc=y

Born in Kumamoto, Kyusyu in 1981, Tanaka Tatsuya is a Japanese photographer. He started posting miniature images every day in 2011, calling it "Miniature Calendar." Since then, more than 4,000 images have been posted on his website, and he now has 2.5 million+ followers on Instagram

What a nice team! As we say in Brazil: "closing our mini vacation with golden keys!"

Thanks, Fê and Vincent! :)

The sad moment: in the Uber on the way to the airport.

My traveller companion here, at the end of this adventure. :(

Thanks, Mike!

It was short, but VERY sweet!