A Paulistano Writes…
Ho hum, nearly time to return. Here I am in Sao Paulo, which is making a bid to be my new favourite big city. Visited the Niemeyer-designed park, a superb oasis in the middle of the (pleasant) busyness. Parts could do with a lick of paint, though.
Earlier, changed my BA seat from battery hen to veal crate. Still hoping for an upgrade to pig-pen, but unlikely given the level of service to which this once-adequate company has sunk. Oh for a bit of re-nationalisation…
Last night was a bit of a blast from the past. Had a wander round the Jardins district of SP, getting a veggie burger for my tea (always a disappointment). Had planned on a visit to a nearby Oirish pub, but it was full of drunk English boys called Jeremy, so skipped it for a bar I´d spotted on the way. When I went in they were playing Ai No Corrida. Unusual, so had a look around. All the clues were there, with Wizard of Oz memorabilia and a portrait of Liza. Next song was Into the Groove, so that was final confirmation. Later they played Copacabana, as if any further detail were required. Just to make it even more Oliver´s like, a drunk English girl got up on a stool when they started to play that Abba song about men and midnight. She got down pretty fast when it was pointed out she was in danger of being scalped by the ceiling fan about 1mm from her head.
Anyway, all very friendly and pleasant and I slept well after a couple of well-earned gins.
And soon I´m coming home. Booked into a posh hotel for my last couple of nights on the continent. How many beds have I slept in on this journey? Perhaps we could have a little competition along the lines of how many jellybeans in the jar, so beloved of summer fetes. Winner could get a useless bit of tat that I´ll no doubt pick up in some mad panic of “Oh God, I haven´t bought any presents” phase, which normally affects me about a minute before I leave for home. Luckily, this will occur at Easter this time, so all the tat shops will be shut.
And on the home front, we all know where the 22nd will be spent, and I´m fairly clear that next Mon and Tues will be in west London. But I´m actually back in Chester on the Wednesday. Anyone up for a pint or two on that or the following night? I´m assuming Friday will take care of itself. East Londoners, the fun starts Monday 24th and hopefully doesn´t stop for at least a week. Please keep your diaries free.
So there we go. Planning positively for the return. Actually pretty excited at the thought of seeing you all, even though they´ll be strapping me to the seat of my veal crate as I sob forlorny at the loveliness that is Sao Paulo and everything else on this side of the Atlantic. Still, PG Wodehouse is keeping my pecker up with his bally good pasting of the English aristocracy. Trouble is, when that´s finished it´s only worthy books left for the flight. Still, enough of ramblings, except to say that some of you could take a leaf or two out of Cath´s and Gillian´s books with their erudite comments.
To finish the latest on Niemeyer from Wiki –
“He is currently designing a statue showing a tiger with its mouth open and a man fighting it raising the Cuban flag against the US blockade of Cuba.” And he´s 98.
Tags: John Edward Parry, Sao Paulo, Travel
JohnnyBoy
April 13th, 2006 at 10:14 pm
Well Martin,
It’s been fun reading your travel diary, what will I do now for entertainment of an evening? Anyway, have a good trip home (how long do you have to go without a cigarette? Laughing…) and hope to see you when I get to the UK myself. As for the “Midnight” girl, good job she didn’t have a “texan” hairdo! (Who Oliver’s by the way?)
April 14th, 2006 at 5:15 am
Gillian, Olivers is an old haunt in Chester. Stylish,chique and bijou. It served fine wines and speciality ports, a true oasis amongst the truly dreadful clubs in Chester ie Cinderella Rockerfellas et al. Jan Molby once did a bit of stir for being caught up in a kerfuffle outside of it. Musical legends such as a 14 piece Nicaraguan Sandonista band played there, jolly good they were too.
Is this taking a leaf or two Martin? Glad you enjoyed your hols, still no postcard and the kids want rock. Any chance of any shrines coming our way?
PS Saint Derek sends his regards, he loveshaving his own blog site…
April 14th, 2006 at 11:17 am
Ah, the famous Nicaraguan night… Gone down in history for reasons no-one has ever been quite able to fathom. It´s a bit like the Pistols´100 Club performance, so many people claim to have been in attendance it would have to have been held in Sealand Road, not in that bijou 2 roomed flat we called Oliver´s.
I think Derek should know of his site. When he´s in the premiership the holders of rights to The Shrine will want a cut of his wages.
PS – Blog not over yet. PPS – Ang, please check Paul´s emails.
April 14th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Latest friendly, a tame draw. Oh well, these things happen when there´s nothing to play for…
April 15th, 2006 at 4:53 pm
Thank you St Derek for the information. Ignorance is a terrible thing. Coming from considerably north of the Welsh Dee I missed out on all the revolutionary entertainment available in the hotbed of counterculture and communism called Chester, although I’ve been to the races there. Can’t claim to have attended anything presented by the Sex Pistols anytime/anywhere, but did see the Stones (and Clapton when he was with the Bluesbreakers) many years ago in the 60s; (details are hazy I’m afraid). Glad to know the blog’s not over yet Martin. By the way, the bra is a very good place to keep money, credit cards, parking tickets etc. as it’s not easy to sneakily steal anything from literally under one’s nose, although I realise that this option isn’t open to 50% of the population.