On the first day, after arriving in São Paulo early in the morning, I caught a few hours of sleep and then hopped into an Uber for a trip downtown in the afternoon. I strolled around, taking in the majestic São Paulo Cathedral and walking along Paulista Avenue—the longest avenue in South America. I even stopped by the 1000th McDonald’s as part of my adventure.
With my iPhone in hand, I was snapping photos left and right, feeling like a fearless young calf exploring the world. But following the golden rule of safety, I hailed a taxi back to my hotel by 5 PM. While keeping an eye on the driver’s location through my phone, some locals couldn’t help but intervene, saying, “In São Paulo, we don’t use our phones out in the open.
If you must, step inside a store or a mall.” Their words hit home, and I realized how careless I had been, breaking out in a cold sweat at the thought.
The next day, I traveled to Curitiba and struck up a conversation with someone there. He explained that while driving in São Paulo, he never opens his car windows and avoids using his phone on the street—it’s simply too risky. “You’re lucky,” he added, before sharing advice on what to do if confronted by a mugger.
He emphasized that in the grand scheme of life, money and gadgets are meaningless compared to personal safety. These people might not hesitate to harm you if they feel provoked. He also pointed out that carrying only RMB and Euros could be problematic since robbers might not recognize foreign currency and could grow angry, assuming you’re trying to deceive them.
His insights left me stunned, and now, sitting in Curitiba, I find myself afraid to venture outside. Is it safe to visit the city center during daylight hours when the sun is shining?
In a few days, I’ll be heading to Porto Alegre. Will it be even more chaotic there?
Brazil truly has a way of making one worry endlessly.
