Ave Paulista as told by Jack Snyder

      New Year’s Eve, Eric and I adventured into downtown Sao Paulo to check on the set up for the New Year’s celebration. We drove to Eric’s work in the “Robo Cop” building and then rode the subway starting with the Emerald line getting on at the Berrini Station. At the Pinherios Station we transfer to the yellow line which means descending into the bowels of the earth to catch  the Yellow Line to Paulista Ave. which is billed as the 5th Avenue of Sao Paulo. A comparison to 5^th Ave. in NYC. I was most impressed with the Subway. It is relatively new. The Emerald  Line which we rode first starts above ground and runs along a major River which runs through Sao Paulo. We then transferred to the green line which was entirely underground under downtown.

    Sao Paulo was getting ready for a BIG celebration. We asked and they estimated 3-4 million people were expected on Paulista Ave.  Remember its summer and it doesn’t get dark until 9 PM. Plus it’s warm. Therefore, they were setting up pavilions for live music and beer concessions were numerous. I can’t believe people show up in Times Square in NYC in the cold and dark to watch a stupid ball drop. What’s up with that? Go to Brazil for NewYear’s..

   We retreated back to the Apartment on the 14^th floor to watch the show. I as usual went to bed before midnight but was told it was quite the show. They set off mortars from the tops of the buildings.