It is now 9:30 am. Yes, I am still on the bus. Probably about 2 more hours to go before arriving in Sao Paulo.
During the night and early morning we stopped multiple times to pick up more passengers. I think the bus is full now. We also did 2 longer stops where we had time to get off the bus, buy some food and drinks and use the bathroom.
Are longest stop was a security stop. It appeared the police were looking for someone. They interviewed everyone on the bus. This added about an hour to the trip.
I don't know what the terrain was like over night. It was kinda dark. This morning we have been passing though rolling hills with a mix of farmlands, natural forests and plantation forests. We are getting into more urban area now, and I expect this will be the case for the rest of the trip to Sao Paulo.
I was able to get Brazilian Reals at an ATM and buy a SIM chip at the bus station before boarding for the trip too Sao Paulo. That will save me having to do those things once we arrive in Sao Paulo. I do need to wash cloths, so that will be my first chore goal for today.
On arrival in Sao Paulo, I had a hard time figuring out the bus and subway system and my total lack of any Portuguese didn't help. Neither did my basic Spanish skillls. I finally found a person to direct me to the right subway, so I took that and was able to walk the few blocks when I got off, to my hostel.
The neighborhood feels a bit shady, I probably won't be venturing out at night.
I got checked in and learned there was a self serve laundry just a few blocks away. Now this evening I have a full set of clean cloths. Remember I am traveling light, so these clean cloths will only last me about 3 days before I have to wash again. I will try to hand wash some items daily to prolong my next trip to the laundry.
While my cloths were drying I went to a restaurant that I passed on the way to get a bite to eat. Again, everything is in Portuguese so I had no ideam what I was ordering. What I thought I was ordering was not what I received. This plate was overflowing with food. It should last me for about 3 meals. It started with rice on the bottom, and a healthy servicing of beans. All this was topped with a pork chop, a piece of sausage, another piece of meat, a fried egg, a serving of spinach and a fried banana. I brought most of it back to the hostel that I will eat tomorrow. I won't have to buy any additional food for tomorrow at all.
I was more than ready to take a short siesta after completing my laundry and lunch.
Now in the early evening, I am doing a bit of journaling on the roof top patio at the hostel.
I've done a little research on things to do in Sao Paulo, but I have much more to do. That can wait until tomorrow morning.
PS. I left the rain forest way too soon. I am really missing it already. I am looking forward to my time in Iquitos, back in the Amazon rain forest in about 3 weeks.
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