Today I went on a free walking tour of downtown São Paulo, they really are the best way to see a city and find out its history.

São Paulo was tiny when it was founded and grew massively over the last two century's, especially since 1970 when the government used the media to entice everyone across the country to here, but there was no social holding so that's when poverty hit!

The city is split into the west zone, downtown which is the old centre, the new centre where all the banks and high class hotels like Hilton have move to, and the Jardins which is a residential area that was built with each property having some garden land. I'm sure there's more but the maps confuse me! The population is massive, and the economy and business seems to be all focused around banking. There's also a metro system which I have to say is easier to use than London! Well nah I suppose just a different way :)

They are very catholic here so there's lots of churches, every square has one except one, the money for that was used to build a school, which apparently from the sky is shaped like the letter 'E' for education.

When the economy was booming in the 70s they demolished lots of buildings and rebuilt them showing they had the money! There are a few sky scrapers that were fighting to be the tallest, the highest is 170m high, but they just put some hideous concrete thing on top to get higher than the other, apparently you can't even go up there, it's just used to hang the tv antennas!

There's also the government building which has the highest garden in the world, as its on the roof, but no access to the public.

There's also a glorious fountain in the middle of downtown which hasn't had any water in it for over 30 years, but they're going to fix it and put nice lights around it ready for the World Cup!

Also they were putting the price of public transport up to $3.20 from $3 but that goes back down on Monday as result of the protests. The protests was all sparked from this and then changed onto the World Cup and things! Saying the government are spending money on the wrong things! I saw the protest last night, it was crazy, very friendly!! Loads and loads of people marching the streets with banners and singing about what they want, no violence. A few drinks that would come and scream in your face that have obviously just jumped on the bandwagon, but otherwise it's the middle class just trying to have a voice!

There's a building a local guy built that is very high and residential, but he wanted to make a centre for the residents. So on the top floor there's a swimming pool and games rooms and places to have parties, but only for residents. I thought that was nice, a community.

There's another building, curvy shape with no front wall, which they nick named the rock and roll building as during the 80s it was all music shops inside!

Another building, the biggest on São Paulo, is residential and offices. It is so big is has its own post code! Apparently there's over ... I can't remember how many rooms/properties but there is lots!!

There was also a very rich Italian that wanted a 30 floor building, but he ran out of money at the 25th floor, so he sold half of the building to the government and built his mansion on the top which was 5 floors, so he still got his dream!!

I think I'll head back into the city tomorrow and see the big market that we missed today then I have a bus to Paraty :) I've heard of nice beaches...