I’ve always been averse to making plans and this is even true when I travel. Wherever the wind carries me is where I’m supposed to be. In China, Israel and India, I never bothered to buy guide books or pocket dictionaries because I figured the people I was with would know more than any book. Needless to say, I haven’t gone missing on any excursions yet, but there is something to be said for planning ahead, whether it’s getting immunizations (which I did), learning a little about the culture, or getting to know more about the language.

In the process of gathering research material, I found this this great audio clip about doing business in Sao Paulo produced by ‘The Economist.’ If I weren’t packing I would do a more in depth summary, but here are some of the key points:

Meetings start 20 minutes after the designated time. Traffic is Sao Paulo is so bad that it can always be used as an excuse. Private individuals maintain an extensive fleet of personal helicopters that allows them to hop over the city’s nightmarish traffic. My aunt was recently in Sao Paulo and told me that traveling 5 km can take an hour or more.

Restaurants are to Sao Paulo what beaches are to Rio. Although the correspondent for the Economist recommended some great Churascarias (Brazilian steakhouse), I don’t think I willl be dining at the high end of the fork this time. While many of her reccomendations were for business travelers, a little on-the-ground intelligence is never a bad thing. but I am certainly excited to sample the cuisine.

Keep $100 bill on you at all times in case you get mugged. Street crime in Sao Paulo is no joke, but you stand a better chance of walking away from a confrontation if you have some cash on the ready to give to your assailant. Although shopkeepers don’t accept US$, your mugger will be more than  happy to exchange your currency at a local bank after he is done holding you up.