Flea markets, São Paulo

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Everyone is sorry there is no beach in São Paulo.

Still, if it is a sunny weekend, go visit one "feirinha" - this sometimes means a flea market, sometimes an ethnic market. Have a look, not necessarily for the goods sold, but for the crowds gathered. Yet, you may find a bargain, if you are a collector and know what things are worth...

My favorite is Praça Benedito Calixto - Saturday flea market
(http://www.pracabeneditocalixto.com.br/)
Teeming with people of all lifestyles.
If you want to browse the stalls calmly, go towards midday, and then take advantage of being there to try some typical Minas Gerais' cuisine at Consulado Mineiro - before the wait gets too long, as it always happen.
Now, if you want to see people, go towards mid- to late-afternoon. That's where a lot of people go to meet their friends and decide what to do later on. Chill-in kind of thing.

There are others:

- Feirinha do Bixiga - Sunday flea market
Usually a bit quieter than Benedito Calixto - probably because it's Sunday and everyone's had their share of flea markets, but also very nice. Many of the vendors are also the same as Calixto's Saturday's.

- Feira da República - Sunday crafts fair
(http://www.feiradarepublica.com.br/)
Stamps and coins are the serious businesses that may go around. For the most part, a lot of stalls selling all kinds of crafts (from a tad tacky to utterly tacky). Still, fun. The setting is beautiful.

- Feira de Antiguidades do MASP - Sunday antiques market
At MASP, on Avenida Paulista. Although it sells objects for the more serious collectors, it is not as much fun. Mostly because it ends earlier, as well...

- Feira da Liberdade - Sunday Japantown fair
(http://www.feiradaliberdade.com.br)
A great day to visit São Paulo's Japantown, have a look at the crafts, and chose one of the many restaurants around to have a nice meal.

- Feira da Bolívia - Sunday Bolivian fair
Far lesser known, not centrally located, at Praça Kantuta (Canindé), it attracts fewer people. Stalls sell Andean foods and crafts.

Very interesting when in S?o Paulo is to visit one of the many food?s street fairs that happen through the city specially on residential areas. Around 1:00 pm when they are ready to close, all the vendors start screaming trying to sell their last items.
CEASA has the biggest one that happens on Saturdays and Sundays morning. A huge variaty of vegetables and specially tropical fruits.

About half an hour's drive from Sao Paulo -- Embu holds weekend markets on its most charming town square. Think locally made inexpensive trinkets from amethyst / rose quartz / agate loose stones, antiques, hand made chandeliers, hand painted tiles depicting scenes of brazil, cute handicrafts and so much more -- all on several dozen little kiosks that lie out on cobblestone paths in the Embu center. I was told though that while the town center where all the weekend shops are is considered to be "safe" -- just outside the tourist-y ring, crime is bad bec of the abundance of poor. We rented a car for the trip and so we were in no danger of being kidnapped or anything and i still believe it was more than worth the trip. We had lunch in a little side restaurant in the middle of the Embu street fair and i swear for a fraction of the price of what it would have cost in Sao Paulo -- we still had the most delicious rump steak! you must must must check this place out -- and don't be shy to try your bargaining skills.