Sightseeing in Sao Paulo: Naked Transvestite Ave.

I read a blog about things to do in Sao Paulo and thought to myself, “things to do” doesn’t necessarily mean “interesting things to do.”  So I asked my couchsurfing host if he could show me something about everyday Sao Paulo, preferably related to my anthropological interest in prostitution and women’s rights.

We got in his car at around 11:30pm and drove from Jardins to Avenida Indianopolis, a wide avenue divided by rows of palm trees.  Businesses on either side of the road were closed and no sign of light emanated from behind the high brick walls that surrounded the seemingly middle-class houses.

“There’s one,” said my host.

In a street corner on the other side of the road was a “lady” of the night with her back to us, wearing black pumps and…black long hair.  That was it.  I thought “she” was buck naked till she turned a bit and I could see a tiny piece of white cloth over “her” crotch attached by magic strings apparently.  And man, what a killer body.  I mean, the hormones were doing this chap wonders!  It’d take a woman weeks of intensive treadmill to have an ass like that.

We drove up the street and more and more “ladies” were on street corners and sitting at bus stops, most with gorgeous bodies and most of the ones who were dressed had cute outfits – they had better taste than most women I’ve seen in Brazil.  Cars, motorcycles, trucks and pedestrians stopped to negotiate and a group of working “ladies” were getting a bite to eat at a little hot-dog stand in a small dark parking lot.  Up and down the road some of them were laughing and the ones in groups seemed vibrant as they chatted about things I couldn’t stop to eavesdrop on.  Some were just statuesque beauties that would make many women envious.

My host made a right so we could turn around and I was able to see one of the naked “ladies” standing just 5 feet from the car.  The gorgeous body now looked slightly deformed, with evident butt implants hanging and breast implants looking painful.  ”Her” face was heavily made up and she sported a big bright beautiful smile.  We saw some real women on our way back, all short and chunky wearing overly tight jeans – probably migrants from the poor Northeast of Brazil.  They looked bored, scared and tired.

These people – the “ladies” and the women – have a hard life and they’re not zoo animals, but it was interesting to see them live as a part of the reality of Sao Paulo.  I’m enjoying lots of things about Sao Paulo like museums, art exhibits and the incredible nightlife but I’m no tourist, just a traveler and everyday things are interesting too because they reflect the culture being experienced.

But hey, sorry, no photos.