Dennis Hensley does Carnival...Brazilian style

Story and photo by Dennis Hensley

Thursday, January 31, 2008 - Sao Paulo, Brazil

"Oooooooooi!" That's how (Sao) Paulistanos greet each other, according to Eduardo, one of my local guides. After some visa angst in L.A. and a nearly missed connection in Houston, I made it to Sao Paulo this AM. Already over lunch at my hotel, the central and swanky NH, I learned about something cool and gay that happened in this very 'hood not long ago.

When a gay couple was booted from the Frei Caneca mall for kissing, word spread like wildfire and, in retaliation, a 'kiss-in' was planned. Drag queens talked it up at bars, e-mails were sent around, and a few days later, a slew of gays and friends showed up for "The Big Kiss." It was a Smooch-o-Rama that the mall had to welcome to save face. Cool, right?

We should have a Big Kiss at the Mall of America. Maybe we could get Judith Light to come pass out Certs.

After lunch, Eduardo and I took walking tour of nearby sights, including the super-lush Parque Trianon, the stylishly modern coffee stop, Suplicy Cafe, and the charming Casa Das Roses, which was built in 1938 and now holds giant alphabet letters in the garden, colorfully painted by local artists. I took this picture with the "D."

More from Sao Paulo tomorrow!

Story and photo by Dennis Hensley

Thursday, January 31, 2008 - Sao Paulo, Brazil

"Oooooooooi!" That's how (Sao) Paulistanos greet each other, according to Eduardo, one of my local guides. After some visa angst in L.A. and a nearly missed connection in Houston, I made it to Sao Paulo this AM. Already over lunch at my hotel, the central and swanky NH, I learned about something cool and gay that happened in this very 'hood not long ago.

When a gay couple was booted from the Frei Caneca mall for kissing, word spread like wildfire and, in retaliation, a 'kiss-in' was planned. Drag queens talked it up at bars, e-mails were sent around, and a few days later, a slew of gays and friends showed up for "The Big Kiss." It was a Smooch-o-Rama that the mall had to welcome to save face. Cool, right?

We should have a Big Kiss at the Mall of America. Maybe we could get Judith Light to come pass out Certs.

After lunch, Eduardo and I took walking tour of nearby sights, including the super-lush Parque Trianon, the stylishly modern coffee stop, Suplicy Cafe, and the charming Casa Das Roses, which was built in 1938 and now holds giant alphabet letters in the garden, colorfully painted by local artists. I took this picture with the "D."

More from Sao Paulo tomorrow!