Dennis and the Sao Paulo skyline from Skye.
Story and photo by Dennis Hensley
Friday, February 1, 2008 - Sao Paulo, Brazil
Did it up in Sao Paulo last night, starting with a tasty, eclectic dinner at the gay-owned restaurant Oba. I dived into my shrimp and plantain dish while the co-owner, Hugo, explained the Brazilian tradition of Iemanja, in which one writes a wish on a piece of paper and then delivers it to the Queen of the Sea, who, judging by the flier on the table, looks a lot like Cher circa "Believe." I wished for more money and more Cher.
Over three desserts, Hugo shared an observation about the men of Brazil that a sexually voracious friend of his had made. Apparently, this guy has gotten busy the world over and he says that "Brazilians invented vanilla sex," which I think means that there aren't a lot of bells and whistles or whips and chains, but they do the basics really, really well.
After dinner, we hit the new Unique Hotel, which is shaped like a giant slice of watermelon. The atmosphere at the rooftop nightclub, Skye, is so cool, with a red-tiled pool and a terrific view of the city skyline. This place isn't gay, per se, but it sure is fabulous.
Hit the gay bar Loca before bedtime. Aesthetically, it's the exact opposite of the chic Unique. Loca was packed, unpretentious, and so much fun. Check out this play list: Britney, Kylie, Gwen, Whitney andCher "Believe." I guess when you're the queen of the sea, they play your song.
