São Paulo is not a place for the faint hearted, it makes you grow a thick skin. And writing about it, where I lived half of my life, brings up deep and buried feelings that once made me so much want to be there and to be part of something special. As a result of living there, I also made friends who became family. Is blood really thicker than water? I wonder.
"Nordestinos are all the same: they come to São Paulo, picturing a better life in this huge capital city, but they are always yearning to go back", said Walter Bolinha, as he referred to his fellows’ northeastern citizens known in Brazil as "nordestinos". He is the driving force for more than 20 years at Baretto - the fancy bar of the international acclaimed Hotel Fasano.
Long before any of us could ever have imagined living under such socially restricted conditions, I've had the idea to ask some dear bartenders that I admire the most: what would the Last Drink of your life be? Coincidentally or not, Covid-19 made its unpleasant appearance right after my first inquiries and the subject of this interview has made more sense than ever.