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Okay. Since I live in Rio de Janeiro and cook for myself, my friends always tell me I should open a restaurant where I live, I do know food prices. This article is mainly BS for the average Brasilian. One must realize that some Brasilians are crazy for "brands" and know they have to pay a premium for the "brand." Absolutely the only brand I buy is thesoft serve, ice cream cone from McDonald's for 1.75Reais. Why anyone would buy KFC chicken instead of cook their own galeto which is about 5Reais at my local market is beyond me. I think the last time I swung by a Burger King they were pricing a Whopper Bacon Cheese with a medium fry and a large drink for 22Reais. Crazy. All over you an get a great roast beef sandwich or pork leg sandwich sliced off the bone with lettuce, tomato, cheese and dipped in the au jus for 7.50Reais. And a 500ml fresh guava juice is another 4Reais. I just made a huge pot of bolonghese sauce that I freeze in containers so I can remember that the trimmed of fat, freshly-ground chuck was 32Reais for 2.5kilos. So 5.5pounds of beef for $16US. I don't think that is too outrageous. Tomatoes were $2.00/kilo or under $1.00pound. The fresh lettuce here is 75cents/head. Garlic is 9.50reais/kilo. All pasta here is called Macarrao. There are many different varieties with different names than in the US. Fusilli are Parafuso for example. We don't have fettucinni, per say. Lasanha in Lasangna. Not going ot bother with the spellings right now. But a kilo(maybe I am forgetting and it is only 500grams? - sorry but baack in the US) package is normally under 4Reais or $2.00. I just bought a box of imported from Italy, DeCecco tri-color fusilli for cold-pasta salad to throw on my mixed slads for lunch. 8Reais. IT was a WTF moment. MY local markey was sold out. The same national tri-color pasta called parafuso is 4Reais. Milk everywhere right now is about 2.50-2.95/liter. Depending on the brand. So milk here is expensive at 6.00/gallon. But you can buy dried milk that you reconstitute that costs less but for me, I will pay extra for the convenience. Shopping costa at markets vary. The cheapest food store chains in Rio are Mundial, Guanabara and Prezunic. You'll pay more at the smaller placed in Gloria and Catete. Extra looks like it is cheap but it just a small percentage less than Pao de Aucuar as they are part of the same group. Only difference is that Extra doesn't take credit cards, only debit cards really. So there is a savings there. Similar to Costco and Sam's Club here in the US. The most expensive chain is Zona Sul normally. A few items that are part of the "cesta basica" or basic basket are price-competitive with the less expensive chains. The puff piece mentions the cost of beer. It really depends where one is consuming their beverage of choice. A choppe in a chic restaurant will cost more than a regular adega/botequim. Or a beer from a vendor at Farme de Amoedo. A latao(tall can)of Brahma is about 1.40Reais or 70cents if bought warm. Cold cans of beer on the street are 3 or 4 for 10Reais. Latoes(tall cans) are normally 4Reais each. Some vendors who want more volume and are more competitive sell them at 3 for 10Reais. Besides at time being a whore, I am a true one for acai puro. Non adulterated with strawberry, banana or tapioca powder. Right now acai sweetened with guarana near where I get the boat in Centro on Praca XV is 6Reais for 500ml. A pint. That same adulterated(less expensive to serve as bananas and tapioca are cheap extenders) on Farme de Amoedo will go for 10Reais OR MORE. So, there you go. Clothes, hardly any Brasilian will wear Levi's. They are just crazy expensive. Opcao and Toulon(very nice brands) are under 100Reais for jeans. My khaki pants and shorts from Wal-Mart will cost about 50Reais. Ditto from TACO, a Brasilian version of GAP. Haring which has very nice t-shirts, underwear, socks and other cotton products says a great pair of khaki cotton cargo shorts for about 90Reais. Higher-quality tailoring that I recently purchased. So really great cargo shorts for $45.00US. The brands closest to H&M down here are Marisa(mostly for women), Leader, Renner and C&A. Prices are not so high. But imported brands are off the charts for Lacoste, etc. I have a wide foot and cannot wear the great leather shoes from Mr. Cat. But I just got some rubber-solded Rockports here in the US at DSW for $90.00. Many, many models of shoes at Mr. Cat with great leather will be at that price or less. And DSW is consider at discount big-boxer and not higher-quality. There are cheaper shoes chains in Rio like SAVINI. With Oz and TomCal, we had lunch at Siqueira Grill. Very expensive por quilo at 52Reais/Kilo. But they serve freshly-trimmed and cut sashimi, lamb chops and duck breast. Really good quality. However, all over the city, simpler places that use the"balanca" or scale, will charge under 30Reais/quilo-kilo and even less,sometimes 22Reais if you enter before Noon or after 2PM. Same difference for a churrascaria that serves rodizio-style. Compare the prices of Monchique to Porcao. Over twice the price. Not that the food is bad. Just the variety and cost of the ingredients will be less. And if you go to a restaurant buffet you can find a prato feito with a protein choice or two to put on your plate with three sides for 8-9Reais. $4.50 for lunch is not too bad eating in a restaurant. Simple, food with clear flavors like roast beef, grilled chicken or fish. Nothing fancy with rice, beans and tomato and onion salad. It all depends what is important to you.

Gay Recife – Life's A Beach Sometimes when you travel, your goal is to see interesting cultural things, visit churches and museums, and educate yourself about a new and exciting culture. And that's fine. Other times you want to take a gaycation and just chill out during the day and blow off steam at night. That's fine, too. When you work hard at work all year round, why not just have fun during the your time off? When you are in the mood for this second type of gay trip, you should seriously consider going to Recife - perhaps the best gay stop in all of South America - when you want to just mindlessly chill, party, and fuck. There is no more gay-friendly city in the region. In fact, the city tourist bureau is at the moment in a contest with Rio to see who can attract the most gay tourists. So, not only will you be accepted here - you'll be welcomed with open arms. The city tourist bureau will even be happy to point you in the direction of the best current saunas, bars and clubs for you to get your gay on. You simply could not pick a better gay destination in Brazil. So, with that in mind let's take the time to look at fabulous Gay Recife. Hitting The Beach Imagine if Venice had a ton of beaches; that's the deal with Recife, where there is a mainland with several huge beaches, and then canals and bridges connecting multiple islands that all have their own beaches. Cruising is encouraged at all the beaches, and when you order a massage, odds are the dude giving you a massage is available to hire for more intimate activities. You'll want to spend the majority of your day time hours at the beach, where you can either just get a tan and scope the dudes, or find any number of men ready to hit the dunes with you for some man-on-man action. The beaches are the #1 reason to hit Recife and they are just as nice, if not nicer, than what you'll find in Rio. Party The Night Away Recife is a seven-night-a-week party town. Each and every night, the gay bars compete to see who can have the dirtiest, most fun, all-night sexy parties. No matter what type of guy and club you are into, you'll find one that fits your tastes and budget. It is a very hard-drinking town, so try to eat as much at dinner as you can to line your stomach and get ready to have a ton of cocktails before you find someone to play with your cock. You are in for a long, fun night, every night you go out. There are more bars per square meter here than nearly any other city in Brazil. Get your drink on, boys! Sexy Saunas There are also more saunas here than you will ever believe. And they are all filled to the brim with boy toys! In fact, rent boys are not only welcome in the saunas, but they are encouraged by the sauna owners to turn up there. Some of the saunas actually advertise that they have up to 10 rent boys per customer at any given time. This means that not only will you be able to find the rent boy of your wet dreams, but he'll have competition so you can negotiate a really good price for your pay-per-gay sexperience. Pride And Carnival Recife Gay Pride is held every year in September and attracts tens of thousands of gays, bisexuals, lesbians, and our allies. But, that's not the best gay event of the year by far. That award has to go to Carnival, held when Carnival is held in all cities every year. It is known as even more fun than Rio's Carnival, because participants don't have to pay to get in and there are no restrictions on the activities that are allowed during the Carnival parades. What you get isn't quite anarchy, but it's a lot more gay than most Carnivals, and much less “sanitized for the straights” than most. You'll see just about anything, and everything you'd see in the sexiest gay club at 2 a.m. is happening in the street during the middle of the day. You really haven't seen anything like it anywhere before – and it will rock your cock beyond anything you would believe. Male Escort Culture Male escorts are everywhere – not just in the saunas. It's easy to find one online, or through any of the several gay publications you'll see in every bar and club. And they'll be all over the beach. You'll be amazed at just how many there are, and you'll be able to choose any type of escort you want. It's really quite something that needs to be sexperienced to be believed. Vanilla Activities Booze, boys and the beach are the primary reasons for cumming to Recife, but if you must do something traditional, try the catamaran rides, spend an afternoon scuba diving, or experience “footvolley” - a sport the city invented that combines football and volleyball. Then go back to the beach and find someone to blow. Let's Rock Recife! I need a drink and a blow job. You probably do too – so lets do it together in Recife! cc boytoy.com 2013

The thing that always puzzles me about these comparisons is the tendency to use the cost of U. S. branded products in a foreign country. Personally, the last thing I'd eat in Brazil would be a Big Mac and the last thing I'd drink would be a Coke. I wouldn't buy spaghetti, or Levi's, or Nike's. I doubt the majority of Brazilians buy these things on a regular basis either. I have a friend from Brazil who visits family twice a year and his suitcase is always full of clothes and electronics that cost a fortune in Brazil. But, when he's there, he eats the same food his family eats and it's not expensive at all. He's told me how much it costs to fill his family's pantry, and it's a fraction of what it costs in the U. S. Same for another friend whose family lives in Mexico. I'm not saying I couldn't pay $3.50 for a box of spaghetti in Brazil, but why would I? It's not like I'm in Kansas any more.

. Honestly, Paolo, nobody can afford to live here!

The OP's commands have magical potency! March 28, 2013 Bitter Scalia Leaves U.S. Posted by Andy Borowitz WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Justice Antonin Scalia dropped a bombshell on the Supreme Court today, announcing his decision to resign from the Court “effective immediately” and leave the United States forever. Calling this week “by far the worst week of my life,” Justice Scalia lashed out at his fellow-Justices and the nation, saying, “I don’t want to live in a sick, sick country that thinks the way this country apparently thinks.” Justice Scalia said that he had considered fleeing to Canada, “but they not only have gay marriage but also national health care, which is almost as evil.” He said the fact that nations around the world recognizing same-sex marriage are “falling like deviant dominoes” would not deter him from leaving the United States: “There are plenty of other countries that still feel the way I do. I’ll move to Iran if I have to.” Throwing off his robe in a dramatic gesture, Justice Scalia reserved his harshest parting shot for his fellow-Justices, screaming, “Damn you! Damn each and every one of you to hell! You call yourself judges? That’s a good one. You’re nothing but animals!” Breathing heavily after his tirade, he turned to Justice Clarence Thomas and said, “Except you, Clarence. Are you coming with me?” Justice Thomas said nothing in reply. http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/03/bitter-scalia-leaves-us.html

Thanks. Back in the US and visited my ex=cardiologist who diagnosed the problem and the procedure has a 95-99% success rate. Now to find a MD in Brasil that is covered under my health insurance down there or wait until October 1 when heath insurance in the US gets ride of the law on preexisting condtions.

In all senses of the word!

Beans!

I'm not saying some Brazilians wouldn't do it. I'm just saying I wouldn't do it. And I bet not all Brazilians do it either. Not when there are so many other good things to eat. According to this World Bank survey, per capita income in Brazil is less than a third of what it is in the U. S. I'm no expert, but I can't see how they could be paying more for everything than we do. There must be some bargains somewhere.

No worries. Once it is completely gone you will not even miss it. Best regards, RA1

Gay Manaus Your Stop To The Amazon Rain Forrest Here at Boy Toy, we spend a fair amount of time talking about great places to go on your next gaycation. We like to be upbeat. Positive thoughts are good for everyone and we want everyone to have a good time. But, we also know that not every city in the world is great for the gays, and that sometimes these not-so-hot spots can't be avoided. Or, they may have other charms that make them fine to visit, even if it is hard to get your gay on. That, my burly boys, manly men, turgid tops and beautiful bottoms, brings us to today's topic, Manaus, Brazil. This is probably the least gay city you'll ever visit in Brazil, which is strange because it has a huge population and lots of tourists. But, for whatever reason, they have chosen not to cater to the gay traveler at all. On the other hand, it is a beautiful city and as long as you aren't looking for tons of gay clubs or rent boys, you can have a good time here. So, let's take a little voyage to breederland and talk about visiting Manaus! What Gay Scene There Is If you want to get your gay on, you should head over to Centro. There are no gay clubs but there are, depending on the season, one or two gay bars and one or two gay saunas. Check online before you go because the names of the bars and saunas seem to change fairly regularly. You can generally find a rent boy or two in the saunas. Sometimes you'll also be lucky in the gay bars, but don't count on it. You may actually have to use your charm rather then your cash to get ass here. Why Go To Manaus? With the dearth of gay-friendly activities or events, you may ask yourself: Why would I go to Manaus at all? Well, there are several reasons. One is that it is located in the heart of the Amazon Rain Forest. If you've ever wanted to explore the rain forest, this is where you want to go. You'll have the chance to choose from dozens of different types of beautiful jungle excursions tailored to your personal tastes. As a note, however, because the city is so well known for attracting rain forest tourists, many shady operators hang out at the airport, promising to sign you up for them. Nearly all of these guys are con artists, selling you tours that don't exist. Instead, book a tour either through your hotel or through a reliable online travel agency. If you for some reason can't go either route, book a tour through a company that actually has a brick and mortar office space. A second reason to go is that it is by far the most convenient way to get to Tabatinga, one of the best gay destinations in Brazil. While making your trip, you'll more likely than not get stuck staying in Manaus for a day in between flights, so you may end up here whether you are really looking to or not. The third reason is that this is the starting point for the best Amazon River tours. These tours will take you through majestic landscapes that are almost pretty enough to make you want to put your gay on hold for the day or two that you'll be dealing with Manaus. Killing Time In Manaus There are beautiful things to see in Manaus. It was founded by rubber barons who were fascinated by all things European, and had the money from the rubber trade to buy and build whatever they wanted to. This means that there is an exact replica of the Grand Opera de Paris, and another exact replica of the Les Halles shopping district in Paris. Meanwhile, the Rio Negro Palace was designed to be an even more stunning version of Portugal's Royal Palace. The National Park of Jau is enormous, and offers some of the most stunning flora and fauna you'll find anywhere. Health nuts will love the fact that the acai berry grows wild here it is one of the most vitamin-filled fruits found anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, the Paricatuba waterfall is a stunning natural wonder though you have to hire a boat and a local guide to get there. Manaus Where You Don't Come To Cum Let's face it, you don't need a rent boy or easy ass on every day of your gaycation. Sometimes seeing the jungle or heading up the Amazon River is nearly as much fun. So, while you won't have much chance of sexy times in Manaus, you will have a chance to see beautiful buildings and some of the most stunning natural sites in the world. And, you only have to be here a day or two before you head on to bigger and gayer things.