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The news is reporting that Trump wants to define transgenders out of existence. You are what your genitals say you are when you ere born. The problem with that is illustrated by a friend of mine, whose genitals at birth with a mix of vagina and something that might have been a penis. No way to say his genitals define him then. I am just so sick of Trump.

Guys don't worry... I am not depressed about what happened. I just wanted to say that stupid errors can lead to huge losses. In my case the loss has been tiny luckily, maybe thanks to the fact that i can speak Portuguese and that i did not get mad, in a situation where the only thing i should have done to don't have problems was to just pay.

You did a lot of smart things but i tell everyone “Never Ever leave the guy to take a shower!!” Either have him shower with you or take your pants with you into the bathroom or better idea Wait until you get back to your place to shower! It is amazing how few seconds it takes them to get your wallet out of your pants get the cash out and get the wallet back in your pants!

Considering that I had such a good time at Lagoa a couple of days ago (Wednesday) I decided to return to Lagoa last night (Friday). Last night I went to Lagoa alone. The place was even busier and better last night than it was on Wednesday. I met a couple of nice garotos and had a great time. Then, it was time for me to leave for the night. I paid my bill and stepped outside to call for an Uber to take me back to my hotel. When the Uber car arrived, I could not see the driver because it was at night and the headlights from his car made him appear only as a shadow. He called out my name which gave me confidence to enter the vehicle. I sat in the back seat. The driver was friendly and could tell from my Uber account and from my accent that I was not Brazilian. Shortly after we chatted a while about nothing, he asked me how i liked the sauna. Well, that was a strange question. The Uber app tells him my basic details and gives the driver a pick up address. However, the app does not say that the pick up address is a sauna. I was taken aback by his question about the sauna. So, I asked him how he knew the address was a sauna. He said that he used to work at Lagoa as a garoto de programma. I was speechless at that point. He then asked me if I was interested in getting together with him as a garoto. I told him, I don't know because I could not see him with the headlights blocking my vision of him. After the next corner and in the middle of the block, he suddenly pulled to the curb and stopped. Initially, I thought there was about to be trouble. However, he said, please sit up front with me so we can talk better. I told him, "okay" and I got out of the back seat and opened the front passenger door to get in. It was easy to see him now with the dash and phones lights shining on him. He was very handsome. Not only that, I could see that he already had his hard cock out of his pants. The cock was so long it touched the bottom of the steering wheel. And, he had a smile on his handsome face. He quickly started to drive. He said that the Uber app would know that he stopped his car. I asked him how would it be possible for us to get together for a programma while he was working. He said it was easy. He stated that when we arrive at my hotel, he sends Uber a signal that the trip is finished. Then Uber sends him a message about the next trip he has. He said he can decline a trip for a lunch or dinner or even a bathroom break. He would decline his next trip if I wanted him to come to my hotel with me. We worked out an agreement where he would park at my hotel and how long he would stay and how much he wanted for his time to get together at my hotel. He said his fee was the same fee as I would pay in the sauna for a garoto. How could I decline that offer? What luck to be picked up by this particular driver that knew what the building was (sauna) where I called for the ride. Meeting this fun guy was not the biggest surprise of my life, but close to it. EDIT: I asked him why he quit the sauna for Uber. He said that Uber is a reliable source of income (about R$2,500 monthly). The sauna pays only if he meets a paying client. He said on slow days he does not meet clients then he is out the money for his transportation, his sauna entrance fee and wasted time.

I want to tell you about an unpleasant episode which happened to me a couple of weeks ago in Sao Paulo. I live in Brazil since the beginning of this year, I am not a newbie and I did never have a problem with garotos (from saunas, and from the web). The thing is that depending on who you are, and how horny you are, in some circumstances the "second brain" can replace the main one and let you do mistakes that can be quite expensive. So I was in SP, during a slow day to go for Lagoa, so I did my search on Grindr and I have found the sexy guy I was needing for. Since my apartment was so messy it looked like a bomb exploded in it, I decided to go to his place (100 mt from my apartment). Now, this is already something you must not do, it's not safe. But I was in SP, I have never had a problem even when going to GP's apartments, and I am a fluent portuguese speaker. Rate set, ready, go. To lower the risks, I always bring with me the GP's tariff + 20/50 reais just in case, plus a credit card (which is a card where I can set a spending limit whenever I want, using the smartphone app). The guy was good, as in the pictures, good sex. Not the best, but still good. So what happened? At the moment of paying (here's another mistake i will explain you later), after taking a shower I realized I was missing a 100 reais note. At the beginning I started to think that it must have fallen out somehow. The guy was helping me to look for it inside the apartment. Then I have realized how stupid was the thing I was doing and how good was the acting of the guy. There was no chance that a 100R note could fall out of the wallet and out of my trousers by itself, and I did check the amount 3 times before leaving my home. So I was unable to pay the boy by cash, who pretended to look surprised by my words. Even if I do not show any sign of fear and I can speak some good portuguese, i am still a young 70 Kg, tall and untrained european white guy; so there was no reason to get beaten down by a 90Kg tall muscular moreno latin guy inside his home, by letting him notice that I was missing 100 Reais because he actually took that note from my wallet when i wasn't looking. So in the end he took out his credit card terminal and I paid him the difference (plus 50 reais to cover the "transaction fees"). In the end the damage has been very small, but what would have happened if at my place there was a guy who easily gets scared and axious, and that doesn't speak portuguese? What would have happened if this guy wasn't alone and was looking to steal more than 100R? The truth is that this is my first bad experience (well in part, cause sex was good haha) out of hundreds...but shit can happen, especially if as you do the mistakes I did: Do not go to a GP's apartment unless you already know him well and you know what you're doing....you don't know what can happen in there. If going to a GP's apartment, pay in advance. Some people believe that paying later will convince the GP to perform better. The thing is that it's bullshit since the GP perfectly knows that you're in a hostile environment and that in any case you will pay him to don't have problems...willing or not. If I did pay before having sex, I wouldn't be writing this thread now, since the wallet would have been with nearly nothing to steal inside. Do not shower in a GP's apartment...this is the most stupid thing I did. The guy opened my pockets and took one of my 100R note while I was under the shower. Be wise, and don't let your cock or ass, take control over brain.

Oh, Bucky - there you go again, accepting anything that loony Trump wants to do to further disgrace our country. And please tell us how a birth certificate would define the sex of a person that had a complete surgical construction to the opposite sex years after birth! Hmmm! Bucky, whenever you see Trump's name associated with something, you blindly accept it in the affirmative even if it makes no sense. Don't you realize he has contempt for gays and other minorities? "Yeah" - says Trump, "Let's make America white again." "All those immigrants that the Democrats are trying to get into the U.S. are nothing but gang members and criminals and murderers." Isn't that was Trump often says about immigration with respect to Latin America? With the Middle East, that is altogether a hateful act. Now he is after the trans gendered. What a hateful man. Oh, Bucky - - - - -

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/us/politics/transgender-trump-administration-sex-definition.html https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/21/trump-admin-reportedly-aims-to-refine-legal-definition-of-gender.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/21/us/politics/transgender-trump-administration-sex-definition.html

Jews have been known to like pinga.

No , is in Copa....lo0ks like it's been renovated. http://www.timeout.com.br/rio-de-janeiro/en/gay-lesbian/venues/354/rainbow-kiosk

I had two guys over this week. For both of them, one I have known for 10 years and the other I just met, I always hid my wallet and have only cash available that I'll pay. This is a good choice or anyone you don't know or do know. But, I trust no one and I shower with the door open and all valuables put away. When I stay in hotels, I leave things in the safe. When in Brazil, I also always had another Brazilian guy I trust with me in the hotel and thus, no chance for any issues (I'd have been ok if that boy took the money as it would be less than he got in the end of my stay anyway). Sorry, you had this issue.

Funny , the guys that I've become close with and go places and do different things, Not one of them liked futebol....neither do I , I don't care for ANY sports and I'm from Boston, how weird is that?

I went back to read some of the posts from2011,2012, and 2013, We were doing the same things then- making inquiries, advising each other, recommending this or that. All very civilly. Ihpguy was right there with some pretty good advice from someone living there. He told us about teller and other strikes, Metro closings, and things of that nature. He kept us up to date on Meio Mundo and Acyr! So I am happy that he is back, hopefully to stay awhile.

Just wanted to drop a note about Bogota. I was there a few weeks ago and it was my first time in this city, but not Colombia, having visited Medellin, Cartagena, Barranquilla, Santa Marta and Cali before, so I am very familiar with the country at least. What has helped with my travels in Colombia has been getting to know an actual Chaturbate studio (and have visited numerous times), and because of that I have been sifting through its models to be my companions in my travels in Colombia. When I’m discovering a city for the first time, I always like to have a constant companion with me, preferably someone who speaks the language to discover the city with me. Interestingly (unlike my experience with garotos in Brazil), through this studio, I don’t pay the boys any money per se, but I do take them to the occasional shopping spree, plus of course providing all food and transportation. I think it is because I started right with the first cam model in this studio I went out with, and subsequent boys have followed suit. Of course I will get the occasional plea for money when I am home, but I just say no. The disadvantage in having someone there all the time is it is hard to meet other boys to have sexy time with you when you are with your chosen boy for the trip. But I can hardly complain, as these Chaturbaters are really sexy and eager to show you a good time. Lately I have been spending a lot of time with two Colombians, ages 23 and 24, and boyfriends who only do duo broadcasts on Chaturbate (and Cam4). They seem to be the perfect combination of hotness, generosity with their bodies, with a healthy dose of humility and easy-going demeanor. They let me stay in their apartment one weekend, and they always insist that I sleep in between them, for maximum contact. It is such an amazing arrangement, but it can get awkward sometimes when you have to get out of bed to pee. You either have to roll over one of the boys, or get out of the bed the long way in the middle. But again, hardly a deal breaker. Sex with both is always great and satisfying, and having each sexual encounter be a threesome is always a production (three times the cumming, all three need to be showered, etc). Bogota has always been a dream destination for them. As “Costeños” they were used to the constant sunshine of the Caribbean coast. They were excited to visit what they call “the refrigerator,” due to Bogota being colder and grimmer than the coast due to its altitude. Before the trip, I promised to bring them old sweaters and jackets I had in storage back home that I haven’t worn in a while. They insisted on taking the arduous 18-hour or so bus ride to Bogota from the coast, due to one of the boy’s fear of flying, so they left their home hours before I had to hop on my flight from California. I was glad I brought the sweaters and jackets for the two boys. They got to the AirBNB safely, but were freezing their asses off, even though it was only 65F (18 C). The AirBNB unit I rented did not have a heater, the same as most apartments and hotels in Bogota, so the boys snuggled up to me in bed and the couch, which worked for me of course. Days were much better for them, as It was warmer, but they still had to bundle up when leaving the house, and I also had to buy them some gloves and beanies, which was readily available from street vendors for cheap. Some points: 1. I was kind of surprised by how Metropolitan Bogota was. It is not as modern as Medellin, but the pace of the city was much faster than the more laid-back coast. During the day the city had an army of workers who filled the offices, and it was kind of a nice change of pace from more tourist-oriented towns. 2. My Uber driver from the airport to my AirBNB was a tall, muscular and hot Bogotano was also a firefighter. Spoke very little English but very accommodating with my broken Spanish and talked slowly enough for my American ears to understand. Good start to the trip, and his hotness got me worked up for my boys. 3. The AirBNB I rented did not have any issues with my two companions staying with me, and I can imagine them not having any problems if instead I had a rotating harem visiting me constantly in the building. The security, though fairly cautious, seem to be very laid-back. View of the front of the building, with a drumline celebrating… something: 4. The neighborhood we stayed at was in Chapinero, and I was unprepared on how gay it was. Opening Grindr was like seeing a Christmas tree light up. The boys were checking Grindr as well and got inundated with offers from locals to meet. If I were to guess, the boys who messaged me constituted of 40% boys looking for customers, and 60% were just regular locals wanting to hookup, 30% of which what I would consider hooking up with. I will need to go back here alone to take advantage of the boys: 5. Speaking of gay, I purposefully picked an AirBNB that was close to the gay bars. I was surprised that the apartment building was just across the street from not one, but three gay bars, and in the same block as 4 others. And we saw the occasional gay couple holding hands in the streets. It was really gay central, complete with a rainbow crosswalk: 6. Another surprising benefit of staying in gay central Chapinero, is that it was relatively safe to wander the streets at 4 AM without fearing for our safety. Granted, there were 3 of us every single time when we walked the streets, but we did not have any problems stumbling out of a bar at the usual ungodly hour, and to look for late-night snacks around Chapinero. We did not have to take any Ubers and appreciated the relative safety of the neighborhood. 7. Even if Bogota is a proper world city, it still had relatively third-world prices for the most part, cheap food readily available and super delicious. The boys insisted in indulging my request to eat authentic Colombian food. I certainly was not disappointed here. And having soup in the morning is a good counter for the cold: 8. There are a lot of things to do in the city, if you are bored with all the indoor sweaty activities. Highlights for us were the Gold Museum, which was free on Sundays (most museums are free on Sundays): and the mountain Montserrate, which had a church on top of it, which we took a cable car to get up to: 9. Sadly, I did not have the opportunity to check out the saunas. Maybe next time. 10. And finally, and probably the highlight of our trip (apart from the sex, of course), was visiting Theatron, the legendary gay bar in Chapinero. Saying it is a bar, of course, does not describe the venue accurately, because Theatron is really 13 bars in one: it was this large stadium type dance hall: surrounded by 12 other gay bars, each with its own theme and vibe: We all agreed that Threaton was a destination on to itself, and the sheer variety of what you can find in the place deserves multiple trips back. We only had time to go on a Saturday night, and there was a tremendously long line of energetic party-goers trying to get in, but once we paid the 35,000 COP ($12) entry fee, which included a hard plastic cup we used to get our unlimited drinks (between 10 PM and 2 AM), we took advantage of the various venues the place had. Traditional dance tunes, electronica, latino music, trance, chill music, you name it, they had it. But probably the crowning jewel of the place was in the 4th floor, which was a men’s only floor. We did not know why women weren’t allowed until we saw this: I will definitely go back to Bogota, possibly alone next time. There is so much more to see.

Sorry, I missed October 11 and the National Coming Out Day. I had 3 Thai guys and a beard full of cum! And, the party continues as I went to pick up another one day. I figured Coming Out Day needed some Cumming out of others and into or onto me!

Xx

When you repeat yourself, is it not a symptom of Alzheimer and/or senile dementia?

I still even with guys I have known for over a year and have come to my apartment several times a month. I still have them leave their ID with the doorman. Also, I do not know if it helps. I learned that if you see guys outside the sauna do not give them the exact date you are departing. I always tell the guys my departure date is a few days past when I have already left. For me, it seems that they are much more likely to take something when they know you are leaving and may not see them again. Plus when the guys know the day I am leaving that is the day that everyone's grandma gets sick or mom fell on the train on the way home from work. Over 6 million people live in Rio and two guys the same day mothers' fell on the train and are in the hospital within two hours of the other. What a coincidence! We have all been there. My first trip to Rio 10years ago the other site set me up with a guide who stole R$700 and then he complained I did not pay his full day guide fee to the administrator of the site.

Only a brainless idiot would think the subject of Intersex is easy. That's why some posters deserve to be ignored.

Act like a Carioca? If only. Cariocas have a special quality that comes with birth and gets reinforced as they grow in the family and the neighborhoods. Hanging out with them is as close to acting like a Carioca as I can get!

Well that too

There’s lots of good advice here from various posters. But I want to applaud @likeohmygod for taking the time to detail his experience and to acknowledge openly how easily things can go wrong. It’s good to remind us all that bad things can happen to good guys. My guess is that almost all of us (with a certain experience of hiring companions in various places over the years) will have had something similar occur.

And Michael Cohen, the lawyer, has been fixing Donald Trump's mistakes for years, as well. Need I say more?

I am in Rio from Nov 2 to 7 then SP until 11

Brazilian here. Soccer is a really big thing in Brazil, although I do not really like it LoL But some players are worth watching...

In a word, extremely. LOL But I'm a confessed futebol fanatic, and so is just about everyone I hang out with down here.

I've been several times to both the capital and puntarenas, never had any luck....this was a while ago but I have no desire to return, for sex hookups anyway. Is pretty difficult to find better places than Brasil, especially with the exchange rate.

I'm not sure if it's even there, I typically don't go to the beach on my trips unless someone drags me there (I think that's why I get along with Tomcal) I'm like a vampire and don't care for beaches, and he's just a whore that likes the saunas, lol Anyway, is/was diagonally across from the Copacabana Palace and is/was a gay meeting place for people to hang out, you know the places along the beach that sell coconuts, drinks, and some food stuff.

The real lesson here is that you used your "first brain" to counter the recognized errors of your "second brain." Not confronting the guy in his own apartment was a wise move! You lived, and you learned.

Who decided that the fifty reais "transaction fees" was to cover a one hundred reais charge? A 50% transaction fee is coo coo. Does your bank allow you to dispute a charge? If so, you already paid him in cash that he stole from you. Charging you a 50% transaction fee is reason enough to dispute the charge. A charge back would serve him right! Right now he is thinking he won a con job on you.

Until it destroys his livelihood and he's banned from working in education. All it takes is one angry escort to call the Board of Education. I don't understand why any "teacher" would take such risks over the opportunity to blog about escort encounters. What is there to gain by being a "known" reviewer of escorts? Is Victor Powers happy with his review? Will Victor Powers be recommending the "reviewer" to other escorts? Why would any escort be interested in having sex with a "review" blogger? I suppose some escorts are dumb and might view the opportunity as free publicity. Smart escorts would run in the opposite direction, unless there was a guarantee of a great review. I just don't get it.

In reading this thread, many folks assumed that the OP was either a newbie here or yet another inexperienced tourist. By his own account however he has been a longtime Brazil resident, and his thread count is not that of a novice. For whatever reason, Ihpguy chose to leave the forum for close to two years, which is probably why many didn't recognize him. His recent experience in Rio, and his decision to share it, apparently prompted him to re-engage. Let's hope he sticks around this time - and not for the reason that brought him back! Others here have posted far more in the meantime. However, the quality of his posts- cultural and otherwise- stood out.

That is amazing.

Something like this could only happen in Brazil. Since you asked how he was - - in a word - - wonderful - Will there be a repeat? I wish I could repeat with him, but I am not optimistic about a repeat performance. Someone with his looks and charm is most likely already taken (probably by a wife) or has a long list of admirers. I think I was just lucky to be in the right place at the right time. He offered and gave me his whatsapp number which, to me, implies that he will meet with me again. Then, he might have given me the number as a matter of being polite. I will probably messenger him tomorrow just to say - hello - If I get a response, I will update this thread.

On notice, there are many gay guys (or at least gay friendly muscle guys) going to porto da barra ... If you look like a foreign tourist some guys (or girls) may insinuate to you they are available to a programa. Just keep your smarts on, keep the minimum with you. I always remember the first time I stepped on Porto da Barra and a ripped hot capoeirista immediately came up to me to shake hands and asked in english "where are you from? USA? europe? want Marihuana? Girls?"... I was so timid and nervous that I just answered in portuguese... "no thats not the kind of fun I like" and walked away. He made a face to make me sure he got what I was meaning and said "what you need just come up to me". I regret not coming back that day... but had my fun at the saunas anyway. On a side note, Salvador is a super early city... I had the best time when arriving early at the beachs and at the saunas. Planetarium 11 was less busy last time I was there, but always had someone of my liking. Fox is a bit more upscale, have fewer options, but I've met gorgeous guys there. Go early in the afternoon... like 4 pm.

Hi Gap - I see your avator is still the interesting building in Sao Paulo that has an observation deck that can be visited by the public. I have taken many garotos to that tourist landmark over the years. Most Brazilians and others never heard of the building. After going there with me, several garotos told me they later took their family to see the building with its observation deck. They were that impressed with the place. Here is a link in case anyone is interested in knowing a little more about the building and visiting it with friends or a garoto. Notice how the building resembles New York's Empire State Building. The building in Sao Paulo is smaller but was "inspired" by the one in New York: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altino_Arantes_Building

I think you are outdated at least a couple of decades.

I think it's harder to come out as bi than gay. The gays and straights alike think you are faking your straightness.

Boys stand, girls sit. Jeez Louise, guys, grow a pair! ps I pee in the kitchen sink too, when it's more convenient. I'm a manly man! pps At least as far as public rest rooms go, the women's bathrooms are almost invariably nastier than the men's. Trust me on this one.

There is a difference between having a sense go humor and making jokes about coming out, and thinking that coming out is a joke. I am for laughing at everything, which does not mean I do not take anything seriously. And I start by laughing at myself. I came out back in the 80s, when I was in my early 20s, in 1985, in Argentina. Once I came out to my parents, I went for 100% openness in all my circles, including my job. After I moved to the USA, I made a decision that is always in question. I do not discuss my sexuality with my students. My supervisors and every single colleague that interacts with me beyond a formal conversation know who I am and what I like. I even have a couple of colleagues/friends who know about me hiring escorts and having a blog about it. To me and to most of the guys from my generation, coming out had a strong heroic/ethical component. However, its meaning is changing as its significance is. I know younger guys who laugh at me when I share how dramatic it was for me the whole process back in the 80s. I do not get offended, rather the opposite. I am happy so many guys do not have to go through this process nowadays, I am happy they can laugh at me.

Coming out should be a party, an event wholly worth celebrating. IMO, it's so much more important, gratifying, and life-affirming than losing any friend or family member because that asshole is a homophobic jerk. If you're gay, I don't think you really know who loves you until you do come out. Coming out is an act of loving yourself. I wouldn't want to go through life not loving who I am. Times have seriously changed in this country. Perhaps change is taking place all over the world. Younger people seem to be more fearless, and I think that's a great quality to possess. Sure, there are exceptions. There will always be haters. There will always be bullies. Some people just won't be able to handle the EJ Johnson types. The world will always have homophobic assholes who wish to do harm to others because they hate their own fear of being gay. But change has mostly crushed those folks, and they will continue to get crushed. I was lucky. In my teenage years, I was surrounded by gay folks. I worked in show business from a young age. In high school, my best friend was out and in a relationship. He found love with another kid his own age. My friend's father was a trucker. His mother was a born-again Christian. He told his parents at a very early age and nothing could affect their love for him. I wanted to believe all coming out stories could be this easy. I was eighteen when I told my parents. My mother was easier than my father, but time took care of the details. Eventually, their love for me grew and grew. They truly enjoyed my gay friends. I think much of their initial concern was centered around whether I could take care of myself. By the age of twenty-five, they had no doubts. The act of coming out is a celebration. It's a commitment to loving yourself. Joy and laughter should be a part of the experience.

Me desculpe pela ausência... .. but I won’t be able to post this week because yes I’m knee deep in Brazilians at the moment. The events in this trip report are from my last Brazil trip 4 weeks ago. I thought I could finish it before the trip I am currently in but alas. But the good news is there is another trip report immediately following this one. Thanks for the feedback! I appreciate it a lot! More please lol. P.S. I love the gofundme idea! I promise to post naughty photos and videos of the boys in the trip if this happens.

Strange title and strange adventure mixing Prague and Mexico. I spent last week end in Prague. I had fun with regulars and with a new boy, invictus3 (see report and pic in Prague). I came back from dinner with friends around midnight. My grindr application was on looking for men looking for me. I received soon a message from a boy, 29 years old who was 33 meters from me ... Almost in my hotel room... We chatted and he was soon willing to come to my room to have fun. I did not not trust him at first. Believe me, He insisted : "I am real". In front of my skepticism, he sent a few pictures of him. Good looking man. I proposed to go meet him in the lobby but he was scared to meet his brother or his parents. We decided to meet at level 1. At this time it was empty. After some time, he arrived and was immediately interested by my dick. He was touring Europe with his parents and brother and could not meet gay guys. He was really desperate to suck someone and I happened to be here ... He came to my room, undressed me and him in a matter of seconds and started sucking and licking. We cuddled on bed and after some time we both cummed. He then resumed his clothes rather quickly, said bye and disappeared. When I tried to contact his grindr profile seconds adter ge left, the profile had veen disconnected. Impossible to keep a copy of the pictures he sent me ... I just know his name : Gerardo. And I just have good souvenirs of the meeting ... Nice to have this adventure in Prague with a latino ! It does not happen too often (last time I met a grindr man staying in the same hotel as le and interested by me and me by him was in Porto Alegre...). Good introduction to my trip to Brazil end of October ...

One more point that is bugging me. An argument based on anecdotal evidence is something like this : a guy from New York robbed me, therefore New Yorkers are thieves. It involves limited examples or personal experiences to make broad statements or conclusions. Citing broad national statistics is the opposite of that. The conclusions could still be incorrect and the survey methodology could be flawed, but that is a different argument. Oh and calling someone a racist xenophobe in the middle of a discussion on crime and risk is an ad hominem fallacy. That means you attack the person and not the argument. Finally, I agree there is no way to be perfectly safe, even at home in your basement, other than being dead. I still disagree though that you can't do anything to be "careful" in Brazil and in most places with similar crime issues, to lower your risk of becoming a victim. You stay in nicer areas, don't wear jewelry, don't flash around electronics, and don't bring strangers home. This may only lower the risk slightly and none of it would have helped the OP. Whatever the risk, I agree with everyone who said the risk is worth it because Brazil is a pretty amazing place.

I agree. But while the vaccination for YF can be skipped if you're not going to an area of risk (and RJ and SP still have no cases yet)...visiting a favela right now is a risk you must not run. Seriously... It's not worth it, and it's worsening day after day. Urca was believed to be one of the safest places of Rio. If the authorities are forced to stop a main tourist attraction for 5 hours and to close SDU airport for 15 minutes because of a tiroteio between gangs, it means that you have already all what you need to understand that a favela tour must not be on your to do list.