mvan1

Recife? Recife’s Pina Beach U.S. government personnel are prohibited from walking after dark on Pina Beach, located in the northern part of Boa Viagem, due to crime. This restriction covers the sandy areas of Pina Beach starting at Dona Benvinda de Farias Street and ending at Brasilia Teimosa neighborhood. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

The warning I presented, that I received from the State Department, did not center its discussion on intentional homicides. The warnings were of recent - 2018 - robberies, muggings, attacks and of course, some homicides - - - - - in Brazil. The State Department alert I received confirmed for visitors to Brazil that violence, robberies and worse have increased over the past few years and that incidents are increasing. The notice advised visitors to Brazil to act accordingly by following the recommendations listed on the warning. Those who travel to Brazil once a year or less would not be able to compare the changes that occur during the year particularly if they are traveling for a specific event. A short visit for an event is not the same as a stay of several weeks each visit. I travel to Brazil eight or nine times each year and started visiting Brazil in 2003. I can see for my own eyes that there is more danger on the streets now and elsewhere in Brazil. The police in Brazil would have no reason to fabricate reported crimes. That could harm tourism. Furthermore, the inhabitants and tourists who get mugged in Brazil would have no reason to fabricate the incidents. I don't think anyone here can logically dispute actual statistics of Brazilian police agencies concerning reported crimes in Brazil. I enjoy Brazil a lot. I wish the reports were false, but they are not. As a further form of evidence, the new president of Brazil - Bolsonaro - campaigned on going after street crime and that campaign promise is credited for a major element of his success in winning the election. Clearly, street crime spills over to affect tourists.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/18/world/americas/rio-de-janeiro-brazil-violent-crime-security.html

I think you are correct about the message I received being related to the State Department STEP program. Or, it was an offshoot of that program. I looked on the STEP site and much of the same information I received in my e-mail is in their site notice. Perhaps the State Department wants to be sure that travelers to Brazil are aware of the increased dangers. Like you, I also noticed that the prior year STEP notices did not go into much detail as did the current notice. No doubt, things in Brazil are not like they used to be. I will probably continue to travel to Brazil as I have done going on sixteen years with many trips during different parts of each year and to different Brazilian cities. Lately, walking around in Sao Paulo and in Rio, I noticed a major difference in many garotos. Many appear to be on some sort of drug and many appear to be "street people." Often I smell marijuana coming from a crowd of garotos. I have also seen some garotos using cocaine. These things likely are a major cause of the increase in street crime. Furthermore, I noticed more aggressive beggars who follow and harangue until they get money or something of value from whom they are harassing. I am a bit puzzled about the warnings to avoid public transportation. I have used Brazilian public transportation many times and have gone to various saunas over many years via metro and/or bus and never had a problem. Apparently, some visitors to Brazil had problems if there is a notification advising visitors to avoid public transportation. Walking the short distance to and from Club 117 in Rio to the metro is now apparently a "no no" as is the longer walk to Lagoa from the metro in Sao Paulo. I never had a problem walking those distances but I can see how one could be a victim between the sauna and the metro. I am not clear of the danger in taking a metro except for walking to the metro. I can understand the danger in the use of a bus. A mugger could enter a bus and rob people then exit without a problem. The danger between the two (metro vs bus) is not explained in the notice. The warning merely says to avoid public transportation. Bus or Metro = public transportation. With Bolsonaro now in charge, maybe he can reduce the increase in crime in Brazil. Now, wouldn't that be nice if he did that?

I just received an e-mail from the American Citizens Services Office U.S. Consulate in Brazil - State Department. I have never had dealings with that agency. The e-mail arrived in my mail box unsolicited. I read through the e-mail. The e-mail discusses the rampant crime throughout Brazil and what Americans should do if they become a target of a criminal. The e-mail discusses certain places to avoid which I never thought to be dangerous. For example, ordinary places in Sao Paulo and Rio I visit frequently are on the list to avoid. The e-mail also discusses robberies between the airport and town during heavy traffic when cars are not moving fast. Robbers jump out of their car and point a gun at a traveler and demand money and property. You name it, the criminals have already thought of it. One thing stressed in the e-mail is to not resist if you become a victim of a robbery. I copied phone numbers from the e-mail in case anyone might need to contact the police. The phone number for most Americans or English speaking tourists is - Military Police of São Paulo (Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo) 190 (Portuguese) or 911 (English) Whoever sent the e-mail appears to know that I spend a lot of time in Sao Paulo considering that much of the e-mail discusses Sao Paulo but other areas are also discussed as being crime ridden, like Rio de Janeiro. I assume my information came from the frequent arrivals I make back to the U.S. when we must answer which city and country we visited and from which city we are arriving back to the U.S. When I think of how often I do the very things warned against in the e-mail, I think I must be lucky or have a screw loose to continue to visit Brazil as often as I do. Considering that the notice came from the U.S. State Department, I guess I have some heavy-duty decisions to make or ignore. If anyone is interested in reading the e-mail I received, most of it is shown below with my identifying address removed, I suspect other frequent travelers to Brazil received a similar e-mail - - the e-mail arrived today: Brazil Travel Advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, February 6, 2019 Inbox x STEP Notifications <STEP-Notifications@state.gov> Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory. Do not travel to: Any areas within 150 km of Brazil's land borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay due to crime. (Note: This does not apply to the Foz do Iguacu National Park or Pantanal National Park.) Do not use public buses in and around Recife due to crime (see additional information below). Informal housing developments (commonly referred to in Brazil as favelas, vilas, communidades, and/or conglomerados), at any time of day due to crime (see additional information below). Brasilia's administrative regions (commonly known as "satellite cities") of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa during non-daylight hours due to crime (see additional information below). Recife's Pina Beach from Dona Benvinda de Farias Street to the Brasilia Teimosa neighborhood after dark due to crime (see additional information below). Violent crime, such as murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, is common in urban areas, day and night. Gang activity and organized crime is widespread. Read the Safety and Security section on the country information page. If you decide to travel to Brazil: Be aware of your surroundings, especially when traveling to tourist locations and in crowded public venues. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Use caution when walking or driving at night. Avoid walking on beaches after dark. Do not display signs of wealth, such as wearing expensive watches or jewelry. Avoid using an ATM in low-light or remote locations. Never let someone "shoulder surf" or assist you. Be aware that criminals often target ATMs and businesses in the early morning hours. If you use an ATM, select those located inside of secure facilities, such as an airport, hospital, bank, or government building. Use caution at, or going to, major transportation centers or on public transportation, especially at night. Crime statistics indicate that passengers face an elevated risk of robbery or assault using public, municipal bus transportation throughout Brazil. Consider avoiding the use of public, municipal buses, at any time of day, and especially at night. Use increased caution when hiking in isolated areas, and in particular around the city of Rio de Janeiro's Corcovado Mountain trails. Multiple violent robberies have occurred on the hiking trails leading to and from Cristo Redentor on Corcovado Mountain, which are not regularly patrolled by Brazilian law enforcement. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Crime and Safety Reports for Brazil. U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler's Checklist. International Borders U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to areas within 150 km of the international land borders with Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, French Guiana, and Paraguay without advance approval from security officials due to crime. Travel to the Foz do Iguacu National Park and Pantanal National Park is permitted. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Public Transportation Crime statistics and trends indicate that persons face an elevated risk of robbery or assault using public bus systems throughout Brazil. Consider avoiding the use of public, municipal buses in Brazil at any time of day, and especially at night. The U.S. Government recommends against personnel using public, municipal buses in all parts of Brazil, and prohibits personnel from using public buses in and around Recife. Informal Housing Developments (commonly known as "Favelas") Do not travel to informal housing developments (commonly referred to in Brazil as favelas, vilas, communidades, and/or conglomerados), even on a guided tour. Neither the tour companies nor the police can guarantee your safety when entering these communities. Even in these communities that the police or local governments deem safe, the situation can change quickly and without notice. In addition, exercise caution in areas surrounding these communities, as occasionally, inter-gang fighting and confrontations with police move beyond the confines of these communities. Except under limited circumstances and with advance approval, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to enter any informal housing developments in Brazil. Read the Safety and Security Section on the country information page for further information regarding favelas. Visit our website for Travel High-Risk Areas. Brasilia's Administrative Regions (formerly known as "Satellite Cities") Without advance approval from security officials, U.S. government personnel are not permitted to travel to Brasilia's Administrative Regions of Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. (non-daylight hours) due to crime. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Recife's Pina Beach U.S. government personnel are prohibited from walking after dark on Pina Beach, located in the northern part of Boa Viagem, due to crime. This restriction covers the sandy areas of Pina Beach starting at Dona Benvinda de Farias Street and ending at Brasilia Teimosa neighborhood. Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas. Last Update: Reissued after periodic review with updates to information about U.S. government restrictions on personnel and Rio de Janeiro's Corcovado Mountain trails. Visitors should inform the American Citizen Services Office of the U.S. Consulate if they encounter problems while traveling in São Paulo, including detainment/arrest by the police. Crime Victim Assistance National Emergency Services Tel Military Police of São Paulo (Polícia Militar do Estado de São Paulo) 190 (Portuguese) or 911 (English) Fire Service (Corpo de Bombeiros) 193 National Civil Police (Polícia Civil) 197 Medical Emergency (Ambulância) 192 Federal Police (Polícia Federal) (11) 3538 5000 Sea Rescue (Salvamento Marítimo) (21) 2104 6119

You did not miss anything of value. The only thing the freak did was read from a teleprompter and then occasionally go off script to boast about his imaginary accomplishments. My goodness, he has been yelping for nearly two hours and shows no sign of stopping. His minions keep standing to clap when he boasts about something he claims he accomplished, but didn't. No, you did not miss a thing. In fact, you saved yourself from getting disgusted.

It is better to eat with a spoon than with a shovel - - - - --

Fifty-nine words in this one sentence of your post. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Good question - - - - - -

Excellent idea, if the garoto who calls you has any money. However, most calls I get from garotos who call from pay phones are collect calls and the garotos do not have any money. The type of service you described is a forwarded (virtual) number. However, the number making the call cannot call collect. Hence, we are back to which phone system works for each person. Oh, with regard to discussing phones on this Salvador site, I believe it was the OP who said he could not summon Uber because he had no wifi signal. It was his post that got the discussion going about various phone systems so that he could use Uber when he had no wifi signal. As was often said about Gerald Ford, he could not walk and chew gum at the same time. More than one issue can be discussed if is relates to material triggered by the OP. I think many learned a lot from the various phone systems discussed herein, subject being triggered by the OP. Peace

Your suggestion is a good idea in many cases. However, in some instances it is not a good idea. This is because every now and again we meet a garoto or local escort we want to see again. If that garoto or escort does not have a smart phone, that garoto cannot call us on a U.S. number. With whatsapp, it does not matter what your number is but it takes a smart phone for that. With the poor economy in Brazil, on each of my trips I run into at least a couple of garotos who do not have a phone (they call me collect from payphones) or they do not have a smart phone. A U.S. plan would not be good for me in these instances. We are all different. I personally choose to have a SIM card for each country I visit. It works for me. For others, different plans work for them. It is called - variety is the spice of life.

Many of us who travel to Barcelona visit Thermas sauna. It is a fun place. Look at all the positive reviews Unfortunately, Uber is now suspended in Barcelona over some disagreements - Unless we stay near the sauna, we will have to get an alternate way to get around the city and to the sauna. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/31/uber-suspends-cab-service-in-spanish-city-of-barcelona.html

I assumed that you had or have access to the internet via a plan or local SIM card. Considering you will be in Brazil a short time, it is possible to buy a Brazil SIM card and activate it in your phone. Then, after the SIM is activated, you go to settings on your phone and turn off wifi. Your phone will then access the local phone company's internet. Both TIM and VIVO have prepaid data plans with 100 mg of data daily for R$1.49 which, as you know, is not even 50 cents, U.S. You can buy SIM cards on the street or in shops. The price is anywhere from R$5 to R$20. After buying the SIM card, just add R$ 20 or so to the prepaid SIM card and you will be set to go. Of course, you can use a U.S. plan and pay $50 (U.S.) but that is a lot more money than using a local SIM card. The present cost for such a plan is equivalent to more than R$150. Using a local SIM card would rarely cost you anything like that. There are several phone companies in Brazil. I find that either TIM or VIVO are the most reliable. If you consider the small costs associated with getting a local SIM versus paying a U.S. provider for internet, you might be paying for something you do not need unless you do a lot of travel for days and weeks at a time. Just my opinion.

"Had to take a taxi to FOX since they had no wifi....A whole other issue" Just curious, why would you need to take a taxi in Salvador? You do not need wifi to call Uber. You can use a taxi if you prefer, but you can call UBER from your cell phone signal without wifi. The rates and service are far better than a cab.

His surgery went well. The surgery was done in Sao Paulo at Einstein Medical Center. Bolsonaro is happy to return to work in order to continue saying hateful and terrible things about minorities. Saying hateful things will surely cure the economic crisis in Brazil as well as stop the issue of major crime in the country. Oh, yes - with regard to his son (who is being investigated for taking bribes as a politician), "vamos olhar para isso" https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazils-president-to-dispatch-from-hospital-room-after-surgery/

https://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazils-president-bolsonaro-undergoes-new-surgery/?utm_source=feedburner&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+(The+Rio+Times)

You are correct. See this news report concerning his first lackluster appearance outside of Brazil: https://www.fairobserver.com/region/latin_america/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-president-davos-news-latest-headlines-32009/

Yes it was. Last night was the first time that I saw a major negative effect of hot weather on sauna attendance. I believe the lack of air conditioning at the sauna had a lot to do with the poor turnout last night. Other factors could be the reason but a hot and humid environment was the culprit last night, in my opinion.

Most people who visit sauna Lagoa in Sao Paulo agree that Wednesday and Friday are the best nights for a heavy turnout of available garotos. To use the Southern language of Jeff Sessions, t'aint so! Tonight is the first time that I actually left Lagoa early. I have been going there more than fifteen years. I left at 7:30 because the place was almost like an undiscovered tomb. I doubt if there were even fifteen guys there and they were not attractive, in my opinion. Even the client attendance was poor. As I was getting ready to leave I noticed the client locker area had clients preparing to leave (again at 7:30). Bottom line? Just because a trend is built showing which nights are best to visit a sauna, does not mean there is a guaranty the place will be good. -

Thanks again. However, you might be surprised how often many of us answer questions and/or furnish information that never even gets acknowledged much less a thank you. Some people lack civility even though many are nice people.

You are a gem. And, a fountain of information. Thank you again.

Thanks for the information on the currency conversion. I have a couple more questions - you wrote - - "Manny will meet you when he drops the guys off. I pay manny his fee in pesos and the guy comes with me to the hotel. After the session, we pay the guys in pesos also." Manny drops the guy at my hotel? I pay Manny when he brings the guy to my hotel. When you said, "the guy comes with me to the hotel" does that mean that Manny does not deliver the guy to my hotel? Finally, do you recommend a good hotel that allows guys to visit? Many thanks

Muchas gracias