mvan1

There is already enough negative things about Brazil's economy. Now there is a presidential veto over tips in a restaurant! What is happening to our once great and upcoming Brazil? See this: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazils-rousseff-vetoes-bill-for-mandatory-tiping/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 -

The phrase, "Class Act" has nothing to do with the law. The phrase can either be complimentary or derogatory, depending on the circumstances. In the case of the dentist, given the bad press about his killing the lion, the phrase was not complimentary. Here is an example taken from the internet showing examples of the phrase, Class Act: The phrase a class act, in a strict sense indeed means that the performer/artist put on an exceptionally good show. However, nowadays I'd say its used whenever somebody does something memorable. Regardless of it being particularly good. If Keith Moon were still alive today, and he'd drive 3 rolls royce's into a public swimming pool dressed as a Japanese schoolgirl, that's exceptionally mad, even for him. So it'd be another Keith-Moon style class act. A class act can also be used to indicate irony or sarcasm. Sort of like saying: Your drunken singing in the underground was a real class act.

A little more in connection with the character of the dentist who unlawfully killed the lion: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3180304/Karma-b-h-Woman-sexually-harassed-dentist-killed-Cecil-lion-speaks-vilified-world.html It seems the dentist had to pay a former employee $127,500.00 for sexual harassment. The employee worked for the dentist for six years. The dentist is now in hiding and has closed his dental office. This dentist is a class act. He has convictions for prior unlawful hunts. Several of his patients were interviewed. They said that the dentist is greedy and often asks for payment in advance of the work being done. Hmmm - asking for payment in advance - isn't that what some escorts do?

BOGUS CON JOB? Above, I posted some links to the same ad that is posted on Backpage and was included in post #55. Above, I also posted a link to Backpage. I was extremely impressed by the photos that appeared in the agency escort ad cited in post #55 and in #57 above. After I posted the Backpage link, I decided to go through the other non agency ads at Backpage. Either the Backpage ads had no photos or the photos in the ads were not of people who even remotely resembled the handsome "escorts" shown in the escort agency link at post #55 and in my link in post #57. It is often said that when something seems to good to be true, it probably is too good to be true. In that regard, comparing the non existent photos in the Medellin Backpage ads and the other ads that showed ordinary or unattractive escorts, to the photos on the escort agency ad, it appears to me that the agency listed at http://www.escortsbu...n-medellin.html is probably bogus. All the models shown on the agency escort site are extremely handsome while all other escorts advertising on their own, look no where near as handsome as the models shown at the escort agency site. A professional photographer can do wonders but could not create anything similar to what appears on the escort agency site. Those models were carefully selected to entice. I doubt that those models are available. I could be wrong in my assumptions, but, I will not rely on that escort agency. While I am Medellin next week, I will use the knowledge I gained from reading various posts and other material concerning Medellin. I am usually lucky in my travels and I expect to have a good time even though I do not plan to use that escort agency site as a source of meeting any escorts. While I am in Medellin, I might try again to reach that agency just to see if they are legit and really have the quality of escorts advertised on their site. In summary, the escort site shows photos of only the "cream of the crop" in the escort department. The ad seems disingenuous to me. I will report back here after I see,first hand, what is available in Medellin. -

Even though Backpage in the U.S. is a piece of garbage, perhaps, in Medellin it is okay. I looked at Backpage for Medellin and found this: http://medellin.backpage.com/MaleEscorts/male-escorts-vip-in-medellin-charming-boys-just-with-our-safe-service/3069636 The photos on the page at the above linked site are mostly the same photos found in post number 55 (above). On the Backpage ad, there is a link on the ad and it takes you to the same site provided in post number 55. The strange thing is the telephone number that is shown in the link answers in Spanish and continues to say that the number does not exist. The fact that the Backpage ad is active and current (as of July 27) and it links to the site provided in post #55, maybe the telephone system in Medellin is down at the present time. This might be why I cannot reach anyone at the site. I also sent an e-mail that has not yet been answered. I will try again and will post an update for those interested. The link to the general Backpage for Medellin is: http://medellin.backpage.com/MaleEscorts/ '

I tried calling the telephone number listed in the site provided above. A recording comes on in Spanish saying that the phone number does not exist. Can it be that the site is old and is no longer maintained? I wonder if there is an agency in Medellin one can contract with similar looking escorts. Do you have other information in connection with meeting an escort in Medellin? Thanks in advance.

With the exchange rate and air airfares to Brazil at records lows, what is keeping you from taking another trip to the land of plenty? Even though it is winter in Brazil, the weather has been good and is just the place to visit. The time to visit Brazil again - is ripe!

The below cited article shows more reasons why the Brazilian Real continues to decline against the US dollar (and some other currencies). Just since the first of this year and only through May of this year, 1,280 businesses have closed. Those closures have to have a devastating effect on Brazil's economy as other cities in Brazil report similar closures of establishments. This also explains why there are so many more garotos in the saunas and in other areas where hustlers are found. Here is today's article: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-real-estate/over-1000-shops-have-closed-in-rio-de-janeiro-already-this-year/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 -

Thanks for the comment about Uber. Even though I travel more than two hundred thousand air miles each year and visit many different countries, I have never used Uber. Did you summon Uber while in Rio using an AP? Do they obtain your location via GPS or do you speak with an operator of sorts? If one were to be staying on Avenida Atlantica in Copacabana, how long is a typical wait for an Uber driver? Uber is obviously doing something right, considering the constant increase in the number of customer is has as well as the frequent compliments about the service. There is no logical reason I have rejected the idea of using Uber except that habits are hard to break.

Based on my viewing the photos, the new sauna is a little smaller than the old "Rogers" in Rio that is no longer in business (as a rent-boi sauna). I don't have any plans to visit this new sauna unless I hear wonderful things about it (unlikely). Considering that the sauna is so small compared to other saunas, it is probable that clients can expect to see a minimal amount of garotos available at any given time.

I was wondering if the husky voiced lady still made boarding announcements at GIG. There is a bit of history regarding the lady's position at GIG. Prior to the World Cup last year, she was temporarily "fired" because the new owners at GIG did not want to continue using her voice to announce flights. After much negotiating, she is back at work at GIG (according to the news article report). Check out this report that discusses history of the lady who announces flights at GIG: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/the-breathy-voice-of-rios-airport-returns-to-lift-passengers-spirits/article18579297/ -

Thanks very much, I knew that you would know. What about the announcement from Iris. Is it still played at GIG? -

Hilarious - thanks -

Although I have been to Rio many times, for the past ten years or so, I generally arrived in Brazil initially at Sao Paulo and then traveled to Rio from the domestic airport in Sao Paulo (Congonhas) to the domestic airport in Rio (Santos Dumont). I scheduled an unexpected trip to Brazil soon but I will be going to GIG rather than Sao Paulo. Years ago (more than ten years), at GIG, I used to take a taxi after buying a taxi voucher from one of the frantic girls waiving forms to arriving passengers at GIG. Is this still an option? As an alternative to a taxi from one of the frantic girls described above, after exiting the secure area at GIG, arriving passengers used to be able to take an escalator to the departure level and catch a metered taxi that had just dropped off other customers. Does anyone have first hand experience with this or has this method of getting a metered taxi no longer possible at the departure level? My hotel has an airport pickup service but I do not want to be waiting around in case the service is late. As most of us have learned over our trips to Brazil, people in Brazil are often not dependable. Question - Does anyone have any current experience with getting to Copacabana from GIG and how do you do it? One more thing - I assume that passengers still hear this announcement only at GIG but not at Santos Dumont - or has it also been discontinued? http://www.irislettieri.com.br/ -

A couple of months back, tomcal posted a link to an excellent video of gay history in the U.S. and how gays in American attained certain rights. For those who might be interested in worse horrors that gays had to face in England during the same time period, check out this video: After watching the above linked video, I believe most will be left with a feeling of disbelief at the way gays were treated and imprisoned in the U.K., a country that was supposedly a country of civilized people.

Although I have been to Heathrow countless times, I have never experienced a long layover there, much less a twelve hour layover. If your connecting flight is with BA or another One World partner, you should be able to check your bags, assuming that the check in counter is open at the carrier you are using. It you can get free of your luggage and want to have some fun on your layover, why not visit Villa Gianni in London? The address is in this forum. If you cannot find the address and directions, I can post it for you. After getting rid of your luggage, you can go downstairs and find the underground (tube). The only line that runs at Heathrow is the Piccadilly Line. It runs often and will take you to Earl's Court station after one change. Villa Gianni, is about a ten minute walk from the Earl's Court station. It costs ninety pounds (Sterling) for a one hour visit with a guy of your choice. There is quite a variety of guys there. You could easily get to the place, have some fun, then get back to Heathrow all by using the tube (underground). On the other hand, if you don't feel up to Villa Gianni, you can take the Piccadilly line and explore parts of London. It is a splendid city to visit. There is a lot to see and do, as you no doubt know. You do not want take a taxi because you never know about the traffic in London. The underground does not get delayed because of traffic. There was a strike on the underground a few weeks ago but that is all settled. I cannot imagine staying at Heathrow for 12 hours.

I am confident that members from this forum who visit Rio have no plans to participate in the Olympics. I am also confident that no one from this forum plans to swim in Rio's Guanabara Bay. Therefore, although the information posted above concerning polluted water in Rio is interesting, the polluted water should not have a negative affect on forum members. As to the tap water being unclean, it depends on which report one reads. Some reports claim the tap water is unclean while other reports claim otherwise. To be safe, I plan to omit adding ice to drinking water or to drinks. I expect to continue visiting Brazil without any health issues related to polluted water from Guanabara Bay, in Rio de Janeiro.

That son of a bitch American dentist who went to Africa and had some locals lure a protected lion from its safe haven so he could kill it, is really feeling the heat. His dental practice is now closed from the negative publicity and he faces possible extradition for unlawfully killing the lion. Even after the dentist mortally wounded the lion with a cross bow, the lion did not die until 40 hours later when someone decided to end the lion's life with a bullet. The dentist then posed (with a friend) in front of the dead lion for a photograph. That same dentist was once charged in a U.S. court for unlawfully lying to a federal officer in connection with the dentist unlawfully killing a different protect animal. More than 500,000 signatures have already been obtained in favor of having the dentist sent back to answer the charges. I would like to add my name as well. For those who like animals and are disturbed over what the dentist did (unlawfully luring out the lion to kill it), here is an article released today that tells most of the details of what the dentist did. http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/dentist-lion-killing-zimbabwe/2015/07/30/id/659598/?ns_mail_uid=37292477&ns_mail_job=1629734_07302015&s=al&dkt_nbr=duu1y174 I am in agreement with the late famous philosopher, Arthur Schopenhauer, when he stated, “Compassion for animals is intimately associated with goodness of character, and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.”

I knew this was going to happen. I heard that the saunas in Rio were filled to capacity with Americans showering with garotos. Take a look at this article concerning the critical water shortage in Rio: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/rio-de-janeiros-reservoirs-critically-low-again/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 P.S. Just kidding about the reason for the shortage - we need humor in this forum.

There are quite a few revelations and some strange photos aboard these airplanes - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-3160900/Inside-secret-ONLINE-life-flight-attendant.html

For those of us who do a fair amount of travel, the below cited article is bizarre. If a departing aircraft hadn't called for assistance because of being ignored, who knows what would have happened with incoming aircraft. Anyway, here is an the article on the at-work drunk ATC guy. http://5newsonline.com/2015/07/16/springdale-air-traffic-controller-arrested-on-suspicion-of-intoxication/

Most of us suspect who it is, and our suspicion is likely correct. I assume he is now basking in the glory of having "exposed" inside information not regularly seen by sauna guys. What lack of insight he has. How dumb! I hope he continues to enjoy his remaining stay in Rio despite his propensity for being a braggadocio. The sauna guys are not impressed by someone who betrays a trust. They might show interest at the moment to learn what was disclosed but then later the sauna guys no longer trust the person.

"No good deed goes unpunished" or so the saying goes. Photos and videos posted on this site are hidden from the general public via a password that each member selects. In order for a sauna guy to access the photos and videos, the sauna guy would have to know about the photos and videos AND join the site OR use the sign in data of a site member. It seems that a member of this site was visiting Brazil and accessed the site for a sauna guy. Whomever showed the photos or videos to a sauna boy was not thinking of the possible fallout. What purpose was served except to upset the sauna guy? The best of intentions sometimes have a backfire effect.

Rodolfo has had the cash discount in the past, then canceled it. It used to be cash or debit card got the cheaper entrance fee. Now, even a debit card makes the entrance R$60. When the sauna is not filled with clients, Rodolfo walks around with a worried look. It is too soon to know if the cash only discount will continue to bring in the clients. As OZ pointed out, the higher fees are tougher on the locals.

My brief visit to Sauna Lagoa last night disclosed the following: 1. The sauna was "very good" in that it contained many handsome garotos. 2. The ratio of clients versus garotos was roughy 2 - 1 with garotos being the higher number. 3. Rodolfo (the owner) reinstituted a modified version of his previous cash or debit card reduced entrance fee. What he did was reduce the entrance fee (beginning last night) to R$40 provided the client pays with cash (no debit cards). If any other form of payment is used, the entrance is R$60. 4. Rodolfo did not reintroduce the cash only discount because he is a nice guy. He did it because he had to do something to entice clients to return to his sauna. In recent months, there were fewer and fewer clients coming to his sauna. The entrance fee at Lagoa is higher than at any sauna in Brazil. No one knows how long the cash-only discount will remain in force. The discount stimulated business because, as I said in item # 2 (above), last night there were approximately twice as many garotos as there were clients. Brazil's awful economy and high unemployment has negatively affected most businesses. Saunas are not exempt from the negative economic fallout Brazil is experiencing.