mvan1

Your memory is pretty good. Here is what he actually said which is very close to what your memory recalled: "One way of looking at this might be that for 42 years, I've been making small, regular deposits in this bank of experience, education and training. And on January 15 the balance was sufficient so that I could make a very large withdrawal."

Thanks very much for the information. I did not know it was possible to buy stock photos. Maybe that is where some of the escorts (who advertise on other sites) get there photos. It might explain why the same picture sometimes appears for different escorts.

Sorry, you are only partially correct. Hooboy was the screen name for the person who started the "other" site which "daddy" now runs. Hooboy died several years ago but I don't believe it has been ten years yet. Maybe seven or eight, at most. Hooboy was a friendly sort of poster and often engaged other posters in dialogue. He died suddenly while swimming. There was a lot of controversy over who would inherit the "other" site. Hooboy's heir apparently were difficult from what I read from the "other" site. However, everything ended up working out and the "other" site is running about the same as when Hooboy was alive and well.

Speaking of seeing the guys on both sides, is there any information on the guy on the right? Is he an actor or escort? Thanks

- During the week, you can find the guys hustling in a couple of "movie houses" in Buenos Aires. It has been a couple of years since I was last in Buenos Aires and witnessed the abundance of available guys in the movie houses. However, I do not recall exactly where the movies are located. There is also various houses where several available guys are hired by older guys to work out of a condominium being available as hustlers. When a customer arrives at one of the condominiums, available guys parade in front of the customer in hopes of being selected. These "houses" are advertised in a local gay publication. The locations do not last long but they are always there. That is why you need to check the local gay papers. If I can reach my friend who took me to the "movie houses" I will ask him for the locations and names of the movie houses. You might find this information in the local gay papers. -

Not here for me either -

As I stated in an earlier post, I have been to this sauna many times. I am not aware of any "theme mornings and nights" nor am I aware of any underwear parties. The available guys walk around the sauna with a towel and foot protectors. I doubt that they wear any underwear under the towels. While in the showers and pool, they wear nothing. I suspect the comment from OZ was a joke.

A former well-liked president married his fifth cousin (Franklin Roosevelt married Eleanor Roosevelt in 1905). They were, nonetheless, related by blood. A nephew/uncle relationship is unusual and a wee bit shocking, but is it any stranger than the marriage of the Roosevelts? For history buffs, here is a little article about the Roosevelts marriage. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-roosevelt-marries-eleanor-roosevelt -

Even though I like Brazil a lot and visit there often, I also enjoy visiting Barcelona a few times a year. I was surprised to see the video of their site (see OZ post for web address). The video shows the interior of some of the areas of the sauna and it shows several of the available guys in the sauna. After looking at the guys in the video, I must comment that, in person at Sauna Thermas, many of the guys are far better looking than is shown in the video. I can only assume that the good looking guys did not want to appear in the video for fear of being recognized by family or friends. Believe me, there are some beauties at the sauna. As the sauna website says, the sauna was remodeled "this year" but it was really remodeled last year (2012). It is clean and comfortable and offers opportunities to have a great time. The prices for the guys are more money than guys cost in Brazil but even so, it is only fifty euros. Some clients try to negotiate with the guys for less but I figure it is not worth the effort to try to bargain them down. Later in the evening, (around nine) the guys get somewhat anxious if they have not met a client and will approach you and offer to go with you for a ridiculously cheap price, which I have never opted to accept. One thing about the sauna is that, unlike Brazil where you pay for a room if you want visit with a guy, at Sauna Thermas, the rooms on the cruising floor are free. The rooms on the level where the bar and pool are located cost nine or ten euros (I don't recall exactly - you will see the charge on your bill). The difference in the free rooms versus the rooms that cost is like night and day. The free rooms are "okay" but they are small and not comfortable. The rooms where you pay a nominal amount have a fair size bed and lights and mirrors and more comfort. Another surprise is the entrance fee to the sauna. The entrance fee to Sauna Thermas is actually less than going to a sauna in Sao Paulo and/or Rio. Entry prices Single entry 16.00€ Clients day* (Mon &Wed) 14.00€ Book of 11 129.00 € Crisis Thursday!* 12.00€ *Offers not valid public holidays. In short, if you love Brazil and want to take a short break for a change, I heartily recommend Barcelona and particularly Sauna Thermas. Of course, in Brazil, you will find Brazilians available in the saunas. At Sauna Thermas, you will also find Brazilians but you will find many guys from Eastern Europe, from Cuba, from Germany, Poland, Asia and so forth. In other words, if you like variety and you are at Sauna Thermas, you will not be disappointed. By the way, I have read reports warning of supposed danger or walking alone after leaving the sauna at night. I have walked so many times at night from the sauna I cannot recall how often. I never had any problem or had any feeling of danger. The area is safe (at least it has always been safe for me) and has a lot of interesting restaurants nearby, even at night. In addition to the safe area and nice restaurants, if you are interested in Joan Miro, there is a Miro museum about two blocks from the sauna. The Miro Museum is not open at night. You might want to go there on your way to the sauna, assuming you visit the sauna early. My opinion? Don't abandon Brazil but keep Barcelona available for a splendid change of pace.

- Learning how to "connect the dots" is an important step to understanding - http://books.google.com/books?id=kHAG451C8XIC&pg=PA200&lpg=PA200&dq=meaning+of+%22failure+to+connect+the+dots%22&source=bl&ots=jDk8KaIxon&sig=Jv8acpTrPeE6tQSh7EBqD0Ys-_E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=CNwZUuCBGIaqiQLU-YGYDg&ved=0CEQQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=meaning%20of%20%22failure%20to%20connect%20the%20dots%22&f=false

- To the contrary! I often travel to many countries but mostly Brazil. On a recent (non Brazil) trip to Poland, I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Krakow which came highly recommended by travel agents and friends. Take a look at what Tripadvisor.com has to say about Holiday Inn in Krakow; http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g274772-d277356-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Krakow_City_Center-Krakow_Lesser_Poland_Province_Southern_Poland.html Now take a look at what tripadvisor.com has to say about Holiday Inn in Thailand (a five- thousand points per night hotel): http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g293916-d3657941-Reviews-Holiday_Inn_Bangkok_Sukhumvit_22-Bangkok.html I am aware that many Holiday Inn hotels are not as nice as many larger chain hotels. However, there are countless exceptions to the general conception of Holiday Inn. Conclusion: Prejudice comes in many forms, not just in judging people. -

- The increase is on its way - the real closed today at 2.45150 1.00 USD = 2.45150 BRL US Dollar ↔ Brazilian Real 1 USD = 2.45150 BRL 1 BRL = 0.407914 USD ◀Convert again View Chart Mid-market rates: 2013-08-21 23:50 UTC -

- I believe we will soon see at least 2.5 reais for one USD; probably within the next month or two, maybe sooner. There are still lots of problems and lots of unhappy Brazilians at the present time. Not a lot is being done to correct the problems in Brazil which made the Brazilians unhappy enough to demonstrate. After the demonstrations subsided, there were many promises made by the government to the demonstrating Brazilians. But, promises take time to deliver. In the meantime, Brazil's economy suffers along with the decline in the value of the real. Clearly, the demonstrations, earlier this year, are the chief reason for the decline in the value of the real. There are still sporadic demonstrations which continue to drive down the value of the real and draw attention to the problems remaining in Brazil. Even if the exchange rate rises to 2.5, we, as tourists, will not be able to have things back the way they were before the Brazilian currency shot up like it did. Although the real is cheaper for us, the inflation that occurred over the last several years is not going away and will not be reversed. Therefore, the more favorable exchange rate merely makes spending time in Brazil less expensive, currently. Unquestionably, it is a lot more expensive now, even with the better exchange rate, than it was ten years ago at this time. -

No offense, but, you misremembered the exchange rate. See these web addresses which show the historical exchange rates of the real to the USD since 1999 up to 2013: http://www.freecurrencyrates.com/exchange-rate-history/USD-BRL/2006 http://www.x-rates.com/average/?from=USD&to=BRL&amount=1&year=2006 In 2006 and 2007, the real was trading as low as 1.60 to 1 USD and as high as 2.35 to 1 USD. Brazil is fun but let us not let the fun confuse us with the exchange rate fluctuations and the actual rates. The only time I recall the real trading near 4 to one is in 2003 when it briefly got almost to that range. On the other, the Argentine peso was trading at 4 and above for a USD, but that is not Brazil. I am in Brazil quite often and I am very much aware of the exchange rates over the years. -

It is called "connecting the dots" which you seem to have trouble doing. Anyway, Calvin Klein is not concerned about any "expose" in any book his former namorado might write. Klein will continue his merry way and will most likely look upon the former "love interest" as a pleasant chapter, among many. -

You missed the point of my post. Logic has nothing to do with the facts. The young guy is no longer a temporary “love” interest to Klein. The young guy is disappointed at being dropped by Klein. In retaliation, the young guy is writing a “tell-all” book about the supposed relationship. Accusing Klein of being jealous is just one more bit of gossip that may or may not be true. My point is that the book will probably not be a money maker for the abandoned guy. Few readers, if any, care about the countless relationships Klein has had over the years, including the latest book writer. Jealousy can be affected by either party, or both.

How curious, I don't follow your logic either. -

There is something missing in the story of the supposed part-time lover of Calvin Klein who is in process of writing a "tell all" book of the relationship, as he saw it (or wanted it to be). I, as someone who visits Brazil rather often (and have done so for years), have seen, many times, Calvin Klein at Clube 117 in Rio and at Sauna Lagoa in Sao Paulo. Each time (as far as I observed) Calvin Klein enlisted and continues to enlist the services of various garotos in the saunas. Moreover, Calvin Klein owns a condo in Rio where he entertains some of his new found friends. Given the above facts, if the claims by the "lover" are true and that Mr. Klein was jealous, why did Calvin Klein continue to visit the saunas and other areas of Brazil where garotos are available and plentiful? Why did Klein have countless relationships with different young men, Brazilian and otherwise? By the way, I have never seen Calvin Klein at Meio Mundo. Maybe that place is not fancy enough for him. Bottom line - it seems obvious that the "scorned lover" of Calvin Klein wants to make money writing a book about his relationship with Klein, so much as it was. Like the guy Thorsen (who wrote the book about Liberace), I suspect that the sale of books will not make him rich because not many are interested in buying a book about Klein and his namorados. Sadly, the scorned former playmate of Klein is just one in a series of hundreds or even thousands that Klein left in his search for entertainment. -

I agree, the Atlantico Hotel was a mainstay for many on this site. However, that was a few years back. In the high days of Atlantico, there were three sauanas within walking distance of the hotel, Rogers, Estacao and Pointe 202. Rogers is gone, Estacao is gone and Pointe 202 might as well be gone unless one likes steroid muscled guys and a bill that is too often padded. Yes, Atlantico have a leant visitor policy but the hotel itself is not maintained. Considering the outlandish daily rates charged by the hotel, one would think there would be an ongoing upgrade to the hotel, but there isn't. In the former "presidential" suite on the roof of the hotel, the supposed suite was divided into several rooms that are modern but the rooms do not provide the type of privacy I would expect. The Marriott was mentioned. That is where I currently choose to stay while in Rio. I have never had any problem bringing a visitor to a room at Marriott. The Marriott is conveniently located and has a nice restaurant. I heartily recommend staying at the Marriott. The only drawback is that it is at the end of Siqueira Campos, at the ocean. At night, the area is sometimes poorly lighted and could be dangerous, depending on how late one returns to the hotel. -

After I made my response to your unusual post, a friend called me and stated that perhaps your use of the word "hostility" refers to my dislike of Pointe 202. That is a possibility I had not considered. If that is what you mean, I direct my opinion (not hostility) at the part owner at Pointe 202 referred to as "Junior" because he is the reason the place changed for the negatively. Hostility is quite a strong word. The author of this post said his friend referred to Points as "Pointe has two feet in the grave." I do not regard that hostile. I regard that informative. About ten years ago, Pointe 202 was a fun place, in my opinion. However, over the years, the place changed negatively. Among other things, the bills got padded and many of the garotos became overly muscled due to steroid use. So, if you want to interject hostility because I offered my opinion about why I do not visit Pointe 202 anymore, than so be it. If you want to interject hostility into my confusion over someone saying they no longer visit a place since 2008 but then the same person wrote that they also did not visit in subsequent years, again, so be it. Are you the "hall monitor" for posts? If so, please let me know. -

Hositility? Where in the world did that come from? Now, I am more confused by your post than I was before I read the contradictory post of the other member. If I told someone I had not visited a place since 2008 then I immediately said that I also had not visited the place in 2010 and 2011, I believe that most people would be confused or think that something was amiss with such a statement. Sorry if you read something into my post that was not there.

I agree. However, he first said he stopped going to Pointe in 2008. Why mention 2010 and 2011 if he last went there in 2008? I think you are correct in interpreting what he wrote but it is rather a strange way to say you stopped visiting a place in 2008.

Confused! You said you stopped going in 2008 - Then, in the next sentence, you said you didn't go in 2010 and 2011. Isn't 2008 prior to 2010 and 2011? Very strange and confusing. Regardless of the above contradiction, I agree that Pointe 202 is not a place I would go again or recommend. There are too many muscle type steroid garotos who are available at Pointe 202 and the bills are often padded with bogus charges. It is my experience (and the experience of several of my friends who used to go to Pointe 202, the billings are often padded with spurious and unauthoried charges. Food is added to the bill even though the customer does not order any food or authorize it. Drinks are added to the bill even though the customer did not authorize the drinks. Another thing that is done (but not as often as the bogus drinks and food) is the room charges. I, and a few friends, might not use a room while at Pointe 202 but a room charge appeared on the bill despite no room being used. Many foreigners are not sufficiently proficient in Portuguese to challenge the bogus charges and often the charges get paid simply because the customer does not know the language enough to have the bogus charges removed. The above two reasons (steroid pumped guys and padded bills) are why I and friends no longer vist Pointe 202. I am surprised that the place is still in business. -

He will be back. Give him a while longer. At least a half dozen times over the years he has had his feathers ruffled on other sites and vowed never to post again but he always came back. He has posted some interesting experiences that no doubt helped a lot of inexperieced Brazil travelers. When he is ready, he will return.