SolaceSoul

Why single out garotos who may be a bit “long in the tooth” for their ptofession? There are plenty of advertising escorts here in the States and elsewhere who have been plying their trade for well over a decade and some may say that they have long worn out their welcome. Some of them may be on various message boards... even here! The point is that although many here may prefer young, fresh and freckle-faced, straight-off-the-showroom-floor garotos / escorts / gogo boys / hustlers, there are also clients who may prefer the “seasoned” (in either actual age or look). Maybe this business should just be like “Logan’s Run” and have a carousel that murders everyone at the age of 29 (and I just dated myself with that reference)?

My version has lines that end with “fuck it” and “suck it”. And there’s no woman anywhere to be found!

“There once was a man from Nantucket...”

Rob: i agree with your observations. I will also add that some casa owners are more particular about Cuban guests signing in than others. It is probably best for your own safety and protection to get the ID and sign in — this way, the Cuban hustler or guest is less likely to do anything like rob or maim you, knowing that la policia could cause them grief. The boys don’t even like walking with foreigners on the street, as this could create suspicion and harassment from la policia. In any event, my experiences have been that casa hosts and police are much more on the lookout for female prostitutes, trans prostitutes and underage sex trafficking than male-male visitors. So, make sure they have their ID, get a copy and a willing casa and you should be okay.

The kilo (or quilo) restaurants are everywhere. They are buffet-style and the cost is by the pound (or kilo). Just Google “kilo / quilo restaurant Copacabana / Ipanema”. Names escape me but two off the top of my head because they were close to where I have stayed are: Temperarte Posto 6 on Nossa Senhora in Copa, and Fronteira on Rua Visconte in Ipanema. There is also a good kilo on Sigueira Campos, the same street as Point 202, but about a 7-10 minute walk east from it. But the name escapes me. I’m sure Google knows.

Get yourself an additional casa particular or arrange a room at a casa where the host doesn’t mind guests having Cuban “visitors” (check with the host in advance). You can also just wait until you get to Cuba and ask around — there are plenty of Cubans that are renting apartments and rooms as a side hustle, and many don’t mind if the foreigners have Cuban guests (with restrictions, usually they must present their ID and the name must be written in a book, by Cuban law). Cuban locals are restricted from visiting hotels. Also, if you’re American, be extra careful about going to Cuba as a “tourist”. Follow the regulations and be sure to leave a paper trail of your accepted activities.

If you are trying to save money on food and want to eat like a true Brazilian, avoid most tourist-trap, Euro-American styles restaurants (many in Copa and Ipanema) and hit the kilo restaurants — where food is charged by the pound. Some are pricier than others, but the locals know the better, less expensive ones. A good, hearty, tasty meal can be had at a kilo restaurant for much less than $40 USD for 2 people — I’d say half that price.

Personally, I would only give contact info on a good apartment to a friend or someone I trust, and not just to some rando on a message board on the Internet. When they might book the place is not my greatest concern. What I’m more cautious about is how they might treat the place or how they might abuse the unspoken or spoken rules of the place — which could affect others’ ability to rent that place freely in the future. If I know you and trust you, then sure. If not, then do your research like everyone else. So, I guess I treat this info about apartments the same as I do for men that I might meet. I have become fairly good friends with the owner of one of the places I rent regularly in Ipanema. If I were to recommend his place to someone, and that someone abused the place or caused grief, my chances of staying there again would be diminished. And the only response I’d have is, “I didn’t know the guy either. He was just some rando on the Internet!”

Yes, I moved to NYC in 1994, Guiliani’s first year as Mayor. I had visited, each for a week at a time, once a year starting in 1991, I believe, and each time, I had hit the scene. By the close of 1995, I think, Show Palace and Cats were no more. Rounds closed near the end of 1994. Only Stella’s, The Gaiety and that peep show for hustler trade on 8th Ave. & 34th raged on until their bitter ends.

Rounds was phenomenal. I caught the last year or so of it. I had just come from London and was working as a newbie on Wall Street. The men for hire were top shelf. Some were top fashion models, aspiring actors, competitive and semi-pro bodybuilders and athletes. As mentioned above, Calvin Klein was a regular patron. The description of Rounds in the article is wholly inaccurate and does not even do it the justice it deserves. Cats and The Show Palace (not Show World, as the article states in the honorable mentions) were THE places for free and paid for black and Latino hustler trade. Then, those places were later replaced or surpassed by Stella’s and the peep show on 34th and 8th — which eventually were closed by the early to mid 2000s as well. Nothing has replaced them since. There were several video stores and movie houses along Christopher Street and West Side Highway in the Village that had similarly, more streetwise action. Those places were all gone by 2000 or so. That gayborhood has been replaced by nannies with baby carriages. As property values in NYC have skyrocketed, the sexual energy of the city has inversely diminished. The City is now just a sanitized bore.

If you really like him, and you aren’t already married on paper, you can do a K-1 90-Day Fiancé visa. He will be allowed to stay in the USA for only 90 days as your fiancé. If you do not marry him before the 90th day in the USA, his visa has expired and he has overstayed. He will have no other legal options to stay or convert that visa to a legal one other than a marriage to you, that particular sponsor. It would take about 6 months for approval of the K-1 and it does require an application, proof of a previous relationship in person, and an interview of the foreigner at the embassy or consulate. There is even a reality show about the 90-Day Fiancé visa.

No more fun sleaze left in NYC. You can thank Guiliani for its Disney-fication.

The one and only time I visited Chili Pepper, there were fugly trannies (or tranny-looking guys) there. I didn’t see any attractive guys so I left quickly. i an curious to learn if others had a better experience.

And for real sleaze a la Bar Fama, the Show Palace. Fuck Giuliani. I’m sure our paths have crossed. As it seems that our tastes differ, we probably didn’t share any DNA samples.

Personally, I don’t consider the Arouche / Republica area all that “rough” although it is a bit dodgy — and your safety, or rather, your semblance of it, may depend upon how well it looks like you “fit in” to the environment (i.e., older, conservative white or Asian guys probably should just take taxis). Yeah, the Largo Do Arouche area around Praça do Republica is a mix of street people, trannies and gay bars, and the less initiated should proceed with caution — especially when traveling alone late at night. The area reminds me of late 80s to early 90s Times Square seediness or maybe even mid 90s pre-gentrified West Side Highway / Meat Packing Didtrict New York area. Not really for the squeamish but those who look the part and have their wits about them should be fine. Others — cab it. There are some good hotels around Republica Park as well as good AirBnB apartments, and the Republica metro is commonly used. But again, your mileage may vary.

There are 3 guys at 202 from recent years who obviously inject synthetic oil into their muscles to make them look bigger. One is the above mentioned and pictured Joey. BTW, Joey is much bigger now than in those above photos, due to the odd synthol injections. Another is a tall guy who goes by Carlos who is about 6’4 - 6’5. I believe that he got into a fight with either another garoto or an employee at 202 a few years back and was never allowed to work there again. I have always found him to be a nice guy — at least he was nice to me, but I guess he does have a temper issue, apparently. The other is a garoto who is about 5’10 and goes by or went by Marcos. I don’t think he works there anymore, but with these boys, you never know. Times are hard in Brazil. I don’t post photos. Personal policy.

Yes, Brazil started requiring a fingerprinted and photograph visa for US travelers sometime around 2002 when W’s administration instituted such a tightened visa requirement for Brazilians to enter the USA after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, stating that there was terrorism activity in and around the Brazilian borders (if this makes little sense to you — you aren’t alone). I completely understand the reasoning behind reciprocity as it is meant to treat other countries the way that they treat Brazil, which can be demeaning and like third-class citizens. Unfortunately, this show of pride does not put food on the table during a major economic downturn. Brazil completely waived tourist visa requirements for US citizens during a 6-month period for the Rio Olympics, and I believe for the World Cup, too. I am not keen on seeing an influx of fat obnoxious entitled-acting pasty-white Wal-Mart-shopping American tourists in Brazil. One of the reasons I go is to escape them! However, if it helps the Brazilian country and its people, then I am for the change.

What would probably exponentially increase US tourism to Brazil is the elimination of the required tourist visa.

Is Lagoa in São Paulo still doing the Wednesday special and attracting fairly big Wednesday crowds?

Most of the clients of garotos and escorts are married or in relationships.

If you have an expired US driver’s license, use that. Very few in Brazil will know or care that it is expired, and if you lose it or it is stolen, it won’t matter because it’s expired.

Nothing on the Internet remains private.

I was always taught to give gifts from the heart, without any expectations in return and without any conditions attached to them. If you are reluctant to give a gift because you are unsure of how it will be received, what the receiver will use it for, or what the receiver might give you in return, then you are probably better off not gifting anything — just keep your relationships purely transactional and call it a day. I would think that this rule would apply to any relationship — including even employer — employee, or contractor-contractee relationships like garoto-client or hustler-trick.

Havana, Cuba is probably the safest city to visit in the Western Hemisphere. Cubans aren’t trying to get thrown in Cuban jails — and crimes against tourists are taken more seriously because the government doesn’t want the bad publicity. That being said, doing something in public that is illegal or frowned upon can easily get you locked up, even as a tourist. So, don’t be stupid. No public sex, no drugs, no porn and no obvious solicitations. Hotels do not allow Cuban visitors. Get a casa particular or rent a room in a casa where the owner or landlord allows in advance Cubans to visit, The law there requires all casas to register all visitors, whether tourists or Cuban, in a book at the house, and ID must be shown. This is usually just an informal book, like the kind you’d see at a wedding reception or a funeral. BTW, if you’re American, most hotels are now off limits, because they’re state-owned or operated. Trump has banned this. Another reason to stay at a casa particular — they are all privately-owned.

Look, I have never been a Meio Mundo fan because my type tends not to be there, so unless that sauna is an option for you, your two choices for garotos are 117 and 202. I’ve never had a problem hitting both on slower nights.