SolaceSoul

My somewhat funny Love Tine story involves me telling one garoto at 117 that I really, really liked that I wanted him to come by my room at Love Time later. Another garoto that I was not attracted to at all was eavesdropping on our conversation. Later, he showed up at the front desk asking for me. I went downstairs thinking that it was the hot garoto and it was this annoying, not hot obe. He told me that the hot one sent him in his place! I told him that I didn't care who sent you here, I'm sending you back! I ran into the hot garoto a few weeks later and he told me that the not hot garoto told him that night that I told him to relay the message that I changed my mind! What a crafty queen he was. I suppose those are the tricks one must resort to when you are not so hot.

The aptly-named Love Time Hotel in Rio, in Copa across from the Gloria metro station, and right around the corner from Club 117, the games garoto sauna, is probably your best bet in Rio. It's known for and marketed to adults going for hookups or "romantic getaways", the security is goid and the rooms are not that shabby. I believe they may only require local guests to be signed in by the hotel guest with their Brazilian ID -- if that at all. They do require anyone staying at the hotel not accompanied by the hotel guest to call up from the front desk before they are allowed to go up -- or the guest may have to go down to the front desk to sign them in. I have never had a problem. In Sampa, I recommend Bourbon São Paulo Express Business Hotel, in República, which is one block from the Republica metro station and in or around a somewhat active but low-budget gay scene, and in an area of the city with a lot of business and pleasure activity (but as always, be cautious where you venture). The hotel has never minded much when I bring back a guest, and has even sent pay boys / escorts up to my room without first having to announce them or sign them in. Good luck and as always, use common sense and good judgment.

Circumcision in Brasil is also something that, if done at all, would be done in upper-class, European-centric families. The upper socioeconomic class guys tend NOT to be the ones working at the saunas. So your chances are probably better locating a pink unicorn.

Personally, I'm extremely selective on travel partners and housemates -- especially on trips where a lot of sex will be involved. One wrong travel mate or housemate can fuck up the entire trip. And honestly, when I go on vacation to another country, I'm not very interested in socializing with other Americans. Getting away from them is half the fun. So, that's a no from me. Good luck to you.

Your mileage may vary, but for the type of men that I prefer, which are more muscular men, Lagoa is on par with 117, and the facilities are top notch. Fragata is more like Meio Mundo in terms of garoto and facilities quality. I usually go there once during a Sampa trip, and I have maybe met 3 memorable guys there, of all the times I've been.

Just for clarification, the garotos at 117 also are allowed to roam around the client's locker room and some watch you change it try to start a conversation and even hock their wares. Personally, I don't mind it at all. I actually like it. Especially if it's a garoto that is just my type! I don't find it bothersome and I've never once been disrespected.

You're probably better off visiting Porto Alegre, a city in the south of Brazil. The whiter, more European-looking Brasileiros live there.

Property rights in Brazil in general are complex. The titles in favela home ownership are often very murky, if not practically nonexistent. The very origin of the favela involves providing substandard housing for impoverished citizens in previously undesired hilltops. Favela home rights are usually not really considered land rights but roof rights. But it's definitely being done. If you don't want to take my word for it, you're welcome to read these articles in trusted Eurocentric periodicals, safe for gringo consumption: https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2013/jan/23/rio-favela-real-estate https://amp.ft.com/content/5a4c57ea-1612-11e3-a57d-00144feabdc0 http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-real-estate/favela-homes-one-layer-at-a-time/ http://www.foxnews.com/real-estate/2013/01/13/rio-de-janeiro-slums-from-no-go-to-must-buy.amp.html http://www.businessinsider.com/rio-favela-transformed-into-prime-real-estate-2013-1

With that being said, some of the safer favelas near tourist areas in Rio and São Paulo are going through gentrification. Some attempts are being made by ruthless, risky pioneer investors to navigate the complicated processes of favela home purchase, and they are grabbing some of the best views of the city. I recently looked at a place for sale in Vidigal, the favela just west of upscale Leblon, the community right next to Ipanema. David Beckham and supposedly Madonna already bought properties at the top of the favela hill in Vidigal, and trendy restaurants and bars have also opened. Of course, there's also the minor problem of sewage and water piping for you to resolve as a buyer --- and then there's possible resentment from longterm favela residents who feel they may be ignored or even worse, pushed out. There are other favelas in or near Rio's Zona Sul, like Rocinha further west of Vidagal, Cantagalo near Lagoa and Copa, and Santa Marta near Botafogo, that have mostly gotten rid of the drug trafficking and are ripe for home purchase or rental. There are even several favela apartments for vacation rent on AirBnB.

The second guy's latest pic looks like he would win a "Most Changed" award at any 10-year high school reunion in the Midwest USA. The other two seemed to have aged very well.

Remember that after reading every fortune, you must add "in bed"!

It has been said countless times here (by me, and others) that one doesn't have to be fluent in the language. One only needs to try, and do it with kindness and humility. To not do so makes one a "colonialist dickhead" (which, by the way, is far less preferable to me than being a snarky asshole on a message board to someone who is -- but your mileage may vary). I've mentioned here before that I had a fellow American travel buddy (R.I.P.) who knew no other language but English. He had the most magnetic personality of almost anyone I'd ever met -- not to mention he had male supermodel looks and build. He would make feeble attempts at communicating in a foreign language, but mostly he would flash his pearly whites and everyone, male and female, would melt and be impresssed with his lame attempts at communication. HE could get away with it. Mere mortals without these demidog-like looks and charm should probably not try this method. Make an attempt at communicating with the locals in their language -- even if it's just a few key words and phrases. Otherwise, get a guide or a translator.

A once-in-a-lifetime bucket list trip? A trip done before you die? Then, by all means, book that trip to Brazil now.

Thanks you, Bobb. The irony of this dickweed troll calling me a professional victim, while contorting himself into a pretzel about how his "mind works" only to allow him to learn English and an intermediate level of another language, is just delicious. There are tribal West Africans who know six or seven languages. I've interviewed Chinese immigrants who knew Cantonese and Mandarin, and learned English and Spanish within a few years of emigrating to North America. I meet Brazilians who speak Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, French and Spanish. I have a tenant whose principal language is French and his second language is German. He moved to the USA and now speaks English at more than an intermediate level. He can pat yourself on the back for his mediocrity, yet use the "victim" label for others. Trumpian, indeed.

Says the guy who admits that he isn't capable of keeping more than one language in his head at a time.

.... and THIS is why you really are a dickhead.

Considering that I am American myself, and biracial with a family tree that resulted forcibly from colonial dickheads, I think I've more than earned the right to call out colonial dickheadism when I see it. If you don't want to be called a dickhead, then the simple solution is just don't do dickheadish things. If the term does not apply to you, then it would not matter. But a hit dog will holler.

Tom: I know the second guy in the photos fairly well. I last saw him in June 2015.

Kevin's attempt at snark not only missed the mark, but also wasn't factual. Most of the men and women that I know who partake in sex tourism are also well-versed in politics, world affairs, the arts and culture. The two things are not mutually exclusive.

Some people can actually do both. Some know how to walk and chew gum at the same time.

To each his own, because I'm much more into bodies and will take an awesome god -like body with a face only a mother can love over just a "cute face" any day of the week.

In those rare instances, they would be killed or left for dead and their organs stolen. There wouldn't be any waking up in a bathtub in a block of ice or in a hospital wth your kidney stolen. Again, what article did you read?

Did you bother to read the article in the link you posted? The article clearly states that what you described was more of an urban legend, but organ harvesting occurs at the hospital and medical level, with volunteers willing to sell their organs, or organs taken from dead bodies in morgues, mortuaries, crime scenes and war fields.

I like both sides of Pedro. I don't think he has a bad side.

There's been spotty wifi for about a year now. You'll see all the people acting like zombies in the wifi spots in public squares.