SolaceSoul

No one at the sauna is going to take issue with only stage performers being filmed / photographed while on stage. My comment above was about snapping photos of garotos or clients being inside the sauna (unless it’s inside a suite). a snapshot inside the non-private area of the sauna could (whether intentionally or not) also capture background subjects that can be identified. With facial recognition technology having been almost perfected, it’s obviously a major privacy concern. At least one of the major Brazilian saunas has (or had) a notice on the wall prohibiting the use of cell phones for taking photos.

Taking photos inside the saunas are strictly prohibited. Violators can get themselves ejected and even banned — especially if the subject of the photo is a client or a garoto. I suppose if you took a photo inside a private suite with the other party’s consent, that would be fine. The only other photos taken are the ones of the show participants -/ drag queens and gogo boys, thst end up posted on the sauna’s social media pages and websites. You can still carry around your phone to use translator apps, store contact information and send / check messages. That’s quite common.

Like in the States or in any gay nightclub/bar/circuit scene, just as I tend to avoid hard / recreational drug users, they tend to avoid me as well. Like attracts like. I’ve managed to visit Brazil regularly for 12 years now and have not had one experience with a garoto using anything “harder” than smoking weed in my presence (although I have been asked by a few before, I always decline and let them know it’s not my thing). The beach scene is also rife with drug offers, and easy to find, or turn down / avoid, if you so choose.

Just be careful bringing the poppers with amyl nitrate into Brazil or having possession of them in the country. Unlike in most parts of the USA, poppers made out of anyone nitrate are a controlled substance. Amyl Nitrite is a drug that requires a prescription in Brazil. Attempts to bring them into the country or even possession could result in jail / prison time and deportation. “Could” doesn’t necessarily mean “will”, though.

Pix is basically the Brazilian version of Zelle. It does money transfers from one Brazilian bank account to the next, for those who have signed up for the Pix service. Like with Zelle, each person’s bank account can be linked to one ID form — the CPF number (similar to our Social Security Number), an email address or a (possibly Brazilian-only) telephone number. Like with Zelle, the money transfers almost immediately and there is no fee to the sender or receiver. Brasileiros love it. Ir might be a bit difficult for a non-Portuguese speaker to set up a Bradesco account, particularly if you’re not trying to do it in person, and don’t have a Brazilian ID. A workaround is to sign up for and use the Remitly app. It will link your US bank account to their service, and they will use their Brazilian bank to send your funds to your favorite Brasileiro amigo or garoto’s bank account, using his preferred ID information. It has two delivery options: express (same day) for a $5.99 fee, and normal 3-5 business day delivery for $1.99. All of this can be done from any location and on your phone or laptop.

I have literally watched a very elderly client — he looked to be in his 90s — with an oxygen tank being carried up to a suite in a sauna before. God bless him. Money is the great equalizer in this scene. If you’re paying, you suddenly look like Nick Jonas, Idris Elba or George Clooney.

I also prefer to stay in República, but it might be considered too dangerous, grimy and seedy for many other people’s tastes. It reminds me of old school Times Square, pre-Guiliani. I personally don’t ever want it to change, but it is going through a bit of a rapid gentrification period — so all the fun might be over soon. When the seedy bars, video booth shops, street hustlers and hooker trannies are replaced with avocado bars and cupcake shops — then you’ll know it’s over.

There are love hotels designed just for this purpose — a few are in Copacabana. I have never heard of one in Ipanema or Leblon, but I know there’s one past Leblon going toward Vidigal. Plenty of them in Gloria and Centro.

Arpoador is a great scenic location choice. Their beach post is Posto 7, so you’re right down the beach street from the main gay friendly beach area between Postos 8 & 9.

Rio used to have more cruisy spots (in the same vein of the 70s / 80s / early 90s American gay cruising scene) but it really isn’t the city for that kind of scene anymore. São Paulo rules the roost in that area. In Rio, you now have Sexy Rose in Cinelândia, which is an odd combination XXX video booth / dark room / drag show / gogo show place. It’s next door neighbor is an old school adult theatre, very dark where mostly very bland looking and older patrons and a few low-budget street hustlers are available. I think it’s called Cine Rex, but not sure. There used to be a Seven Cruising Bar in Centro that stayed open until 10 pm, but I’m not sure if it shut down due to the pandemic. Google Maps says it’s open, but I would still check other sources before venturing out there. Rio is a big beach culture. If you are able to learn the delicate art of beach cruising, and you don’t stick out like a swollen sore thumb, then it could take you a long way. Check the areas along Ipanema Beach with the pride flags and go from there. That’s all I have for you. If anyone else has something RECENT and UP TO DATE to contribute, I’m all ears.

Carnaval is the most expensive hotel / AirBnB time of the year in Rio. If you’re booking just for that period, expect to pay more — a lot more.

You’re reporting “pre-pandemic”, even if that was just a few years ago. There are several posters here (and in other recent threads) who are reporting their current experiences with garoto pricing in real time. To put it in better perspective, today 100 Brazilian reais is worth only 22 CAD or $17.50 USD. There are probably a few at 202 (more likely) than at 117 (less likely) that you could talk down to 100 reais, but the question is: why would someone (a traveling client, not a local) want to?

It’s definitely safer to hook up with an unknown garoto at a sauna than at your hotel or apartment, but another option is to get a room at a love hotel for the deed — they are all over the cities and towns in Brazil and all the locals use them for their extramarital affairs and hookers. Pulling an unknown worker from the sauna and taking him back to your place is not a suggested move. But then again, it might be just as “safe” as hiring an unknown from an online ad. Russian Roulette, either way. Your call. The saunas work great as a launching pad and testing site for the guys. After dealing with them a couple of times, an invite back might prove to be safer. But if you’re a tourist who’s only there for a week, I realize you don’t have that much time. Some guys like the overnight as part of their “BFE”. If someone up to no good knows you’re only there for a few days, and they’re in your place with all your stuff, that’s just a recipe for disaster — sooner or later. It’s against Brazilian law (punishable by jail and fines) to post photos of someone online without his or he consent. If it’s a site with adult content or of a sexual nature, the penalties can be even more severe (call it a twist on Latin pride). It’s also just in bad form and poor taste. But that doesn’t seem to stop some people! I would privately message some posters you know and like who are frequently in Rio with his photo and ask them if they have any leads. Or ask other GPs from the saunas in Rio in WhatsApp. A lot of them are friends with each other and may keep in touch even after retirement.

Sign up here then go to your appointment at one of these pharmacy branches, Droga Raia : https://www.drogaraia.com.br/agendamento/covid19/ Or this one, Drogasmil: https://www.drogasmil.com.br/servicos/teste-de-covid

Wednesday night is currently Point 202’s best and busiest night. Club 117 on a Wednesday is going to be slow or just completely dead. Thursday is going to be meh at either sauna, so pick your poison and expect a slow night.

Overnight rates vary wildly. It really depends on the garoto and sometimes, the nature of the relationship with the client. A little of it (but not much) has to do with negotiating skills. I’ve seen as low as 200 reais (rare), and as high as 2500 reais (also rare). You just have to decide what you’re willing to pay and if it’s not in that range, be okay with walking away. Some advertising garotos indicate on their ads (Viva Local, Garoto Com Local) what their overnight prices are. That would be a good place to start to get a general sense of overnight pricing.

I’m taking a guess here. But since the CDC vaccine card is acceptable for entry into indoor spaces in Rio, the original CDC card should also be acceptable to board at passport control / for travel from USA to Brazil. I would bring the original for boarding, and use a digital copy on the phone for entry into indoor spaces once in Brazil.

A Supreme Court judge in Brazil has ruled that foreign visitors will need to provide a Covid-19 vaccination certificate to enter the country. The ruling invalidates regulations issued previously by the national health agency demanding only a negative PCR test for foreign arrivals. The judge said it would be impossible to check all visitors and prevent the spread of the new Omicron variant. Lenient measures had made the country popular among non-vaccinated tourists. The ruling is seen as another defeat for President Jair Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly undermined efforts to control the spread of the virus in one of the world's hardest-hit countries by the pandemic. The president, who says he has not been vaccinated, had denied requests of the health agency Anvisa to demand vaccination proof from visitors. Judge Luís Roberto Barroso said exceptions would be made for those coming from countries that had been unable to vaccinate most of their populations. They will need to quarantine on arrival for five days. It is not yet clear when the new requirements will be introduced. The announcement comes ahead of the country's busy summer season, with cities hosting popular New Year's Eve parties and Carnival parades. But several celebrations have already been cancelled because of the Omicron variant. In Rio de Janeiro, the famous fireworks display at Copacabana beach on 31 December has been called off for the second year in a row. Since the start of the pandemic, Brazil has reported 22 million Covid-19 infections and 616,000 deaths. About 65% of the population has been fully vaccinated. The country has confirmed four cases of the new Omicron variant. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-59625304

My current experience and observations (indoor restaurants, stores, coffee shops) has been that digital copies of North American and European vaccination certificates are being accepted for entry into these establishments. Laymen, not experts, are at the doors reviewing these cards. Most of them might not even be able to read or understand English. That being said, it’s still being required — whether some establishments are only enforcing it randomly or not. My sauna experience was that I and my friends were asked for the card the first day of enforcement )Monday at 202, then Tuesday at 117). Then, we were never asked again. But that could be attributed to familiarity — the persons at the front counter already knew my (and my friends’) vaccine cards had been previously verified days before. I don’t recommend trying to circumvent the regulation with.a fake card, especially when it’s so easy just to make a digital copy of your teal one and keep it on your phone.

Your card from the USA is fine. You can use the copy of it on your phone. No need to carry the original around everywhere in Rio and risk losing it.

Expect Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to be (relatively) empty of sauna GPs. One of the saunas normally closes on both of those days and I think both are normally closed on Christmas Day. However, as these days fall on a Friday and Saturday this year, that might change. The rest of that time period will be business as usual — not any more or any less crowded than usual in December. Some (but not a sizable amount of) Carioca working guys and local clients leave Rio for the holidays to visit family in other parts of the country.

FYI, all indoor spaces in Rio now require showing a COVID vaccination card to enter. This includes the saunas. Both 202 and 117 started enforcing this requirement on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. This applies to clients, sauna workers and garotos. A digital copy of your proof of vaccination card on your phone is acceptable. Don’t leave home without it — unless you plan to spend all of your time in Rio in outdoor spaces.

I can verify that this is really a thing. In Braxil, it’s called an “arrastão”, when a robbery is quivkky done by a big group targeting many people or places in the same facility. This kind of arrastão is quite common at the tunnels on the NW end of Lagoa that go under the mountains and forest with Christ The Redeemer, and less common (although they do happen) at the Alvim Tunnel that runs under the Cantagalo favela, connecting Copacabana and Ipanema. I have been re-routed twice and Brazilian and expat friends of mine have gotten caught in an Uber in those robbery raids (they quickly hid their smartphones in a floor compartment, took out some several hundred Brazilian reais and handed it to the armed robbers when approached). they’re not trying to kill or harm anyone. They just want a quick grab. But they will kill or hurt if you resist. “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas, anymore.”

Delta had already started canceling many of its ATL to São Paulo flights for the remsibder of this year. The Delta flight to Rio from ATL for the last few years went straight to GRU in SP then a change of planes to SDU in Rio.

Is Brazil dangerous? Yes and no. Eventually, everyone from tourists to locals “gets got” somehow in the major cities of Brazil — yes, even those of us who “look the part” of a brasileiro. I am referring to anything from petty theft to violent crime. The ones who say it’s never happened to them have just been fortunate thus far or are have not had enough visits to be broken in this way. Tourist areas in Rio especially are major targets for petty theft. The young guys are the best at it. Smart phones are the biggest, quickest and easiest targets. Never, ever, ever have one of those out or within reach. Necklaces are easy to cut from the back or just snatch and grab. If you like your ear lobes, I suggest not wearing your earrings. There is a saying in Brazilian Portuguese that translates in English as “the finger is more valuable to you than the ring.” In this respect, I’d compare the Brazilian cities to maybe 70s or 80s New York City — when almost everyone, from locals to visitors, experienced or witnessed some form of street crime. But is Rio or São Paulo as bad or as dangerous as, say, Lagos, Nigeria or Kingston, Jamaica? Of course not.