Riobard

What a small world! I was walking the short block to my regular kilo place minutes ago, which incidentally has fallen on hard times, I suppose, at it is finished. This is in the middle of nowhere in Catete. But I bump into Victor (!!!) in an orange T, not his usual club white, ask him what I already know [how are things at PNT202], and he told me about the where and what of his current employment around the corner towards the Flamengo shore area. He was evidently leaving work. This is using my broken Sportuguese. He perhaps did not know how to place me other than my mentioning the massage features at PNT. But a cutie like him must have to adjust to being known by hordes of visitors as a popular Venezuelan lad about town.

Hahahaha ... I am going to play Diva and ask for more compensation for that info. After all, one of the guys played Heva, as in straight full-of-himself pissy 'tude about the choreographic sidedishes he wanted xtra cash for. This theme has been also mentioned by the erstwhile @sanddunes a while back. But actually I am stalling because I would not characterize it as having been "stud heaven". Need to pick and choose my words carefully. Some board members may have been alternating full layout and reverse pike position backflips at the sight of the merchandize had they been there. One must be sensitive and judicious, no?

I will post some Paraty pics soon. But the excitement today was going into Rio by bus. About 45 minutes out, the bus stopped, the driver quickly said something and everybody started lying down on the floor out of line of the windows. Must have been an alert related to some action between the good guys and bad guys. After about 15 minutes the bus carried on and we all got back into our seats. The trip was 4.75 hours, about 75 reais. Beautiful scenery combining the Serra do Mar rainforested range and the jagged coastline down below with seemingly endless coves and offshore islets.

I take it back ... I did have a room one occasion last week for 15. It is also on my tab photo above. It had linens. Maybe it was a special rate that night. The point is that the 15 price room that night was just as functional for my needs as was the 55 room the same night!

Oh, OK ... actually in retrosepect I did not use these and they were 30 on a Sunday ... I don't know about Fri/Sat. I think they were free one day ... I cannot keep up and I give up on accuracy

PS: on the first tab, notice I took a 55 value room when a 15 room without shower would have been perfectly adequate. In fact, the weather was cold and the more expensive room was chillier due to a window.

Examples of valor tally at Lagoa ... I post these because the room prices are confusing and seem to change with each day of the week, notwithstanding Specials. That is, any two days where you would expect the same rates might actually be different. I only thought to capture the price poster on the last day. Also, the prices now include (or, in contrast to other clubs, now include) differentiation between 30 and 60 minutes. On the last day, 60% of room options were for the full hour! None of this is clearly delineated on the website. I don't know how the time frames translate into Garoto paycheques. I got a little fed up on trying to tie the two variables together. I did some of both room temporal lengths. None of the guys mentioned that they should be compensated more for longer duration, even though they witnessed me pointing to the relevant option on the poster when acquiring the key ... they did not "watch the clock" or quibble.

I decided to pass on the frango pastel and duck à l'orange after observing these cutenesses at one of the rest stops along the way.

Bus to Paraty, 7.5 hours including two 25 minute snack breaks, a little bit of construction delay, slower and winding but pretty views once reaching the coastal mountains. R$85. Best to sit on the right side for views (departing SP). Apparently getting to Rio will be much faster. These flip-down calf rests are new to me. The fellow across the aisle reps the incline fairly well.

Wellington at Clube 117 knows what he is doing. I have a spasm-prone dorsum, so somewhat of an aficionado. If his # is still active, I have +55(21)997694651 (Whatsapp). He was (and is?) also able to accommodate outcalls with a portable table.

Thanks for the catch ... yes, you are correct; GRU. And the Über was essentially only two American bits per minute. To add, I got on at Paulista Metro recently where the Yellow and Green line intersect. Without hauling baggage it took at least 10 minutes to get to the Green track platform ... it seemed endless. Depending on the street entrance location, sometimes these line transfers can be daunting. In contrast, zipping up the Blue line,with luggage, from Santa Cruz to the Rodoviaria at Portuguesa-Tiete was a cinch. BTW, Not that it would likely be of much use to us, but Line 5 (Lilac) is being extended to Santa Cruz. The station is already cray-cray congested ... swarms of human automotons to mow you down against your direction.

One cannot always rely on the axiom "A picture is worth a thousand words."

I am off to Paraty early Monday morning for a brief visit. Figured this was a simpler way to make my way to Rio de Janeiro, as Paraty is equidistant from São Paulo. I had planned a return excursion from Rio one day, so this essentially saves a plane ticket from SP to Rio in the end. I need to reflect a little more on my recent visits to Lagoa over this holiday weekend prior to penning a few lines about it. This is my third local visit in 32 months, with about 8 attendances at this establishment. I think that supports the notion of a fair college try at objectivity, and enough material to make somewhat of an overall personal judgement. ... TBC.

At Clube 117 there is one pro masseur each shift. 70 reais for half hour; 100 for full hour, added to tab. Tip in cash if you like. Sex off limits. I believe the negotiating of what happens with masseurs at Pnt 202 may be more "fluid".

A gay establishment? With floor tiles and tablecloths clashing like that!?

Since it is essentially our cash trickling down into those pockets I think we deserve a token annual meet-greet-and-blow-meat mutual appreciation day at those very pockets in the nearby Pedro Américo precinct!

Symbolic hint, from Consolation Cemetery, no less ...

The above sights all walkable from Sé and then west to Paulista station, took a few hours in all. Nice that it was sunny but cool compared to Jan 2106 40degreesCelsius when I simply passed on the hoofing. Turned my ankle multiple times on uneven grades yesterday even though sensible supportive footwear ... was limping and cursing, but OK now. I realize inquiring minds need to know about other religiously enlightening experiences ... to follow

Church of the Conception (Conceição) ... interior closed Independence Day

São Francisco Assis Church ...

São Bento Monastery ...

São Paulo Cathedral ...

Trying the 4 missed ... as screenshots.

Penthouse apto, quite cheap by North American standards, in Vila Mariana near Santa Cruz Metro and Shopping. 8 minutes to Lagoa. Strict no-guest policy, fine with me. A few shower temp issues ... let the good times roll off your back in scald or frigid cycles. Otherwise the self-cater is great cuz I boil or nuke everything that goes into my gut. Still, my tummy isn't its usual happy self. Fortunately the split has warm and cool, cuz has been chilly in SP. BTW a fleabag-looking love motel exists at 2740 Domingos de Morais, just south of the SC ShopMetro corner. Insanely busy Outback resto at SC, decent grub. The complex has exploded in size and ++++ meal offerings since I explored it 30 months back. Also surprised at the explosion of explicit-GP-agenda Grindr profiles compared to Rio last NoAmer winter. Photos apto exterior, terrace, and nearby Church of Our Lady of Health ... 4/12 refuse to upload!