TotallyOz

> but by definition you can >never be "in love" and eventually you will come to >see that. You had me till this statement. I agreed with most of your post. But, I can be in love no matter what. Perhaps, that love may not be returned but that does not stop the falling in love part. >At that moment, the highest high is reciprocated >only by the lowest low. Oh yes. I remember my departure from him last year. It took a few weeks in the Land of Smiles before I could get back to my usual cheery self. >Good sex, recent >sex, even paid sex is the best tonic for a high school crush! LOL. 100% agree!

>Finally, as many have told me, life is very short (and growing >shorter all the time) There is no time like now to start >living the happiness you deserve for the rest of your life. You are a wise man! Perhaps I say this because I agree with what you say. Thanks.

Thanks for your advice guys. Abandon ship? NEVER. Just picture me as the captain of Titanic. As Leo and lady were leaving the vessel, the captain took the helm and did what most do, they go down with their ship. This guy has been with me 2 nights this week. The first day he left and asked for no money. I offered but he refused. Last night, he said again that he wanted to live with me and be my boyfriend. Perhaps he has bigger dreams than a programa. He is not a sauna boy. He worked there for only a short time. Has had a full-time job for the past 10 months and does not want to give it up. He took holiday during Carnival. I don't know what will happen beyond that. I did offer last year to take care of him and even move here for him. I took a trip down for the move but his family insisted that we live near them. Like, within blocks. That was not something I was capable of doing as they do live where I would want to stay. I let him decide what he wanted and he could not go against the wishes of his family. He told my best friend last night, she speaks the language, that he has regretted that since that day and has tried to get in touch with me for 9 months. He is now ready to move ahead. Again, I am not sure what this means for me. I have a great life in Thailand and don't plan on living in Brazil full-time. Part time? Some time? I don't know. I am simply enjoying my time with him today. I woke up with a smile. He is simply adorable. As Marc Anthony and TY have seen photos, I am sure they can testify to the fact that he is hot. But, that is not all. He is sweet. He is caring and he says he wants to stay with me everyday I am in Brazil. Having been 2 long term (over 4 years each) relationships that started a client/escort, I can say that they do work at times. It is not the norm. Some guys are looking for something other than the hot boynextdoor. Some are looking for a caring loving individual who takes great care of them emotionally and mentally. In both of the longer than 4 year guys, I was poor. I could afford an hour every week or so but could not take care of sometime. They both stayed. They also both left after 4 years. But, in the interim, we had a great time. I am an advocate for always following your brain. If you brain and your heart are ever in synch it is great. It not, there are some decisions to be made. I have a few. But, for today, I will simply bask in the sunlight by the pool with my Latin lover. Sorry, Marc, as you know, if he stays with me, I am less likely to find Eyki for you.

>1) Chain him to the wall with food and bathroom within reach >and never let him go, or > >2) Suspect you are being given a (highly) optimistic estimate >of the time/work involved in such a project. :-) ROFLMAO You are right! How did you know I had the chains?

Club 117 was great today. I got there early and the place was decorated for Carnival. It adds a different feel to the place. Since my last trip, they have also spruced up the place. New couches. New paint. New floors upstairs. It looks good. I met a guy from Curitiba today that was of Italian and Brazilian decent. He was a gem and I had a nice time with him. I got Renaldo to give me a hard deep tissue massage and that really put a great feeling back in my bones. I met several other guys who wanted a programa but I told them I was finished today and had already cum. All politely moved on. Except one. He stayed with me for a bit. Finally, he convinced me to go up. It was without a doubt the best sex I have had on this trip other than my one special guy. He was passionate, aggressive, did what he said and did a great job at it all. Marc Anthony would have died and gone to heaven at 117. Twinks have been there each time I have been there. I had a blast today. My entrance fee, 3 room charges and several drinks turned out to be 85R. Each programa cost 50R plus tip. The massage was 30R plus tip. The taxi ride back to my hotel was a nightmare. The driver spoke no english. He stopped to use the restroom and get gas. He took the long way to the hotel. All in all, it was a 1 1/2 hour trip. Now relaxing in my room, waiting for my friend to appear. Night all!

I have my head on my shoulders when it comes to escorts. I know where I stand. I have been with many over the years and I know the routine. I know how to be a friend and how to be a client. I know the difference between them. I keep my heart separated from a relationship with them. Always! Well, not really. I met a guy on my trip here last year for Carnival and I fell for him bad. He was only at the saunas for a few days on that trip and then took a job full-time. He used the saunas as a go between. He has not been back to them since. When I got to Rio I called him. He was happy I called. He came to see me. I adore him. There is no communication at all between us, as we don’t have a common spoken language. Last year I took him to Carnival and we spent a good fortune on the seats. My hotel wants me to do the same thing this year. I told them it was dependant upon this guy that was on his way to my hotel. As they are the ones that call him for me and translate the conversation, they know me and they know him. Tonight, my interpreter said, “You are in love with him.” “I am not,” I said. “Oh yes you are. Every time he comes, your face lights up. Your demeanor changes and your smile goes from one end of the room to the other.” I love being with escorts. I also love saying goodbye to them at the end of our time. I don’t love saying goodbye to this guy. I am almost in tears as he leaves, as he has to work and support his family. I consider myself a wise client. I am not sure what happened that made me fall off my intelligent ladder and not think with my head. I am quite sure I am thinking with my heart and I am not sure that is a good thing. Don’t get me wrong. There are many escorts that I love. But, I am not in love with them. I am just not sure I am going to be able to distance myself from this one again. Anyone else with similar experiences? Any advice? Oz

If anyone needs a gmail address and does not have access to one, send us an e-mail to: maleescortreview@gmail.com and we will send you an invite. Oz

>I know this may sound a bit trivial, but it means something >to me. About a week ago, I sent a message to the management >through the "contact us" feature. I simply asked if >there was a way to increase the font size when reading this >site as the mice type they use is very hard to read. When I >sent my message, I got confirmation that it was sent and a >message saying a response would be coming very soon. Well, I >am still waiting. > >When I read Oz's complaint about M4M not replying to him when >he asked questions, I was sure that I would get a quick >response as he is part to the management here (I think). But, >nope... nada. So isn't his comments just a little "pot >calling the kettle black"? As I say, my question may not >mean much to him, but it does to me. Just as his questions >to Daddy meant something to him, but I could care less. PS. Here is the response that was given to you via e-mail from TY. Perhaps you can look in your spam box for it? If not there, AOL may have deleted the answer or Hotmail often takes a few days to get through to the system. I know all e-mail for gmail works well so far. Just an FYI. Your Answer Hi, I wondered the same thing as my eyesight is not what it used to be. I suspect that it has to do page fitting all of the information on a standard size webpage. Our pages are heavily loaded with data. I will verify that hypothesis. If you are using Firefox then you can increase font size under the View Meny/Font size. Explorer doesnt allow me to adjust but I will ask tech guys if they can remedy that. Thanks for your inquiry and thanks for your participation. The Management

Ok guys. The programmers have tried to upload new fixes one more time. They asked that we please try the Forum again. If this is not successful, we will go with another forum board software package. I do apologize deeply for this. We had wanted to keep the DCForum but the programmers have now put in over 200 hours on this issue alone. That is about the same cost as it would have been to make the board from scratch. So, please test tonight and if the new updates work, I will party hard in Rio tonight. If they don't, I may party too hard and that is never a pretty sight. Thanks! Oz

If you are on AOL you did not get any response from us at all. It was sent but did not get through. If you sent via the Contact Us link, we responded to it. We respond to all questions. We respond in a timely manner. However, if you did not get a response, send it to maleescortreview@gmail.com and we will answer it. Or, if you really want a public response, post here. I'll respond tonight.

After dinner at Bolinha's last week in Sao Paulo, I wanted to find out more about Brazilian food and its history. As a bit of a food buff, I have always enjoyed learning about different kinds of food and its history. Brazil has a great mixture of past and present in its presentations. I have also been considering a move to Brazil for some time and am down here to learn more about that but also do to some research on all things Brazilian (more on that later). I have had the past few days in Rio to do a lot of work. I have made it to the saunas and so far have hit 4 different ones. I spent most of my day yesterday at 117 and had a good time. Sorry, for the sporatic postings, it is hard to find time down here to get everything I want to accomplished each day done. Oz BRAZILIAN GASTRONOMY – A BRIEF HISTORY The Brazilian culinary is a product of cultural tradition, geography and circumstances of its drastically different regions. The different dishes that today compound what is known as Brazilian Cuisine emerged from the dominant culture present in a region: Portuguese and – mostly -Native Brazilian Indian in the North; a combination of Portuguese, Native Brazilian Indian, and African in the Northeast and part of the Southeast (up to the very south of Minas Gerais); mainly Native Brazilian Indian and Portuguese in the West, and Portuguese and other Europeans (Italians, Germans, Austrians, Russians, Polish, French etc.) from Sao Paulo state to the south border of Rio Grande do Sul. This is not a rigid classification by any means, for in every region there will be a sub-influence of this or that group, collaborating for a different development in the local cuisine, but it is a safe guideline for anyone interested in learning why it is so difficult, if not impossible, to classify under one label, the incredible gastronomic variety available today in Brazil. Before the arrival of the Europeans, the meats consumed by the Indians were whatever was available at their location, like birds (toucans, nhambus, araras, urus), mammals (monkeys, tapirs, capivaras, quatis iraras and deer), besides a huge variety of fish and seafood. Indians didn’t consume water birds, like ducks, due to their beliefs that, if they did, they’d lose their vigor as swimmers. Several travelers reported extensive lists of the Brazilian indigenous fauna, emphasizing, from the beginning, two very important elements in the Native Brazilian Indian diet: corn and mandioca (cassava). Both would be present in the story of European travelers up to the 19th Century, as they would point the several types of uí (cassava flower) available among Indians: carimã, a fine flower; uí-tinga, a white, semi-toasted flower; uiatã, a roughly, dark toasted flower; tipirati, sliced cassava mashed and grinded in a pestle, then left to dry under the sun, and puba flower, made with softened cassava, fermented in water. This reduction technique of food in to flowers was the main resource available to the Indians when it came to food preservation, facilitating its transportation and maintenance in long journeys. Besides the uí, Indians produced other kinds of flowers they called cuí, using other tubercles like the native and much appreciated sweet potato. Even fish would receive similar treatment: after abundant fishing expeditions, the fish would be dried in the moquém (a kind of wooden grill), mashed and grinded in a huge pestle, resulting in what they called piracuí, or fish flower. Indians enjoyed very easy to prepare roasted meats, and also flowers, for they could prepare several dishes with it like pirão (cassava flower mixed with meat broth, until it gets a thick consistency), mingau, a dish with the consistency of a hearty soup and paçoca (dried meats or fish mixed with cassava flower, pressed together until it develops a firm, hard consistency). Almost immediately after their arrival, the Portuguese initiated the domestication of animals and started to raise animals for food, a very important activity in the early days of colonization. The newly discovered world received many exotic animals from Europe: dogs, bovines, pigs, goats, chickens, and horses, all non-existent in the new continent. The Portuguese introduced the cultivation of wheat, barley, rice, sugar cane, besides the costume of maintaining vegetables and fruit gardens. Brought by them also were bacon, condiments (garlic, onions, cumin, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, gergelim, saffron, parsley, olive oil, vinegar etc.), opening new avenues in the processing of foods. From their daily diet they imported their “refogados” and “cozidos” (stews and ragouts), meat and vegetables dishes cooked in generous sautées of garlic, onions, olive oil and other condiments. The African slaves added a twist to the Portuguese “refogado”, by using coconut milk and palm oil, enlarging the possibilities for “cozido” of meat, fish and other seafood. Refogados and cozidos were the embryo of the common feijoada of today, even though until recently the creation of the feijoada was attributed to the African slaves. Actually, in all Latin Europe, dishes prepared by slow cooking meats, poultry and/or fish and seafood, mixed to other ingredients like beans, rice or legumes and vegetables, are common: besides the Portuguese cozido, a mix of several cuts of meat with white beans, legumes and vegetables, we have the cassoulet, in France, the paella in Spain and the bollito in Italy. Africans preferred to cook their beans separately, in order to preserve its original taste, an indication that they would not mix so many different ingredients with beans, resulting in the feijoada (a very hearty stew with several cuts of red meat and pork as main ingredients, cooked slowly with beans and water, seasoned with sea salt, cumin and bay leaves, and a huge amount of sauteed chopped garlic added at the end of the cooking process. Legumes like maxixe – no English translation: a delicious green legume reminding a kiwi in format, with a coarse skin – collard green leaves, jiló (no translation either: a green, round legume with seeds inside, juicy and tart in taste, similar in appearance to the little Asian green eggplant - okra and pieces of pumpkin were frequently added to the mix in the Northeast). The beans used were always in agreement with local preferences and availability: in the Northeast, feijoadas were prepared with “mulatinho” beans, in Rio de Janeiro with black beans, in São Paulo and the rest of the south with “roxinho” beans, though it is more and more common to find the dish prepared in the south also with black beans. Asian in its origins, rice was first cultivated in Europe by Arabs, while the Portuguese transported the grain to Brazil. In the 19th Century, rice was cultivated in the Vale do Ribeira (south shore of São Paulo state, where the land provides enough humidity for its culture) and from there exported to Europe, where it became widely used. The idea of mixing rice with beans emerged first in the south of the country, where it was first cultivated, being introduced much later to the north and northeast, where beans were eaten with cassava flower, dry or fresh meat or fish, until very recently (up to late 1960’s/early 70’s). On the other hand, cassava flower, abundantly used in the north and northeast is not a daily part of the diet in in São Paulo, Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. In those states, cassava flower is used almost exclusively as farofa, a side dish prepared with it, a necessary presence in any minimally decent feijoada. According to researcher Câmara Cascudo, beans became popular almost simultaneously among the northeast cowboys and the bandeirantes paulistas (explorers from São Paulo; groups of bandeirantes would travel to unexplored lands in the country, conducting cattle, looking for gold or precious stones, starting new settlements in order to secure the land against undesirable invasions of territory by foreigners, particularly Spaniards). During their workday and/or excursions to the unknown jungles, cowboys and bandeirantes always carried dry meat (very similar to the American jerk meat), cassava flower and beans, a very easy, almost non-perishable food, also a good source of protein. Bandeirantes planted beans in virtually every new settlement established, and also along their trails, so when they came back it was always possible to have something to eat, in case there was nothing left at the end of their voyages. In the case of the northeast cowboys, besides cassava, beans were one of the few sources of food widely accepted by the dry climate of the region, reason why it was so widely cultivated. In Bahia, particularly in Salvador, the state capital, the West African presence brought about a very unusual gastronomy: religious ritual foods from yorubá tribes that, with the passing of time were incorporated to the local cuisine. Dishes carefully prepared like vatapá, an intricate stew made with fresh and dried shrimps, shrimp shell flour, palm oil and fish (just to name a few ingredients), or amalá (also known as carurú – no English equivalent), made of painfully thin sliced okra, shrimps and palm oil, are known as ritual foods for Yansã (a warrior goddess, the winds are her element) and Xangô (ruler of Justice, god of thunder), respectively. African dishes like these became popular outside the African community, most likely due to its spectacular aroma and delicious taste. One can imagine that, most likely, during colonization, slave owners ended up tasting the African dishes and certainly approved of it – who wouldn’t?... Today, these West African recipes are popular mainly in Salvador, but lately became well known in the majority of state capitals of the country, though variations in recipes were introduced almost everywhere. Other African dishes worth mentioning are the “moquecas”, recipes where the main ingredients are fish and/or seafood, prepared with coconut milk, palm oil and spices. Exclusively found in Bahia, until a hundred years ago or so, these moquecas ended up traveling to other states of the northeast and also to the southeastern Espírito Santo, where their local verson, called “moqueca capixaba” is a source of local pride. To this day the capixabas (inhabitants of Espírito Santo state) claim that they “invented” the moqueca; we should all listen quietly and pretend we believe them!... In other states of the northeast, the forte is seafood, due to its abundant availability, though some types are not found elsewhere, like the very popular sururu, a very small mollusk of unforgettable taste, cooked in a tomato broth and usually served with white rice. Sururu is rarely known outside Pernambuco and bordering states, since it usually occurs in that region only. The north region (states of Amazonas, Acre, Amapá, Pará Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins), with its unusual flora and fauna, and unquestionable Native Brazilian Indian influence in its everyday diet, lends to the country recipes virtually unknown elsewhere like tucupí, a powerful poison extracted from the cassava, boiled for a long time and transformed in to a delicious sauce used to prepare pato (duck) no tucupí, one of the most typical dishes of the region. Another very popular dish in the north is tacacá, an indigenous daily recipe prepared by mixing in a bowl, the yellow tucupí broth, overcooked cassava, dried shrimps and jambu leaves (a delicious vegetable that will mildly numb your lips). Tacacá is so popular up north that it became almost a mandatory ritual during the eternally hot and steamy afternoons of the Amazonian region. A wide variety of fish, many unknown outside the region (pirarucu, tambaqui, tucunaré, jaraqui etc.) are also a daily presence in the local culinary, not exactly a surprise when we consider that the region has over eleven hundred rivers! Common native fruits, unknown until recently to other parts of the country and also outside Brazil are cupuaçú, açaí, burití, beriba and cajá, widely used in the prepare of refreshing juices and desserts. São Paulo and the other southern states (Paraná, Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul) are blessed with the widest variety of foreign influences in its culinary, probably the most obvious example of why it is impossible to determine a gastronomic model that should fit the whole country, a so called Brazilian Culinary. These were the states that received the majority of European immigrants: Germans, Austrians, Italians, Polish, Russians, French, Irish etc., besides the Portuguese colonizer. More recently, the 20th Century saw a huge influx of Asians settling in the region (Japanese, Chinese and Koreans), so its cuisine can provide the best examples of dishes of several nationalities, many of them prepared with a local twist, sometimes the addition or substitution of an ingredient used in the Old Country but not found in the New World. Brazil is a country of continental dimensions with very different cultural influences combined. Its national cuisine can be considered either the indigenous influences, present to this day in the Brazilian tables of the north region, the African dishes, famous in Salvador, the European taste developed in the southern states or a combination of all of the above, without prejudice for its authenticity. cc MaleEscortReview.com 2006

I have been looking for him to no avail. I have 2 good leads and am hoping they pan out. He is a hard one to catch! Oz

I made it to Rio today with my two sexy Brazilian men. We took a car from Sao Paulo as it was much cheaper than a plane. But, never again will I take a car with 3 people and all the luggage. We got to the hotel, went for a swim and ate lunch. We spent most of the afternoon at the pool and then went to Barra Shopping for them to buy some much needed clothes. We went to Curijina's. Tri was not holding court today. I saw few guys I knew. I did meet one guy that I was very attracted to and had him over for a drink. He had a slim, tight body and was very hot. He was 26 and his english was excellent. I did not want to bring anyone back with me so I told him a time to meet me tomorrow at a sauna. We'll see if he comes. Rio is beautiful. I remember why I love it so much. On the way back to the hotel tonight we were met on 2 occassions by cops with machine guys. One pointed at the car until we turned the light on so he could see our faces. I guess staying in Copa would have its advantages.

And, this is for your Portuguese friends! AS ORIGENS DO CARNAVAL O carnaval é, provavelmente, o festival comemorativo mais antigo do mundo. Alguns historiadores sugerem seu surgimento há cerca de 10.000 A.C., na figura das comemorações anuais festejando o equinócio da primavera, a chegada de mais uma estação de plantio. As civilizações antigas do delta do Nilo celebravam a chegada da primavera com rituais de fertilidade, já em 6.000 A.C. Mais tarde, por volta de 4.000 A.C., os festivais anuais em homenagem à deusa Ísis e ao boi Ápis (Egito), Ishtar (Babilônia) e Astarte (Síria) já exibiam certa evidencia de comportamentos carnavalescos, o mesmo podendo ser dito em relação às festividades em homenagem a Herta (Erce, Erta, Berta:- germânico, Erde; latim, Terra, o equivalente teutônico das deidades femininas citadas acima). Herta era celebrada durante o solstício de inverno, um aspecto da deusa talvez comparável ao romano Saturno (Cronos entre os gregos), marcando a passagem do tempo e das estações. Um outro aspecto de Herta, suas qualidades enquanto deusa da fertilidade, protetora das colheitas, era comemorado no equinócio da primavera: Hretmonath, o mês de março, era o mês sagrado de Herta. Durante a antiguidade romana, as Saturnálias, um festival comemorando o solstício de inverno (17 de dezembro para os romanos), teve lugar, pela primeira vez, em 497 A.C. As Saturnálias foram uma das comemorações reconhecidas como precursora do que hoje conhecemos por carnaval. Esse festival foi expandido e reorganizado em 217 A.C., passando a ter lugar entre 17 e 23 de dezembro. Durante os festejos, romanos trocavam presentes de cobre, prata e moedas de ouro, velas vermelhas e doces: “Todos os homens são iguais, sejam escravos ou livres, ricos ou pobres, lado a lado (...). Raiva, ressentimento e ameaças são contrárias à lei.” Durante os primeiros dias das Saturnálias, carros com formatos semelhantes a barcos cruzavam as avenidas de Roma, carregando homens e mulheres nus (primeira versão do atual carro alegórico?...). O carrum navalis pode ter dado origem à palavra carnavalis/carnaval. Restrições eram relaxadas durante esses feriados, onde a ordem social era invertida: até mesmo o jogo era permitido em publico. Um “Senhor da Ausência de Regras” era escolhido (versão atávica do Rei Momo?...); escravos eram tratados como iguais aos homens livres e não trabalhavam durante os festejos, além de serem autorizados a usar dados e, até mesmo a usar as roupas de seus senhores (seria este o costume que daria origem ao uso de fantasias, durante o carnaval?...). Durante os banquetes os escravos eram servidos por seus senhores, um ato reminiscente da extinta (mitológica) Era de Ouro de Saturno: “durante minha semana os sérios são barrados e nenhum tipo de negocio terá lugar. Bebidas, barulho, jogos e dados, eleição de reis e festas de escravos, cantores nus, aplausos de mãos frenéticas... tais são as funções sobre as quais eu presido”. (Lucianus, Saturnália). O deus Saturno identificava-se com o grego Cronos, recebendo sacrifícios de acordo com os rituais gregos, sua cabeça descoberta. Sacrifícios e oferendas eram seguidos por um banquete publico, onde os celebrantes gritavam, agitados, “Yo, Saturnália!”. Em 273 D.C. o imperador romano Aurelianus, convertido em ardente seguidor do deus-sol sírio Baal, decreta que o dia 25 de dezembro deve ser observado como Natalis Solis Invicti, “o nascimento do sol inconquistável”. Mais tarde, já no quarto século D. C., o papa Julius I teve uma idéia brilhante, objetivando obnubilar os importantes festivais pagãos do mês de dezembro: Julius I decreta que Jesus Cristo nasceu em 25 de dezembro, uma data que, daquela época em diante, deveria ser celebrada por todos os cristãos. Ao superimpor o (fictício) nascimento de Cristo às Saturnalias e ao Natalis Solis Invicti romanos, a Igreja tencionava esvaziar as celebrações pagãs, objetivo finalmente conquistado com a passagem dos séculos. Outro festival, as Bacchanálias, comemoradas anualmente em Roma e em outras cidades do Imperio Romano, eram uma celebração em homenagem ao deus Bacchus, deus do vinho e da intoxicação (Dionysius na Grécia). As Bacchanálias foram introduzidas em Roma por volta de 200 A.C., consistindo em orgias onde tudo era permitido. Em seu formato original, as Bacchanálias ocorriam secretamente, durante três dias por ano, por volta de 16 e 17 de março, sendo permitida apenas a participação de mulheres – as bacchantes. Com o passar do tempo, a participação de homens foi liberada. O famoso festival, conhecido por seu caráter sexual e criminoso (todos os tipos de conspirações políticas eram supostamente planejados durante os festejos), termina por ser proibido pelo Senado Romano em 186 A.C. Apesar das punições severas associadas à sua realização, as Bacchanálias continuaram a ocorrer anualmente, no sul da Itália, durante muito tempo depois de sua proibição. Hoje sabemos que ambos, Saturnálias e Bacchanálias, seus principais elementos e intenções, serviram como protótipos para as festividades carnavalescas contemporâneas em todo o mundo. A partir da Penísula Italiana, as Bacchanálias conseguiram sobreviver através da emigração, instalando-se em outras partes da Europa anexadas ao Império Romano, misturando-se a festivais locais de fertilidade, avançando com persistência na Era Cristã, e atingindo seu ápice durante os séculos 14 e 15. Profundamente enraizados em costumes e tradições pagãs milenares, a proibição das mesmas tornou-se virtualmente impossível para a Igreja Católica. O Papado então, como já era de costume (da Igreja), decide aliar-se às mesmas, objetivando controlar suas mais ofensivas manifestações, como o Festival dos Tolos: esse festival incluía blasfêmias, como a personificação de autoridades eclesiásticas, e chacotas da missa. A Igreja Católica conseguiu controlar e dominar a maioria dos festejos carnavalescos da Europa, através da anexação dos mesmos à Quaresma. A Quarta-Feira de Cinzas, primeiro dia da Quaresma, sucede sempre à Terça-Feira Gorda (ou Mardi Gras, para os franceses), o último dia da temporada de carnaval, um lembrete a todos os católicos da necessidade de arrependimento dos “pecados da carne” cometidos durante Carne-Vale (ou ‘carnem levare’, Latim para “adeus à carne”; essa carne alude também aos abusos do sexo, e não apenas à carne de gado consumida durante a alimentação). Os católicos devem, portanto, observar o período da Quaresma, onde durante os quarenta dias que precedem a Páscoa, fica proibido o consumo de carne vermelha, porco, aves e ovos. Isto posto, carnem levare/carnevale pode ser uma outra origem para a palavra Carnaval. Hoje o carnaval é celebrado praticamente em todo o continente Europeu, particularmente na Europa Latina: Itália (Veneza, Foiano, Putignano, Sciacca, Verona, Viareggio); França (Bailleul-Mont-des-Cats, Dunquerque, Granville, Nice, Pau); Portugal (Funchal, Loulé, Torres Vedras, Estoril, Cascais, Batalha, Nazaré, Ovar, Figueira da Foz, Estarreja, Canas de Senhorim, Bragança, Island of Madeira) e Espanha (Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santhiago de Compostela, Sitges, Villanova í La Geltrú). Os outros países europeus comemorando carnaval são Suiça (Basel), Bélgica (Binche), Alemanha (Bremen, Mainz, Munich, Cologne), Áustria (Sillian, Ebensee am Traunsee, Bad Schoenau, Villach, Tirol), Croácia (Rijeka), Hungria (Mohács), Bulgária (Sofia, Pernick) e Reino Unido (chamado Dia da Panqueca, festival anual comemorado em diversas cidades). O Uso de Máscaras no Carnaval Os primeiros registros históricos do uso de máscaras na cultura européia são encontrados na Grécia Antiga, relacionados às festividades em homenagem ao deus Dionysius. Máscaras eram importante elemento do Teatro Grego, introduzidas enquanto representações de arquétipos pré-históricos do inconsciente coletivo: através da mascara, esses arquétipos obtinham licença para assumir forma física, emergindo, portanto, da própria consciência humana. Historicamente, máscaras foram usadas em festivais públicos em toda a Itália, particularmente em Veneza, embora ninguém saiba exatamente quando seu uso tornou-se rotina. O que se sabe e é bem documentado, é que, em 1268, uma ordenança foi aprovada em Veneza regulando o uso de máscaras, evidencia bastante da popularidade de seu uso. Em outros países europeus, o uso de máscaras durante as festividades carnavalescas era comum, principalmente porque muitos dos participantes, particularmente homens e mulheres nobres, não queriam ser reconhecidos por razões mais do que óbvias!... Máscaras eram cuidadosamente elaboradas a partir de papier-maché, e seu uso alastrou-se de tal forma que, já no início do século 15, seus fabricantes conquistaram status de artesãos. Durante a Idade Media, o carnaval popular de rua já fazia parte da cultura folclórica européia. Festivais carnavalescos ocorriam em diferentes épocas do ano, não apenas antes da Quaresma. Nessas ocasiões, bandos de participantes tomavam as ruas, usando máscaras elaboradas, as quais possibilitavam performances, canções politicamente incorretas, e a participação em dramas teatrais realizados em espaços abertos, ao ar livre. Alguns historiadores afirmam que o carnaval floresceu em França como em nenhum outro pais, onde foi utilizado de forma bastante agressiva, como válvula de escape contra a severa realidade de uma vida difícil, permeada por guerras, opressão feudal e epidemias de pestilências. Os franceses passaram a outro estágio quando, em fevereiro de 1580, utilizaram o carnaval para mascarar uma revolta de campesinos em uma cidade chamada Romans, transformando o evento em violento e massivo protesto contra o sistema de coleta de impostos, e o alto custo de produtos alimentícios. Os rebeldes estavam mascarados, mas isto não impediu que fossem mortos por comerciantes disfarçados (fantasiados), que descobriram a conspiração pouco antes que o movimento chegasse às ruas. As festividades terminaram em caos sangrento, misturado ao pânico coletivo, tudo ao som de apropriadas músicas carnavalescas!... O Carnaval foi trazido às Américas por colonizadores, e pode ser encontrado em virtualmente todos os países do Novo Mundo: do Canadá (Quebec, Montreal) aos Estados Unidos (Boston, San Diego, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, New Orleans), América Central e Caribe (praticamente todos os países da região festejam o carnaval), à América do Sul, particularmente o Brasil, onde encontram-se os carnavais mais famosos do mundo. O primeiro carnaval a acontecer em solo brasileiro foi organizado em 1641, pelo governador do Rio de Janeiro, Salvador Benevides, em homenagem ao Rei D. João IV, restaurador do trono português. As festividades duraram uma semana inteira, a partir do Domingo de Páscoa. Houve desfiles de rua, combates, blocos de sujos e mascarados. Outro carnaval importante ocorreu em 1786, coincidindo com as festividades em comemoração ao casamento de D. João e da princesa Carlota Joaquina. Enquanto manifestação popular, sabe-se que o Carnaval aportou no Brasil no século 17, trazido por colonizadores das ilhas Açores e Madeira. Conhecido como Entrudo (:- do Latim introitus = o inicio, a abertura, a inauguração, neste caso o inicio do período de mortificação estabelecido pela Quaresma), versão extremamente violenta das festividades. Durante esse carnaval, era pratica comum entre as populações pobres - a maioria dos participantes à época – atirar lixo, frutas podres, ovos, água suja etc., em seja lá quem se aventurasse a andar pelas ruas. Alguns desses ataques tiveram conseqüencias bastante indesejáveis, inclusive com o registro de mortes de participantes. Já no século 18, o Entrudo acontecia na maioria das cidades brasileiras, mas a violência anexada aos festejos termina por provocar, em 1853, uma ordem imperial proibindo sua realização em todo o pais. O inicio do século 19 encontra a Coroa Portuguesa sendo forçada a transferir-se para o Rio de Janeiro, em virtude da ameaça das Guerras Napoleônicas. Quando Napoleão anuncia sua intenção de anexar Portugal ao império francês, o rei português, D. João VI, decide mudar-se o mais rápido possível, trazendo sua corte paramentos e protocolos reais para o Brasil, evitando assim, humilhante transferência de poder em favor do usurpador. En vogue àquela época, em todas as casas reais européias, estavam a etiqueta e os costumes franceses, incluindo seus luxuosos e comentadíssimos bal masqués, a coqueluche social da aristocracia de França. O primeiro bal masqué/baile de máscaras ocorrido no Brasil teve lugar no Hotel Itália (Rio de Janeiro), em 22 de janeiro de 1840. O preço do convite eram salgados 2.000 réis, incluindo elaborado jantar completo. A partir de então, a ocorrência de bailes de máscaras tornou-se rotina entre a elite colonial brasileira, opção única para as emergentes classes média e alta que queriam participar do carnaval. Os pobres e os escravos continuaram relegados aos entrudos, apesar da proibição, jamais enforçada com rigor pelas autoridades, a exemplo de tantas outras leis vigentes no pais de então ou atual. Entretanto, os entrudos ocorriam de maneira mais civilizada, menos violenta, sendo a única oportunidade de diversão ao alcance da esmagadora maioria da população, composta que era por pobres, escravos e outros marginalizados. Em 1846 o uso de tambores é introduzido nos entrudos por um português conhecido por Zé Pereira (José Paredes), um costume bastante popular em Portugal. A partir de então, o uso de instrumentos musicais passaram a ser norma durante essas comemorações de rua, o que viria a dar origem à organização de escolas de samba, no inicio do século 20. Os primeiros embriões das escolas de samba foram os “cordões”, formados em sua maioria por negros e por brancos pobres, que também terminam por incorporar o costume europeu do uso de fantasias e máscaras durante o carnaval. Outra manifestação organizada por pobres, ansiosos por participarem nas festividades carnavalescas anuais, foi o “rancho”. Tanto os cordões quanto os ranchos terminam por extinguir-se durante os anos 20, à medida em que emergiam as primeiras escolas de samba, hoje marca registrada do carnaval do Rio de Janeiro. Mais tarde, já em 1970, o advento da televisão colorida no Brasil, empresta tremenda publicidade às escolas de samba, tornando evidente, para o governo fluminense, que o carnaval deveria ser utilizado como pólo de atração de turistas, e conseqüentemente, de divisas para o estado. Hoje, não apenas o desfile das escolas de samba é transmitido via satélite para todo o pais, como também o são os espetaculares e nunca menos importantes carnavais de Salvador, Olinda e Recife. O Carnaval e o Movimento Gay Os gays tem eventos próprios na maioria das cidades brasileiras que comemoram o carnaval, embora tais eventos jamais sejam exclusivos, uma vez que no Brasil gays costumam misturar-se ao restante da sociedade. O Brasil é, sem duvida, um pais bastante estranho: de acordo com ativistas homossexuais, o pais é o campeão mundial em violência contra gays, mas é, ao mesmo tempo, o único pais do planeta onde um travesti tornou-se símbolo sexual masculino nacional!... O inacreditável evento teve lugar no início dos anos 80, e o nome desse símbolo sexual “masculino” era Roberta Close; a edição da Revista Playboy trazendo fotos do travesti/transsexual nu esgotaria em poucos dias. Além disso, Close foi capa das principais revistas nacionais. O fenômeno, sem precedentes no mundo, invoca contundentes questões e dúvidas quanto à natureza real da sexualidade do homem brasileiro, mas esse assunto certamente foge do escopo desse breve e descompromissado relato sobre o carnaval e suas origens. Em todo o caso, fica a sugestão, proposta àqueles estudiosos com coragem suficiente para enterrarem as mãos nesse ninho de vespas!... O antropólogo e militante gay Luis Mott, fundador da organização gay mais militante e politizada do pais, o Grupo Gay da Bahia, já testemunhou duas vezes em favor de gays solicitando asilo político nos Estados Unidos (ambos os casos foram vitoriosos, com vereditos favoráveis aos peticionistas). De acordo com Mott, “o Brasil é, infelizmente, o campeão mundial de assassinatos de gays, lésbicas e travestis. A cada três dias o noticiário revela o assassinato de um homossexual, vitima de homofobia, vitima de crime violento. O Brasil é um pais bastante contraditório, já que ao mesmo tempo em que exporta travestis para a Europa, e aplaude a intensa presença gay durante as festividades do carnaval, diariamente discrimina, humilha e assassina homossexuais”. Mott convenceu o Conselho Federal de Medicina a remover o termo “homossexualismo” do glossário de doenças reconhecidas cientificamente, em 1985. Apesar dessa grave situação, o carnaval é uma temporada onde os gays são privilegiados, uma oportunidade onde podem exibir seus talentos e tendências artísticas, já que os mais famosos carnavalescos, designers de fantasias e também a maioria dos participantes de concursos de fantasias, são gays. Fato inquestionável é que, nos últimos dez ou quinze anos, a presença homossexual no Brasil tornou-se mais visível, mais evidente, em parte por causa do carnaval e de seu processo de criação e organização, um setor de trabalho onde o talento e a criatividade gay são elementos de extrema importância. Os últimos dez anos assistiram à inauguração de vários eventos carnavalescos destinados às comunidades gays, particularmente nas capitais de estados. Florianópolis tem o Concurso Pop Gay, Brasília lançou, em 2004, o Bloco Galera da Arara, a Bahia inaugura este ano o Bloco Amuleto, e a gaúcha Filhos da Candinha, escola de samba de Porto Alegre, anunciou que o tema para o carnaval deste ano (2006), é o homossexualismo, em uma tentativa de participar na luta contra a discriminação sofrida por gays em todo o território nacional. O Rio de Janeiro inaugurou, em 2005, sua primeira escola de samba gay, apropriadamente batizada de Unidos do Arco-Íris, e seu famoso baile, Gala Gay, é presença obrigatória anual em várias capas de revistas. Em São Paulo, a Escola de Samba Mocidade Alegre já conta, há alguns anos, com uma ala gay, hoje famosa por sua criatividade e genuíno espírito momesco!... Hoje ninguém duvida que o carnaval pode ser utilizado como importante veículo pelo ainda incipiente e tímido movimento gay do Brasil, na luta pelo reconhecimento de seus direitos mais fundamentais, como o direito a uma existência normal, sem as constantes ameaças diárias à vida e integridade física dos homossexuais. Direitos como esses, reconhecidos em todos os países considerados civilizados no mundo, são ainda um sonho distante no Brasil de hoje!...

Manhunt is in Brazil and several of the boys I have met in Sao Paulo use it. I found one guy on there I liked and met up with him. It is not a money boy scene. I have been in contact with a few on the site and they love to meet somone who speaks english. Just an FYI

Bolinha A Casa Da Feijoada Av. Cidade Jardim, 53 Phone: 3061-2010 web: www.bolinha.com.br http://www.bolinha.com.br/img/index01.jpg http://www.bolinha.com.br/img/int_right_rec.jpg Taken from their program and website: "In spite of what many people state, "Feijoada" is not a slaves' recipe, but it is, in fact, a variation of European dishes like "cassoulet", a Spanish stew and a Portuguese "caldeirada". Due to wrong historical information, many people believe "feijoada" was created in the slave quarters, between the Colonial and Empire period. It would have been a dish created by the slaves with pork left over, but there is no historical reason to affirm that. When the Portuguese colonized Brazil, they brought some recipes which became the basis of the national cooking. Some recipes had as ingredients pig's ear, pork's tail and tongue. In the books "Comidas Meu Santo" by Guilherme Figueiredo and "História de Alimentação no Brasil" by Luis da Câmara Cascudo, we can confirm this theory." I took my 3 beautiful Brazilian beauties to Bolinha last night on the recommendation of my hotel. The place was very fun. The food was excellent. It is VERY casual and had a comfortable feel. It cost 49R per person but the food was plentiful and tasted great.

Well, my first disastrous encounter last night. My gang met a guy from Fragata. I asked them if they wanted him to come to the hotel at midnight for a programa and they agreed. The guy said he was versatile and could do everything. When we started in, he was able to do everything but only with me. He would not participate with the other guys very well and it put a huge damper on the event. As I could see the comfort level of the room diminishing, I put an end to it before anything progressed too far. I gave him his money and he left. I was not upset at all. I do wish I had been able to keep him for myself but I didn't want to offend anyone. I walked him from the bedroom to the living area and out the door. He whispered that he was sorry and that he would love to see just me without anyone else. Imagine that. Who the fuck would want to have sex with me over a sexy boy? I do 3ways and 4ways here all the time. It is always excellent as I have 2 guys with me who I really enjoy. But, I picked wrong this time. I was also very clear up front as to what I expected. Oh well, live and learn. After he left, I want back to the bedroom and had a great time with my 2 guys. The chemistry between the 3 of us is great and they both know exactly what I want.

Haha. The sad thing is that I actually have a pair of his glasses. Also, most of his glasses are boring compared to mine. I know that is hard to believe, but it is true! As for you Mr. MarcAnthony, you know I don't blow a trumpet anymore. I do try to use my trombone as often as I can. But, the older I get, the harder it is to move it in the faster motions. Oz

Thanks Conway! Both look nice. I met with my travel agent yesterday to plan ny trip after Carnival. I gave him the links and he knew of one and said great things about it. Thanks.

KY, I have one boy from Rio who works at 117 fly here yesterday to be with me. I thought it odd that he really wanted to come as this is high season and there are so many tourists in Rio now. But, he also said there were so many boys there. At LaGoa yesterday and the day before, it was packed. I have never seen so many twinks at LaGoa. I asked some of the older guys that I have known for years and they said that there are many newbies. I can testify to that. I found some really hot ones both days. However, once I met my muscle boy from last year, I went off the market. He keeps me busy day and night and I am content to just be with him. Well, content to just be with him and the boy from 117. Our three-way last night was amazing. Well, actually content to be only with the two of them and a boy or two we pick up from the saunas for three-ways there. OK. I guess I am just content with no qualifications.

Straycat, I have not broken out my camera yet. I plan to today as I want to go to an old cemetary for some photos. But, I will work on it.

>> Is flamboyant the right word? >> > >Ummmm.... yeah. :* j/k Well, Firecat calls me High End. I think it has to do with an ass to die for. But you TY? Flamboyant? I am shocked. I am stunned! Did my boa give me away?

Gambling is a sin. It is not something that should be allowed in a civilized country. I think you should be ashamed. I'll tell you what, I am heading to Vegas for a "business" triip. Why don't you send me that money and I'll make sure it is redistributed to the right places. JK Wow! Congrats. Being a mild gambler myself (maximum 100US a day when I am on land and 200US when I am at sea), I have always wondered what it would be like to actually win big. I am glad you now know! I hope you have a hell of a time. Just remember my moto in life, ---Life is here, life is now. Life is soooo short... and sex is just too delicious! Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, Champagne and Strawberries in one hand, Diet Coke and Godiva Chocolate in the other, a personal bottle of Eros, A BOX OF TROJAN MAGNUMS, and a good Cuban cigar in the your pockets (ALL partially used), a wallet ALMOST empty of currency but noticeably used from the rainbow colors of THE SEVERAL bills THAT REMAIN from a multitude of countries and cards charged to the max from the joys of life, body thoroughly used up, OLD AS TIME ITSELF, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO - what a ride!--- Oz

Being a bit of a history buff, I had a great time at Carnival last night and decided to go back this year. But, I really wanted to know about the entire event this year. As I had some time on the plane trip here, I put together an information piece that others may enjoy. I hope this helps some to understand more about Carnival and its history in Brazil and its place in the gay rights movement in Brazil. Oz The Origins of Carnival Carnival has to be the oldest known public festival in the whole world, with some scholars suggesting it emerged as early as 10,000 BC, from the seasonal farming rituals of ancient peoples, annually greeting the return of the Spring Solstice, with rituals involving lots of singing and dancing. The ancient civilizations of the Nile Delta were celebrating spring with fertility rituals in honor of the first harvests, in 6,000 BC. Later on, around 4,000 BC, the annual festivals held in honor of the goddess Isis and the bull-god Apis (Egypt), Ishtar (Babylon), Astarte (Syria) already exhibited evidence of carnival behavior, and the same can be said in relation to the festivities for the goddess Herta (Erce, Erta, Berta:- Germanic, Erde; Latin, Terra (Earth), the Teutonic equivalent of the female deities above. Herta was celebrated in the Winter Solstice, an aspect of the goddess comparable to the Roman Saturn/Greek Cronos, also celebrated at that time of the year, and also in the Spring Equinox: Hretmonath, the month of March, was Herta’s sacred month. In Ancient Rome, Saturnalia, a festival taking place around the Winter Solstice (December 17), held by the first time around 497 BCE, was one of the recognizable precursors for what we know today as Carnival. The festival was expanded and reorganized in 217 BCE, and held between December 17 to 23. During this time, Romans exchanges gifts of copper, silver and gold coins, candles, and sweets: “All men shall be equal, slave and free, rich and poor, one with another (…). Anger, resentments and threats are contrary to the law”. During the opening days of the festival, cars reminding the shape of boats (carrum navalis) cruised the streets of Rome, carrying naked men and women. The carrum navalis are considered one of the possibilities for the origins of the word carnavalis/carnival. Restrictions were relaxed during the holyday and the social order inverted. Even gambling was allowed in public. A Lord of Misrule was chosen, slaves were treated as equals, excused from work for the duration of the celebrations, allowed to use dice, even permitted to wear their master’s clothing (is this the birth of Carnival costumes?), and waited on at meal time, a reminiscence of the long gone Saturn Golden Age: “during My week the serious is barred and no business allowed. Drinking, noise, games and dice, appointing of kings and feasting of slaves, singing naked, clapping of frenzied hands, an occasional ducking of corked faces in icy water – such are the functions over which I preside” (Lucian, Saturnalia). The God Saturn was identified with the Greek Cronos, receiving sacrifices according to Greek rituals, his head uncovered. Following the sacrificial offers, there was a public banquet, with celebrants constantly shouting “Yo, Saturnalia!” In 273 C.E., Roman Emperor Aurelianus, who had become an ardent worshiper of the Syrian sun god Baal, decreed that December 25th should be observed as Natalis Solis Invicti, “the birthday of the unconquerable sun”. Later on, in the 4th Century C.E., Pope Julius I came about with a brilliant idea to obfuscate the so important pagan festivals held in December: he decreed that Jesus Christ was born in December 25, a date that, from now on, should be celebrated by all Christians. By superimposing the Birth of Christ with the Roman festivals of Saturnalia and Natalis Solis Invicti, the Church intended to empty the pagan celebrations, an objective eventually achieved in the centuries ahead. The Bacchanalia festivals, held annually in Rome and other cities of the Roman Empire, were a celebration honoring Bacchus, the god of wine and intoxication (Dionysius, in Greece). The Bacchanalia were introduced in Rome around 200 BCE, consisting of orgies where everything was allowed. In its original format, the Bacchanalia were held in secret, strictly a women’s celebration taking place on three days in the year, around March 16 and 17, but with the passing of time men were also allowed to participate in these rites. The infamous festival, with its well known sexual and criminal character (all sorts of crimes and political conspiracies were supposed to be planned during the festivities) got so out of hand, that it was forbidden by the Roman Senate in 186 BCE. In spite of the severe punishment related to the realization of the Bacchanalia, the festival continued to take place yearly, in the south of Italy, for a long time after it was forbidden. Currently we know that both, Saturnalia and Bacchanalia, its principal elements and intentions, served as early models for the carnival festivities held all over the world today. From the Italian Peninsula, the Bacchanalia managed to survive by traveling abroad, installing itself in other parts of Europe who became part of the Roman Empire, mixing and matching with local spring fertility festivals, persisting well in to Christian times, reaching their peaks in the 14th and 15th Centuries. Deeply rooted in pagan customs and traditions, it was virtually impossible for the Catholic Church to successfully forbid the festivities, so as it was common policy of the Church, the papacy decided to join in, as a way to control its most offensive manifestations (like the medieval Feast of Fools: this festival included blasphemous impersonations of church officials and a mockery of the Mass). The Catholic Church managed to dominate most of the carnival activities, in Europe, who eventually became tied to Lent. Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, always takes place after Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday, the last day of the carnival season), a reminder to all Catholics of the need to repent of the “sins of the flesh” committed during CARNE-VALE (from carnem levare, Latin for “farewell to meat”, meat here alluding also to the abuses of the human flesh and not only to the consumption of red meat), by observing the period of Lent, in which, during the forty days preceding Easter, no red meat, pork, chicken or eggs should be consumed. Having said that, this is the second possible origin for the word Carnival. Today Carnival is celebrated all over Europe, particularly in Latin Europe: Italy (Venice, Foiano, Putignano, Sciacca, Verona, Viareggio), France (Bailleul-Mont-des-Cats, Dunquerque, Granville, Nice, Pau), Portugal (Funchal, Loulé, Torres Vedras, Estoril, Cascais, Batalha, Nazaré, Ovar, Figueira da Foz, Estarreja, Canas de Senhorim, Bragança, Island of Madeira) and Spain (Barcelona, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Santhiago de Compostela, Sitges, Villanova í La Geltrú). Elsewhere in the European continent, carnival can be found annually in Switzerland (Basel), Belgium (Binche), Germany (Bremen, Mainz, Munich, Cologne), Austria (Sillian, Ebensee am Traunsee, Bad Schoenau, Villach, Tirol), Croatia (Rijeka), Hungary (Mohács), Bulgaria (Sofia, Pernick and United Kindgdom (called Pancake Day, a festival held annually in several cities). The Use of Masks in Carnival The earliest accounts of the use of masks in European culture can be found during the Dyonisius festival, in Ancient Greece. Masks were an important element in Greek Theatre, introduced to represent pre-historic archetypes of the collective unconscious: through the mask, these archetypes are allowed to take form and shape, emerging to human consciousness. Historically, masks were used in public festivities all over Italy but particularly in Venice, though nobody knows exactly when its presence became a routine. What is known is that, in 1268, an ordinance was passed in Venice, regulating the use of masks, evidence alone of its widespread use. Elsewhere in Europe, the use of masks during the carnival festivities was common, since many of the participants, particularly noblemen and women, didn’t want to be recognized as participants, for obvious reasons! Masks were skillfully made of papier- maché, and its use became so widespread that masks makers reached artisans status as early as the 15th Century. During the Middle Ages, popular street Carnival had become part of European folk culture. Carnival festivals were held in different times of the year, not only before Lent, and were a time when disguised street bands would emerge, hitting the streets using elaborate masks, where one could perform, sing politically incorrect songs, perform plays and participate in open air drama. Some historians claim that Carnival flourished like nowhere else in France, where it was aggressively used as an escape valve against the harsh realities of a difficult life, permeated by wars, feudal oppression and plagues. The French took Carnival to the next level when, in February 1580 the festival was used to masquerade a peasant revolt in a French town called Romans, turning in to a violent massive protest against the tax system and the high cost of food. The rebels were masked but that didn’t keep them from being killed by the disguised merchants, who discovered the plot shortly before it hit the streets. The festivities ended in bloody chaos, mixed with widespread panic, all at the sound of music!... Carnival was brought to the Americas by colonizers, and can be found in virtually all countries of the New World, from Canada (Quebec, Montreal), to the United States (Boston, San Diego, Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, New Orleans), Central America and the Caribbean (virtually all countries observe Carnival), to South America, particularly Brazil, where we can find the most famous carnivals in the world. The first Carnival ever to take place in Brazil was organized, in 1641, by Governor Salvador Benevides, of Rio de Janeiro, in honor of King D. João IV, restorer of the Portuguese throne. The festivities were held for a whole week, from Easter Sunday on: there were street parades, combats, blocks of “sujos” and masquerades. Another important Carnival took place in 1786, coinciding with the festivities in commemoration of the royal wedding of D. João and Princess Carlota Joaquina. As a popular manifestation, Carnival is known to have arrived in Brazil in the 17th Century, brought by Portuguese colonizers from the Azores and Madeira Islands. It was then called Entrudo (from the Latin introitus = the beginning, the opening, in this case, the opening of the Lent period of mortification), a very violent and unsettling version of Carnival: during these festivities, it was common practice among the poor people, the majority of participants at the time, to throw garbage, fruits, eggs, dirty water etc., in whomever adventured to walk in the streets. Some of these attacks had undesirable consequences, even with the death of participants. By the 18th Century, the Entrudo took place in the majority of Brazilian cities, but its violence was the reason of an Imperial order, forbidding its realization, in 1853. The beginning of the 19th Century saw the Portuguese Crown being forced to transfer to Rio de Janeiro, due to the threat of the Napoleonic Wars: Napoleon announced the annexation of Portugal to the French Empire, so the Portuguese King, D. João VI, decided to move as fast as he could, bringing his court and royal protocol to Brazil, avoiding the humiliation of power transferring to the invader. En vogue among all royal houses of Europe was the French etiquette and customs, so it wouldn’t be long before masquerade balls were organized by the local elites. The first masquerade ball was held in Hotel Itália (Rio de Janeiro), in January 22, 1840. Tickets were sold for 2,000 réis and included complete dinner. After that, the organization of mask balls became a routine, the only possible option for the middle and upper classes who wanted to participate in the Carnival. The poor people continued participating in the Entrudos, in spite of its prohibition (never firmly enforced). In any case, the Entrudos became much more civilized, less violent, a real opportunity for the poor, the slaves and disenfranchised to have fun. In 1846, the use of drums were introduced in the entrudos by a Portuguese known as Zé Pereira (José Paredes), a common custom in Portugal. After that, the use of musical instruments became a norm during these streets festivities, the current samba schools being the historic consequence of this brilliant idea of an obscure Portuguese immigrant. These first samba schools embryos, later called “cordões”, (cords) were formed by groups of blacks and poor whites, who also ended up incorporating the European use of costumes and masks during Carnival. Another group organized by poor people eager to participate in the Carnival annual festivities, was the “rancho” (ranch). Both, cords and ranch, disappeared during the 1920’s, with the advent of the samba schools, trade mark of Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival. With the inauguration of color tv in Brazil, in 1970, the samba schools gain tremendous exposure, becoming evident, for the local government, that they should be used to attract tourism to the city. Today, not only the samba schools are tv broadcasted during Carnival, but also the huge carnivals of Salvador, Recife and Olinda. Carnival and the Gay Movement During Carnival, in most states capitals, gays have their own events, though they are never exclusive since in Brazil gays usually mingle with the rest of society. It is a strange country: according to Brazilian gay activists, Brazil is the country registering most violence against gays in the whole world, yet it is also the only country in the planet where a transvestite became a national male sexual symbol! It happened in the early 80’s. His/her name was Roberta Close, and the Playboy edition where he/she posed nude sold out in less than two days! Anthropologist and gay activist Luiz Mott, founder of the most militant gay group in the country, the Grupo Gay da Bahia, witnessed twice in favor of Brazilian gays applying for political asylum in the US (both cases were decided in favor of the petitioners). According to Mott “Brazil is, unfortunately, the world champion in assassinations of gays, lesbians and transvestites. Every three days the news reveals the murdering of a homosexual, victim of homophobia, victim of a violent crime. Brazil is a very contradictory country, for at the same time it exports transvestites to Europe, applauds the intense gay presence during Carnival festivities, on a daily bases it discriminates, humiliates and kills gays.” Mott succeeded in convincing the Federal Council of Medicine to remove homosexualism from the list of recognized diseases, in 1985. Still, Carnival is a privileged time for homosexuals, a time where they can exhibit their talents and artistic tendencies (the most famous Carnival costume designers, and also most participants of costume contests are gays). In the past few years, it is unquestionable that the very homosexual presence in the country’s everyday life was made more evident, and this happened in part due to Carnival and its process of creation, a field of work where gays play a very important part. In the last few years, more and more gay Carnival events are inaugurated, particularly in the states capitals. Florianópolis has the Concurso Pop Gay, Brasília launched, in 2004, the Bloco Galera do Arara, Bahia launched Bloco Amuleto, and Filhos da Candinha, a samba school from Porto Alegre announced that this year’s theme is homosexualism, in an attempt to help the struggle against gay discrimination. Olinda also has plans, a “beijaço”, a public intervention where gays will kiss their partners, after manifesting against the indifference of the authorities when it comes to violence against gays. Rio de Janeiro inaugurated last year its first gay samba school, named very appropriately, Unidos do Arco-Íris (the rainbow unity) and the famous ball Gala Gay is featured in magazine covers every year. In São Paulo, the samba school Mocidade Alegre already portrays, yearly, a gay sector, now famous for its creativity and genuine carnival spirit. There is no doubt that Carnival can be a very important vehicle, when used by the still incipient gay movement in Brazil, in the quest for the country’s recognition of their rights to a normal existence, without the daily threat against their lives. Taken for granted in many countries in the world, this revendication is still a very distant dream in the Brazil of today. cc MaleEscortReview.com

Day 2: I got a call from my sauna boy from 117 today in Rio. He really really really wanted to come to Sao Paulo to see me. I said ok and flew him into Sao Paulo in the early afternoon. He got to my hotel and we were able to play around before we went out to eat. Went to the same saunas today and went to the park. The parks name is Autarama. It was busier tonight than yesterday. I also notice its gets more busy late at night. We were there till 12:30am. Do not go to the park alone. Do not go without a car. Do be very careful. It is a dangerous place but it is also lots of fun. With Danilo as our guide and protector, we were fine. When I asked a few of the guys at the park why they go there, some said they hate the discos, others said they did not want to be seen in a gay area and others just said it was a way to meet other gay guys. Everyone parks their car and sits on them. It reminded me of a drive in theatre. On one end of the park there is a row of two for the hustlers. They were all jerking off and showing their goods. Afterwards, we went to Soho Dance Club. It was nice and the music was great. We got in for 5R and sodas were 4R, Red Bull's were 10R and whiskey was 13R. There is a dark room upstairs that cost 3R. The place was busy but we were told Friday nighht is the best night to go and Saturday is great as well. I am now in my room with Danilo, the tour guide, my muscle boy husband, my boyfriend from 117. Two of them just showered and are calling my name. So, until tomorrow! Oz