Great Changes In Rio de Janeiro

[ihpguy]

In another thread, there are complaints about high hotel prices here. Well, the state of Rio de Janeiro is a boom town. The center of a vast oil industry growing larger all of the time. Huge expensive public works developing the pre-sal discoveries in the Atlantic. This is besides the preparations for the World Cup, the 450th anniversary of the founding of this city and then the 2016 Games. Lots and lots of people are coming here for business and I suppose that they just figure in the high hotel prices as a cost of doing business. I took a frined through the Copacabana Palace in February and there were about two dozen biz people getting into SUV limos with briefcases and roll-a-boards. Not sure if the hotel mnagement even care about bargain-hunting tourists. As opposed to when I first came in 2003, people are no longer as guarded about displayes of wealth.

It seems every week/month, something else is getting fixed up, modernized, reformed. You blink and another building has framing and tarps. Normally there are between 80-100 oil service ships and tankers in the bay. Plus all the ships of the navy at their ports in Niteroi and Rio.The new oil refinery in Sao Goncalo. 2-3 billion. The second new metro line connecting the docks in Niteroi to Itaborai where the new oil refinery is being built. A billion more. And partly financed by Petrobras. About two weeks ago, I noticed that they had moved an oil drilling rig into position behind the fantail of the carrier Sao Paulo. Another new building, this one with a tall crane for a highrise under construction for another tower addition for the Forum complex. At the same time the Plaza of Exploration on the other side of the forum has finally been opened for pedestrians. Still waiting for the barriers to come down around the historic fountain and obelisk.

Next year in 2013, the first part of the Perimetral near Praca XV comes down. Last week as I walked by the naval base entrance, the street was closed, "Detour, Will Robinson, detour," they are building the tunnel to replace the four overhead lanes of traffic. A bit further north, the new Calatrava museum is a go.

http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/museu-do-amanha-o-novo-cartao-postal-do-rio/'>http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/museu-do-amanha-o-novo-cartao-postal-do-rio/

and then the other new Museum of Art:

http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/videos/?v=7354'>http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/videos/?v=7354

About a month ago, Djilma and our Prefeito Eduardo Paes signed the documents for a new, 6-line streetcar system connecting the bus station Novo Rio, the Leopoldina train station, Central, Praca XV and Santos Dumont Airport. A billion dollars for 6 new lines.

http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/videos/?opc=3&v=4842'>http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/videos/?opc=3&v=4842

http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/porto-maravilha-obras-transformam-antiga-via-trilhos-em-um-dos-trechos-do-binario/'>http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/porto-maravilha-obras-transformam-antiga-via-trilhos-em-um-dos-trechos-do-binario/

No NIMBY protests here. They just are doing it. Matter of fact. An overview of the plan:

http://www.portomaravilha.com.br/web/esq/summary.aspx

It seemed one day, buses ran normally, and the next Avenidas Rio Branco and President Vargas had half of their lanes expropriated for the new BRS system. I can't even imagine the vitriol if auto owners in the US had half their lanes taken over by buses. Oy. Here is a video for the new BRT Transoeste system running from Santa Cruz through Guaratiba and Recreio to the Alvorada bus station and convention center. Quite a distance covered in less than one year.

http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/video/assista-evolucao-das-obras-na-transoeste/'>http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/video/assista-evolucao-das-obras-na-transoeste/

And they are doing the same from International Galeao - Tom Jobim Airport to Jacarepagua. By the Maracana, they are starting to put on the supports for the new partial roof and pouring concrete for the new ramps.

Lots more on the this site: http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/

Last Friday, I was in Gamboa and saw them doing their stuff. Bulding the new entrances to Morro de Conceicao and restoration of the Jardim do Valongo. For anoyne interested, through the center of this comunidade, is a path to follow with a number of artists ateliers and larger galleries to visit. All very close to Meio Mundo and the Cultural Centers near the intersection of Presidente Vargas and Primeiro de Marco.

http://www.cidadeolimpica.com/jardim-do-valongo-passa-por-processo-de-restauracao/

Action everywhere. Lots of jobs. Lots of money flowing freely. Means one other thing. As to the sauna guys, many can get decent jobs if they care to work. The ones left, in many cases, are the vagabundos and malandros - vagabonds, scoundrels, tricksters, loafers.

[firecat691614502759]

A wonderful explanation of high prices and lucky for the Brazilians to be having this booming economy.

Does not change the fact that Hotel prices are out of line and quality with the rest of the world.

Many things go into determining the cost of a vacation and lodging is one of the biggest. This will certainly effect the tourists and I am sure already has. I understand the Hotel doesn't care whether they have businessmen or tourists , just that the rooms are full.

Interesting point you make about boys being able to find good jobs if they want to work.. Therefore quality of the boys in the Saunas will also probably decline.

The cycle will change and Brazil will have rampant inflation and the economy will suffer as the currency continues its slide. Unfortunately for the tourist the only improvement with the Real sliding is in the price of the boys (maybe) things such as Hotels and Fine restaurants will just keep raising their prices .

Bottom line there are far better destinations currently to visit if you want value for your money.

This is a cycle that every country goes through and for those of us who like to travel but want value for our money, we have to change our destinations._‹

_​

[axiom2001]

I appreciate the update and will have something new to look forward and experience whenever I return!

[TotallyOz]

ihpguy, thank you! This was a great read for me and I really learned a great deal!

[Gotti]

The distinction of Rio having the most expensive hotels in the world might be explained in part by the upcoming sports events but that has nothing to do with the fact of Brazil, as a country being one of the most expensive countries to live. The exorbitant prices are not restricted to Rio hotels and fancy restaurants. A recent article in the press mentioned that Brazil has the most expensive McDonalds in the world, the research was done with items common in all McDonalds like hamburgers and Big Mac meals, the junkiest food available anywhere, not fancy at all.

In a recent post Tomcal mentioned that the Atlantico Hotel has not changed rooms furniture or made any renovations since 1975. Is a fact that Brazilian hotel workers make only a fraction of their American and European counterparts, so what explain the high prices? extorsion and greed that is, and a total lack of vision. If they don't invest in a world class structure when the money is flowing in, what will happen when the novelty wears thin?

A major Brazilian magazine (Veja) had 2 different cover articles in the space of a few months about the insane cost of living. The most recent one mentioned a long list of products that are more expensive in Brazil than anywhere else like the iPhone ($1300), Lewys jeans ($120, the same jeans that in New York cost $35/$40) and so it goes. The international press has also written extensively about Brazilian prices. The New York Times even mentioned a $35.00 martini in a hotel , wonder which one.

The huge amount of money being spent in construction jobs is not because of higly minded politicians, is a demand by the organizations that handle the Olympics and the World Cup. Contracts were signed by the Brazilian authorities commiting improvements in stadums, public transportation and things like that, otherwise Brazil would not get the events, it's not like they had a choice, and things are not going as they should. Periodically the orgnizations send inspectors to evaluate what is being accomplished and just a few weeks ago a group of inspectors from FIFA (World Cup) expressed their dismay at how slow things are going and expressed their doubts that the country might not be ready in time. To make things worse the billions being spent are marked by a well known local desease: corruption. Several finacial scandals involving the money being spent for the events have exploded in the news, the most recent one with a company that is renovating Rio's stadium and it's shadowy deals with Brasilia's authorities. Rio's governor (the same one that sign for the allocation of most funds) was recent on the cover of a major magazine for receiving improper perks from corporations and banks. In the end is just a tip of an iceberg, and how much money just dissapeared nobody will really know.

There is also a lot of poverty in Rio. More than a million people still lives in shanty towns (official statistics) and you see homeless people sleeping in the streets of affluent neighborhoods, but I'm certainly diegrassing from the real reason of this section of the forum, our beloved sauna-boys! Will Brazilian prices make sex trips unnafordable? Is the quality of the boys worse than in used to be? According with some testimonies some people think that is not as good as in the past, some people thinks that it hasn't really changed. What will happen in the future if the economy expands? I wouldn't worry too much. Not all these guys are lazy fucks. Many of them already have other jobs and the saunas are just an excuse to do something they actually love: sleeping with men!

[ihpguy]

Very interesting report by Reuters on the progress(or lack-of) and problems facing Brasil for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics, combined with the general infrastructure investments currently occuring in this fascinating country. As a sideline to the story, about 18 months ago, I had read a story concerning the stadia problems in many of the cities here in Brasil. There were predictions then of severe problems. They still exist. I just went past the Maracana this past week. Lots and lots still to be done. But as as to the reformation, they are even running HVAC ductwork under the newly-poured bleachers.

Two weeks before Carnaval, the Sambodoromo looked like a mess, the skyboxes/camarotes were still under construction, forgetting the interior finishes. Anyway, everything was done by the Friday of Carnaval and the Parade of Mirins. Brasil is great at poring concrete. And the folks in Rio are great and getting 2-3 million partiers off of the beach in Copacabana every January 1st. So....it might still be possible that things work out.

Here's the link: http://news.yahoo.com/brazils-olympics-fine-world-cup-182644966--oly.html