Members tassojunior Posted January 13, 2020 Members Posted January 13, 2020 Got my tix for my first visit to Rio in 20 years, so not quite a virgin. I have the nights list for Pointe 202 and for 117. I will probably stay at the JW Marriott at the junction of Copacabana and Ipanema. Any trouble taking guys up? Are taxis or Ubers easy to get to 117? Return? Safety suggestions for cash/wallets/phones in the saunas? Any safe bars or cafes? Rentmen escorts? I loved Rogers when it was there but am not setting my expectations that high. Quote
Tomcal Posted January 13, 2020 Posted January 13, 2020 The Marriott has always had very tight security regarding anyone not registered at the hotel and it is Not at the junction of Copa and ipanema but about dead center in the sweeping curve of Copacabana! it is a easy walk up Sequiero Campos which is one block from the marriott and then walk about 9 blocks in from the beach and you are at Pointe! 117 is 6 stops on the metro from the Sequiro metro station. ( 3 blocks from Pointe202, you will pass it on the way to Pointe) you can Uber to 117 but it is faster on the metro if you are going there during rush hour. i have never waited longer then about 3 minutes for a Uber in Ipanema or copacabana i personally have never had a problem with phone/wallet/cash in the saunas, in 19 years of going there 4 or 5 times a year! brockmiller and tassojunior 2 Quote
Members tassojunior Posted January 13, 2020 Author Members Posted January 13, 2020 34 minutes ago, Tomcal said: The Marriott has always had very tight security regarding anyone not registered at the hotel and it is Not at the junction of Copa and ipanema but about dead center in the sweeping curve of Copacabana! it is a easy walk up Sequiero Campos which is one block from the marriott and then walk about 9 blocks in from the beach and you are at Pointe! 117 is 6 stops on the metro from the Sequiro metro station. ( 3 blocks from Pointe202, you will pass it on the way to Pointe) you can Uber to 117 but it is faster on the metro if you are going there during rush hour. i have never waited longer then about 3 minutes for a Uber in Ipanema or copacabana i personally have never had a problem with phone/wallet/cash in the saunas, in 19 years of going there 4 or 5 times a year! Thanks. I'm planning on the Marriott because I can get it cheap and it's walking distance to Pointe. I'm not sure about a hotel walking distance to 117. No beach and I'd imagine riskier ? 34 minutes ago, tomcal said: Quote
Tomcal Posted January 13, 2020 Posted January 13, 2020 117 is not walkable from where you are unless you are into long hikes! but it’s not a risky area you go through Botofuco and Flamingo and 117 is in Gloria all relatively safe areas! tassojunior 1 Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 13, 2020 Members Posted January 13, 2020 Access B is closer to Marriott, for what it’s worth. In fact, you can get full details for any station. tassojunior 1 Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 13, 2020 Members Posted January 13, 2020 (edited) Gloria is as safe as Copacabana. I prefer it especially for longer stays. It is more condensed and easier to become familiar with locals and vendors, greeting each other in passing. IMO one is more likely to strike up a conversation with a sociable resident in an eatery (many locals are “well-heeled” and bilingual if English is important to you) than with a tourist. Most locals dining at Gregora Arte Café directly across from 117 speak English. The residential buildings date mostly late 1960s and many apartments are inhabited by folks who can afford a 1+ million reais pad. I am not a sun-worshipper but I love early morning and early evening brisk walks along Praia Flamengo, many locals there getting exercise at those times. For me, the main draw for subwaying to Copacabana is Fisherman’s walk at Leme end (n/e) early morning, or the Fort (s/w) for lunch or high tea. Edited January 13, 2020 by Riobard Erratum tassojunior and brockmiller 2 Quote
Members tassojunior Posted January 13, 2020 Author Members Posted January 13, 2020 2 hours ago, Riobard said: Gloria is as safe as Copacabana. I prefer it especially for longer stays. It is more condensed and easier to become familiar with locals and vendors, greeting each other in passing. IMO one is more likely to strike up a conversation with a sociable resident in an eatery (many locals are “well-heeled” and bilingual if English is important to you) than with a tourist. Most locals dining at Gregora Arte Café directly across from 117 speak English. The residential buildings date mostly late 1960s and many apartments are inhabited by folks who can afford a 1+ million reais pad. I am not a sun-worshipper but I love early morning and early evening brisk walks along Praia Flamengo, many locals there getting exercise at those times. For me, the main draw for subwaying to Copacabana is Fisherman’s walk at Leme end (n/e) early morning, or the Fort (s/w) for lunch or high tea. "As safe as Copacabana" is a low bar I think. 20 years ago I was almost mugged at noon walking behind the Palace Hotel a block off the beach by some guys who seemed to regularly work there. I'm not opposed to further in if it's safer but with just English I have to stay simple. Thanks. Quote
Members tassojunior Posted January 13, 2020 Author Members Posted January 13, 2020 8 hours ago, Tomcal said: 117 is not walkable from where you are unless you are into long hikes! but it’s not a risky area you go through Botofuco and Flamingo and 117 is in Gloria all relatively safe areas! I assume with English Uber is going to make life easier. Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 13, 2020 Members Posted January 13, 2020 I think because opportunistic career felons do not have as long a shelf life in a more condensed area such as Gloria, where they would be quickly labelled and ousted, that might make a difference. ———— Does anyone know if Patrick J still works at 117? I reiterate that he is a good go-to resource for visitors needing fluent English for more complex reasons ... Tom? Rob? Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 13, 2020 Members Posted January 13, 2020 1 hour ago, tassojunior said: I assume with English Uber is going to make life easier. Metro subway and Über on par re: language, on balance. For Metro if you are 65+, two phrases are helpful as you show the attendant your original photo ID in order to ride for free: Eu nasci no ano dezenove e cinquenta e cinco (or specify other earlier year); Eu tenho sessenta e cinco anos (or specify an older age). The first phrase guides their eye to my year of birth on my ID card because they are sometimes puzzled by it; the 2nd phrase to simply assert my age qualification. Works every time. You can write it on a cue card or post-it fixed to your ID. I use a plastic original Quebec government ID card and I leave my passport at accommodations but carry a xerox copy (that the Metro generally won’t accept). You may occasionally face the challenge of an Über driver texting you, where you have to copy and translate with a language app in one direction plus translate and copy/paste back. If the driver phones you: Texto por favor, eu sou inglês. tassojunior 1 Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 13, 2020 Members Posted January 13, 2020 Access A at Gloria Station to be on the side you want to walk a few steps north up to Candido Mendes and turn left (west) to get to 117. You will see the Outeiro (Hill) exit, not the option you want. Quote
Members pauleiro Posted January 13, 2020 Members Posted January 13, 2020 Tasso, I think this Marriott is a great choice, particularly if you can get it cheap. Going to Siqueira Campos is a 10 minutes walk : just go up Figueiredo de Magalhaes street until you cross Tonelero street. Pointe 202 is a 15 minutes walk from your hotel. On street Figueiredo, after the metro entrance and the police station, there is a commercial center which has entrances on both Figueiredo de Magalhaes and Siqueira Campos streets. You cross the commercial center and you are on the street of Pointe 202 (Siqueira Campos). Sauna is 1 block up the street. Walking to and from your hotel to Pointe is Ok, whatever the time. Safety did improve significantly IMHO in Copacabana. Usual safety rules to be observed (in particular not showing money nor using phone in the streets). As for 117, the best and quickest is to take metro to go there (to avoid trafic jams). The metro is sometimes terribly full at Siqueira Campos if you take it after 5 pm but it is only during 2 stations since many people get off at Botafogo to change line. To go back from 117, either uber or metro. Do not think of walking from your hotel to 117. It is rather long and uninteresting walk (5 to 6 miles) and you have to go under the tunnel joining Botafogo to Copacabana which is terrible : almost impossible to breathe inside it ! The boys in Rio will change you from the blond guys with blue eyes you are used to in Czech Republic ! Enjoy ! Riobard, Latbear4blk and brockmiller 3 Quote
Members Latbear4blk Posted January 14, 2020 Members Posted January 14, 2020 @tassojunior, I hope you can move on from a bad experience 20 years ago. I have been twice in Rio last year, both times staying in Airbnbs in Copacabana. I walked the area a lot, at all times, alone and with company, and never felt not even a trace of a thread. Quote
Members nycman Posted January 14, 2020 Members Posted January 14, 2020 9 minutes ago, Latbear4blk said: ....and never felt not even a trace of a thread. I have other not felt “even a trace of a thread” around here.......grin Latbear4blk and Riobard 2 Quote
Members Latbear4blk Posted January 14, 2020 Members Posted January 14, 2020 1 hour ago, nycman said: I have other not felt “even a trace of a thread” around here.......grin Too late to edit. Quote
Members davet Posted January 14, 2020 Members Posted January 14, 2020 13 hours ago, tassojunior said: "As safe as Copacabana" is a low bar I think. I think the string of neighborhoods from Botafogo to Gloria is much safer than Copacabana, which can be run-down (near the Palace hotel) or seedy (breast-implanted hookers on the beach). Most of all, Copa is where the tourists go so crimes of opportunity follow, especially on the beach and the waterfront avenue. For that reason, Ipanema is not that safe either. I've walked from Gloria to Flamengo. It is a lively stretch that gives you the sight, sounds, and rhythm of middle-class Carioca life. Latbear4blk, dallastexas and Riobard 3 Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 14, 2020 Members Posted January 14, 2020 The full-on sunrise photo opps in Flamengo stretch are not too shabby either ... axiom2001 1 Quote
Members Latbear4blk Posted January 14, 2020 Members Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) 18 hours ago, davet said: I think the string of neighborhoods from Botafogo to Gloria is much safer than Copacabana, which can be run-down (near the Palace hotel) or seedy (breast-implanted hookers on the beach). Most of all, Copa is where the tourists go so crimes of opportunity follow, especially on the beach and the waterfront avenue. For that reason, Ipanema is not that safe either. I've walked from Gloria to Flamengo. It is a lively stretch that gives you the sight, sounds, and rhythm of middle-class Carioca life. That is a lovely walk! The couple of times I did it, I would walk down the waterfront avenue and randomly turn and walk into Flamengo neighborhood. Indeed, you get a vibe more authentic and local than Copacabana and Ipanema. Edited January 14, 2020 by Latbear4blk Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 15, 2020 Members Posted January 15, 2020 My first home rental in the area, right where I squared off ‘Catete’ in coral colour, was a big house banked up against the rock face, with a gorgeous private rock garden. One of a few gated communities of older homes in the district. I was practically in tears when the host removed the listing for personal reasons. But I became attached to Catete and the walkable surroundings. tassojunior 1 Quote
Members Walker Posted January 28, 2020 Members Posted January 28, 2020 On 1/15/2020 at 8:44 AM, Riobard said: this remind me of the outdoor smoking area at the Week. It is a huge rock, probably 2 story high, that serves as the backwall of this outdoor area. The whole city of Rio is full of amazing rock formation. Quote
Members Riobard Posted January 28, 2020 Members Posted January 28, 2020 Up above the rock face behind (south of) The Week is the Valongo Astronomical Observatory, on Conceição Hill. Quote
Members ncc1701d Posted January 28, 2020 Members Posted January 28, 2020 Is 202 entrance where the big white wall is on google maps? seems to be quite far from 117?? (over an hour walking on google) so will need uber Quote
Members tassojunior Posted January 29, 2020 Author Members Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) 45 minutes ago, ncc1701d said: Is 202 entrance where the big white wall is on google maps? seems to be quite far from 117?? (over an hour walking on google) so will need uber Yes, 202 has a multi-level white walled staircase on a hill. Uber between the two is under 25br. ($6) even though it's 11km. Unfortunately there's little reason to go to 202. Edited January 29, 2020 by tassojunior Quote
Members ncc1701d Posted January 29, 2020 Members Posted January 29, 2020 Hi Total newbie about to take the first trip...so how come 202 is no good? Quote
Tomcal Posted January 29, 2020 Posted January 29, 2020 (edited) i think you will find differences of opinions if you go to the saunas! everyone has different types and given a particular night you might find what you are looking for at anyone of them, don’t rely on others opinions! here are two Headless photos of the type of guys i have found at Pointe202. but you can also find similiar at 117 or the private gay clubs! Edited January 29, 2020 by tomcal Latbear4blk and SolaceSoul 1 1 Quote
