Last minute trip to Rio Dec 5th to ?? Dec 25th Anyone else in Rio now or coming soon?

[travguy]

Hi Folks:

Crazy airfares. For a little bit more than going to some cold places I found a few cheap fares to Brazil. Places and costs seemed to vary by the hour over the past 2 weeks. Bought my ticket same day! Anyone else on the Forums here now or cuming soon? Nice and warm now but will be very hot Saturday. Will try to hit my usual places like the Cinelandia gay cruising cinema by City Hall (I think its city hall) Orly Theater, Rua Alcindo Guanabara 17, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Sexy Rose a few doors down. Might try Seven Cruising Bar Praça da República 141. Maybe try Cinema Iris Rua Caroica 49, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Might be hard to find. As for 117 or 202 this weekend, might do 117 if it still has more muscle boys, but who knows. Sometimes I get twink hunger:  Meio Mundo Otoni and Marco just N of Pres Vargas. Open to any other suggestions.

Really want to sample the piggy perhaps group pleasures of Bangu Sauna, Boate Casa Grande, on Sunday. 

Let me know who else is around.....cheers.....

[travguy]

Just realized this did not end up in the Brazil subforum. If a moderator can correct this that would be great unless they want me to try again to post in the correct place. Apologies.

[Latbear4blk]

24 minutes ago, travguy said:

Just realized this did not end up in the Brazil subforum. If a moderator can correct this that would be great unless they want me to try again to post in the correct place. Apologies.

@TotallyOz may help you with his superpowers.

[TotallyOz]

2 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

@TotallyOz may help you with his superpowers.

Done

[buttercawan]

I will be in Rio this Christmas and New Year.

[travguy]

Thank you LAtbear4blk and TotallyOz  !!

Flights to Rio and Sao Paulo ended up full, or with 2 open seats Thursday night on a different flight, even with low prices hours before. Due ATC tower issues in MIA delaying flights, AA allowed me to grab a seat on a no longer full flight that was delayed about 3 hours in order to ensure my connection. The benefit of carry on without checked bags. Food on AA in coach was ok for dinner, but better on UA in the past. The AA seat was comfortable in the main cabin. I was able to sleep a bit. Many Brazilians on my flight. I assume returning home for Xmas. AA Flagship business class on MIA-GIG looked like a worse product vs UA Polaris business class, as UA seats have much more privacy. No idea regarding seat comfort between AA and UA. Service makes a difference as do the lounges. UA Polaris lounges are nice, but service on board has been very variable since 2019 (I get a yearly upgrade). Delta One Lounges have the best internet ratings, LOL.  Sao Paulo to Rio flight prices are very expensive now without booking far in advance.

Once in Rio, I could not sort out if any nice busses actually go to Copa / Ipanema anymore as they did before COVID. As is typical, no decent information available and no schedules. Only route numbers are listed on website. For a major international airport, no excuse for this lack of information. UBER area can longer be seen from the intl area exit points !! So, a newbie or first timer has no way to know which pick up point to use - but Orange, Green, and Purple are all next to each other. I was worried due to lack of Brazilian wifi card, but UBER area did have wifi. You have to walk with your bags about 2-5 minutes away. Almost no signage either. And no-one inside the terminal from UBER is there to assist you. Again, terrible way to do things.

Traffic was gridlocked almost all the way into Leblon. Took about 90 minutes. At least the car was AC'd. Many are not. Uber VIP was least expensive at 86 R$ or so. Driver said this was common but not related to weather or beach holiday traffic. Even around the lake by Ipanema and Leblon, counterclockwise traffic was visibly gridlocked. Going clockwise was slow, but it moved. 

Airbnb was small but ok considering the last-minute booking. Leblon is a nice area, but not the best for gay hook ups unless you are younger and in shape. Not much action on Grindr and similar apps. M Rio fares (R$7.50 one way) and food prices are up vs earlier this year.  No idea how folks get by. 

Went to Seven Cruising at 1530 hrs on Friday. Entry 35 + 5 for locker. They did not raise the price to 60 + 5 after 1600 hrs. I left by 1630 hrs. Not many folks, but 3 of the 5 wanted to play and had reasonable bodies, etc. It seemed clean enough. We all very much enjoyed the sex, and left quite satisfied all around. So, I had no great desire to go elsewhere to follow, plus the jetlag and effect of multiple drinks would kick in. Walked to Arcos area including drinks on Selina rooftop and by the Stairs, and then to Gloria near 117 for dinner at Vila Rica. I left before a local friend could show up. We will meet up later this week. Not a garoto. 

Was asleep by 2000 hrs or so and stayed in through Saturday am. Will be a hot day with real feel around 40+ C.

Planning to go out tonight. Maybe 117 and Taurus bar in Lapa at r de Lapa 8.

Buttercawan, not shure if I will be here for Xmas.

That is all for now.....

[buttercawan]

If you around lapa late night, check out Chupps Club Sauna. Apparently it opens until morning during weekend. Haven't been there but planned to visit in a few weeks. Do let us know if it is worth a visit if you do.

https://www.instagram.com/chuppsclub.lapa/

[pauleiro]

On 12/7/2024 at 4:57 PM, buttercawan said:

If you around lapa late night, check out Chupps Club Sauna. Apparently it opens until morning during weekend. Haven't been there but planned to visit in a few weeks. Do let us know if it is worth a visit if you do.

https://www.instagram.com/chuppsclub.lapa/

I went there with a friend who thought it was a new sauna with boys ... I was sure it was not a sauna with boys  but went to see the place. As we went early, there were just a few guys. I was not really impressed by the place which was not very clean with lots of stairs. I think the owner is the same as the owner of Botafogo sauna which is basically for "maduros" where there are some hot parties on Tuesdays.

[travguy]

Update, Tuesday, 10 December 2024:

Went to the beach Saturday and Sunday. Used a bit of sunscreen and did not stay but an hour. Very packed in Leblon early Sat pm., so I assume the Copa and Ipanema beaches were packed to the gills. Still a bit jetlagged. Received a message about Junior's Birthday Party at Pointe 202. So, changed my plans and got there around 2000 hours. It was PACKED. More like a popular bar than anything else. Music was unbearably loud. Made it truly difficult for me to stay. Some buffet pasta, etc was available and the entry fee was 90-. A few nice-looking GPs per my tastes. Unfortunately, I was too tired from jet lag to do anything. Still, I was happy to have made the trip. Had I slept from 1900-0100 hrs I would have been in shape for serious late-night adventures elsewhere. Will be the plan for next week.

Sunday, went to the G Osorio Hippie Market, then walked the beach back to Leblon. Strangely, my gaydar never went off and due to crowds of people never saw a geographic area of just gays. Did see the expected gay rookery to be quite mixed including many families and kids. Went to the usual Sunday feista at some parks right next to the M Gloria stop for 117. Did not stay long. Got an uber for Bangu Sauna, aka Boate Casa Grande (?spelling). Took about an hour each way and was around 170 R$ R/T. Stayed from abound 1815-2030 hours ish. Most guys were not pushy, just a couple were a bit pushy, but not too bad. Conversational PT is needed, but translator app helped arrange a program and price. Many thin mulatto and black guys. One had a white eye ? blind from that eye, etc. No muscle gym bunnies. Some slender white guys. A few GPs said hello, but we simply could not communicate. I tried saying hello to a young twink but it went nowhere, and he might have been a shy customer !! Did not hang with any of the BR punters. For 12 R$ they did have a small plate with some rice and meat. I decided not to try it. As often happens elsewhere, I sighted a couple of GPs potentially of interest once each for a few seconds and never saw them again. For sex there were some rooms upstairs with showers, but most folks seem go to ground level where there are free super basic rooms / beds to have sex. Where most folks hang out is on the floor above. Music was quite good and had some Carnaval songs playing when I left. A guy at the entry helped to arrange the uber directions. Cost for entry, flip flops (which I think you have to pay for), and a soda was 70 RS. 100 R$ for the GP. A bit of an adventure. Came back and ate. I agree with others, not worth the trip unless you are on a long trip to Rio and have better luck than me in finding GPs of interest to you (which you cannot know in advance).

Did a bit of shopping Monday after the beach in am (got a bit red on a cloudy day, but not burned) and moving to Ipanema. Went to Novo Meio Mundo to follow from 1700-1930 hrs. Security at the door was patting down the GPs. They have bigger lockers there (great given what I bought shopping earlier). Not as twinkish as when I was there years ago. A bartender was constantly pushing drinks on the punters, even at the tables. Did not appreciate that. Hooked up with Anderson a muscular GP that I think also works 117. The programma was expensive, but I said ok as I thought he was the hottest guy there by far. Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want. He kissed very nicely. The room had no windows and there no other room available. Not sure why Anderson did not want to wait for a better room, perhaps he did not know how bad our room would be. It got so hot we were both dripping in sweat and neither of us could really perform; I paid agreed price as I did not want an argument with him. And so it goes. Decided not to try a program with anyone else as the room was so bad. Hung out with 2 pleasant punters from BR and left. Not sure if they were going to have a show to follow. After dinner in Ipanema I felt as if I was drugged. Felt like this in Spain once. Not sure if I was really drugged as I thought I was careful with drinks in both places (just a beer which seemed to be opened in from of me at N M M). Also, the strange feeling kicked in at least 1-2 hours after leaving.

Tuesday am is cloudy. Hope 117 will be good tonight despite the rain expected to start soon. Had some nice chats on grindr today. Central gay area of Ipanema seems better than Leblon for gay hook ups. Leblon is very nice and upscale for Rio. Folks dress up to go out. 

That is all for now.....

 

[Xclay]

Long post was worth reading if for no other reason than to roar laughing at your brilliant description of a section of Leblon beach as the "gay rookery."
🤣

[travguy]

Mon Cher Xclay:  Gay beach was in Ipanema, not Leblon.

I was walking from Ipanema back to Leblon mostly along the beach. The "gay rookery" was near the start of my beach walk, at R. Teixeira de Melo or R. Farme de Amoedo - Ipanema. So far as I know, Leblon does not have a gay beach zone. I have been told there is also a gayer area at the beach in Copa, but I never saw any evidence of it. The beach was so packed Sunday that I did not see an exclusively gay area nor were other beach areas devoid of LGBTQ+ folks. Apologies for the long post, but I have appreciated it when folks provided details in the past.  

 

 

[Latbear4blk]

2 hours ago, travguy said:

there is also a gayer area at the beach in Copa

Check Posto 5, but do not compare it to Posto 9 in Ipanema (your gay rookery spot).

[travguy]

Thank you to both XClay and LatBear4blk. There were some small groups of gay guys and couples at the gay beach area of Ipanema today. Some nice-looking younger guys kicking the football around too.

Tuesday: Went to Sexy Rose cruising place near Cinelandia Metro stop and Rio City Hall. Got there late, around 1530 hours. Got into a hot 3 way with some folks that also had just arrived and was happy by 1600 hours. No idea why I have such great luck at S R sometimes. Just average looking, etc. The other 2 guys must have been the winners of the Mr Brazil slut contest and like energizer bunnies, they kept going and going...... They were still at it when I left at 1700 for dinner. S R was getting quite busy at that time, but I was hungry and 117 awaited as well. Then walked to Gloria and 117. Was there from 1800+ to around 2145 hours. It was packed when I arrived. If I hadn't cum a couple hours earlier, I would have spent major R$ as the muscle and the few twinks GP talent was excellent. Met a few punters, including from a prior trip - all still very friendly and very much admiring the view. The show at 2000 hrs or so was 3 dancers, no stripping and it got very tedious as they were the entire show and the music was too loud. Many punters left the ACd show room. At 2130 a drag queen show started and first one needed some major cosmetic assistance. Oh well. The music was unbearably loud and again, many punters left in a few short minutes, including yours truly. FWIW, in talking to fellow admirers of the GPs rates up to 300 R$ were noted. Inflation? Newbie punters? At least one well-known long-term customer noted higher rates vs a few years ago. Many old faces and many new ones too (GPs and punters). I think my chest got an inch larger due to the steroids leaching out. LOL. 117 might have some new food choices, perhaps others on the forum should comment as I did not eat at 117, the food that is.

Wednesday: There was the threat of much rain Tuesday and especially Wednesday. But just a heavy drizzle or 2 Tuesday night and early Wednesday am. By noon Wednesday it was beach weather . Since arriving Friday, the surf has been quite forceful and Ipanema / Leblon had red flags out due to high-risk waves. After a nice stroll along a pretty empty beach in Ipanema I continued doing paperwork etc that I could not put off any longer. Did not finish until after 1800 hrs and needed to eat dinner. So never made it to Pointe 202, or anywhere else for that matter. If anyone else is in town, feel free to comment. The next few nights might be quiet. Rain is predicted for Saturday through next Friday a week from now. Just started pouring as I type this out. Will try to meet a friend at 117 Saturday night if it is not pouring.  

There is some seriously nice-looking talent on the GP websites, but I am a bit shy regarding reaching out. Especially as I will not host at an airbnb. So would have to play at a love hotel like the one near Cantagalo metro area of Copa towards the Fort, or Cinelandia. About 100 R$ in the past for an hour or 2 or 3....  Others have noted the need for caution with an unknown guy. I had a regular Grindr guy get weird, possibly threatening, on the last trip. Glad I choose the love motel after we had drinks and a walk around Lapa. Easy to simply walk out.  He seemed ok until after we got into the room. Quite odd. 

I would like to do more tourist type stuff if the weather holds out. That's it for now from your Eye Whit Less news reporter.

[travguy]

Update, Friday the 13th of December 2024 am.

Thursday and today are nice days so far. None of the predicted rain and just a few spotty patches of drizzle yesterday. It is forecast to rain Sat, Mon and next Tuesday. Changed apts and new place is nicer to look at, but bedroom AC does not work and other more minor issues. Went to the cinema by Sext Rose at 1300 hrs (26 R$). From prior trips, I knew it gets a mostly older clientele, but when it does get hot with even a few younger folks (20s-40s and 1-2 pay for play - around 40 R$ in the past though none today), it can be very hot, even better than S R, though as hot as 117 or 202. Left for S R at 1345 as nothing was going on that I was interested in. At S R, 1 or 2 doors away, after messing about with a few guys I was finally very happy in less than 30 minutes. Stayed to play more until 1500 hours. Seemed to be a different group of guys than Tuesday. Got too hungry and left for a late lunch / early dinner. Went to a centro Portuguese restaurant, then a dessert place with better food reviews than Conf. Columbo. The restaurant food was good, but the lady with the CC machine asked me multiple times to leave the tip in cash. Never been asked this before and the food was not inexpensive compared to other nearby restaurants. Quite odd and she insisted the service of 10% was not included. My PT is far from perfect, but I ordered and spoke to the waiter and her only in PT. The nearby dessert place was ok but not as good as the one near Atlantico on Siq Campos in Copa or Cardin in Leblon. C Columbo was right out of a 1900 ish turn of century novel, but most reviews said not to eat there due to high price and poor quality. Went to Bip Bip in Copa near the Fort and the 5-7 member band played from 2200+ hours. There is very little information about the place on the web, and I only found out about it from another tourist a trip or 2 ago. The instagram site says almost nothing, though I expected music to start at 2000 hours, arrived after 2100 hrs, and went a block to the beach at Copa ?Posto 6 area? for a while too. There was a nearby souvenir market at night. Surfed the web courtesy of the Selina Copa hotel / digital nomad workplace across and a few doors down from Bip Bip. The wifi code from Selina Lapa worked just fine. Crowd size is fairly small at Bip Bip as it is a tiny place and maybe 30 folks hang out inside and on the sidewalk to listen. I left in less than an hour due to many bug bites on my ankles / legs, but when I walked back to apt, barely saw any swelling, though lots of itching. Stayed in to follow. So, no Taurus bar in Lapa at r de Lapa 8 - will plan to go tonight - Friday night - which really means around 0200 hrs Sat am.

Folks just arrived to fix the AC here and do some other minor repairs. Now they tell me and the owner that they need parts, which, of course, they do not have, despite these AC folks doing the install, and parts likely will not arrive until 2-3+ weeks. Saw the mini-split air filter. Completely caked with dust and debris. Was never cleaned. And of course, they cannot show me the broken part(s) but will try to do a temporary fix. Owner cannot find me another place for tonight but will "try" for Saturday. LOL and so it goes.

[Latbear4blk]

1 hour ago, travguy said:

Update, Friday the 13th of December 2024 am.

Thursday and today are nice days so far. None of the predicted rain and just a few spotty patches of drizzle yesterday. It is forecast to rain Sat, Mon and next Tuesday. Changed apts and new place is nicer to look at, but bedroom AC does not work and other more minor issues. Went to the cinema by Sext Rose at 1300 hrs (26 R$). From prior trips, I knew it gets a mostly older clientele, but when it does get hot with even a few younger folks (20s-40s and 1-2 pay for play - around 40 R$ in the past though none today), it can be very hot, even better than S R, though as hot as 117 or 202. Left for S R at 1345 as nothing was going on that I was interested in. At S R, 1 or 2 doors away, after messing about with a few guys I was finally very happy in less than 30 minutes. Stayed to play more until 1500 hours. Seemed to be a different group of guys than Tuesday. Got too hungry and left for a late lunch / early dinner. Went to a centro Portuguese restaurant, then a dessert place with better food reviews than Conf. Columbo. The restaurant food was good, but the lady with the CC machine asked me multiple times to leave the tip in cash. Never been asked this before and the food was not inexpensive compared to other nearby restaurants. Quite odd and she insisted the service of 10% was not included. My PT is far from perfect, but I ordered and spoke to the waiter and her only in PT. The nearby dessert place was ok but not as good as the one near Atlantico on Siq Campos in Copa or Cardin in Leblon. C Columbo was right out of a 1900 ish turn of century novel, but most reviews said not to eat there due to high price and poor quality. Went to Bip Bip in Copa near the Fort and the 5-7 member band played from 2200+ hours. There is very little information about the place on the web, and I only found out about it from another tourist a trip or 2 ago. The instagram site says almost nothing, though I expected music to start at 2000 hours, arrived after 2100 hrs, and went a block to the beach at Copa ?Posto 6 area? for a while too. There was a nearby souvenir market at night. Surfed the web courtesy of the Selina Copa hotel / digital nomad workplace across and a few doors down from Bip Bip. The wifi code from Selina Lapa worked just fine. Crowd size is fairly small at Bip Bip as it is a tiny place and maybe 30 folks hang out inside and on the sidewalk to listen. I left in less than an hour due to many bug bites on my ankles / legs, but when I walked back to apt, barely saw any swelling, though lots of itching. Stayed in to follow. So, no Taurus bar in Lapa at r de Lapa 8 - will plan to go tonight - Friday night - which really means around 0200 hrs Sat am.

Folks just arrived to fix the AC here and do some other minor repairs. Now they tell me and the owner that they need parts, which, of course, they do not have, despite these AC folks doing the install, and parts likely will not arrive until 2-3+ weeks. Saw the mini-split air filter. Completely caked with dust and debris. Was never cleaned. And of course, they cannot show me the broken part(s) but will try to do a temporary fix. Owner cannot find me another place for tonight but will "try" for Saturday. LOL and so it goes.

You should have cash for tips. In the US we can add the tip to the CC bill, but in most places I've been to in LATAM, we cannot. 

[travguy]

Latbear4blk: 

I am in your debt for pointing out my unseen cultural / business insensitivity. I did leave the asked for tip in cash.

[Latbear4blk]

45 minutes ago, travguy said:

Latbear4blk: 

I am in your debt for pointing out my unseen cultural / business insensitivity. I did leave the asked for tip in cash.

We all are learning together, fellow traveler. 

[floridarob]

20 hours ago, Latbear4blk said:

You should have cash for tips. In the US we can add the tip to the CC bill, but in most places I've been to in LATAM, we cannot. 

So many places in Brazil add 10% automatically on the bill, not all but most I've been to. 

[Latbear4blk]

51 minutes ago, floridarob said:

So many places in Brazil add 10% automatically on the bill, not all but most I've been to. 

I am bad at checking what is in the bill. Everything is always so cheap!

Thank you for your tip!

[travguy]

Update Saturday 14 Dec 24:

Friday I was busy doing other things so no trips to centro or 117. Friday night I went out late. Walked to Beto de Rato area for music, from M Gloria, but too packed as were the nearby alleys. Saw some 117 GPs drinking at Vila Rica - must have had a good and late night! Then to Taurus around 2345 hrs wait a bit and walk past it to Arcos de Lapa and walk back – near Selina. 40 R$ entry + 5 for locker 0010 hrs ish. People leaving as I arrived. Put stuff in locker except for undies or jock strap. Downstairs is a bar, lockers, and smoking room. Second floor has play spaces, but mostly a 3 x 9 meter or so darkish room. It is not a big place overall. The “show” around 2-0230 hours was simply ?2 gogos having sex with a few customers. But it encouraged others to have sex on and around a 3 x 5 meter big plastic play “mattress”. Almost all of the sex at Taurus is open or semi public as there are only a few private cabins. One sling. Most customers were 40s-60s. A few around 30. Mostly average type folks you might see in a gay bar. Perhaps 1/3 black. Most bottoms were very loose – so not much fun for a top looking for a tight bottom. Lots of oral. Condoms were used by some, though I could never figure out where folks found them. Best to bring your own. I think bottoms brought their own supply of lube. Number of customers varied, but around 30+ would be my guess between MN and around 0300 hours, when I left. No real issues with folks not taking no for an answer. And lots of group sex. But all things considered, I actually had a better time getting off when I get lucky at Sexy Rose. Mind you, I this was my only visit to Taurus and it might be different on different nights, etc. Taurus is bigger than Seven Cruising - but I went to 7 in the afternoon. After Taurus, I walked into Lapa and to the few gay bars in Lapa on r Mem de Sa. But I did not go in, they did not seem busy from the street and unlike in the past the 2nd floor windows were shut and I could not hear the music blaring out or judge the crowd from the street. The rest of the Lapa area was packed to the gills. Mostly folks in their 20s to young 30s partying, drinking, or trying to get laid. Lots of cute young couples. Cab back to Ipanema was easy to find, 60R$ though driver did get lost between Copa and Ipanema. LOL. Saturday is a bit to cloudy for the beach, but at least not raining so far. Late start as I went to bed at 5am. Not much luck via GPs on Grindr, Scruff or GCL website. Maybe I am too timid, but indicated escorts are ok. Maybe the folks were really just tops.

While shopping, some items were less expensive. Perhaps the Chinese are discounting in order to move products. As for restaurant bills, I am accustomed to seeing a 10% service fee added. I do check the bills, at least to be in the ballpark of the expected amount. One trip to Prague (years ago had a reputation for rip offs; not sure about now) cures you of not looking at the bill. The food prices are higher than in the past. I think coffee at the supermarket has doubled in price in the past year for the 1/2 kg vacuum packed bricks. Restaurant prices are up too. The squeeze on middle class Brazilians must be terrible.

 

[floridarob]

23 hours ago, travguy said:

so not much fun for a top looking for a tight bottom.

It is Brasil, lol 🍆

 

 

23 hours ago, travguy said:

I think coffee at the supermarket has doubled in price in the past year for the 1/2 kg vacuum packed bricks. Restaurant prices are up too. The squeeze on middle class Brazilians must be terrible.

 

Damn Biden 🙄

[Docbr01]

On 12/13/2024 at 12:56 PM, Latbear4blk said:

You should have cash for tips. In the US we can add the tip to the CC bill, but in most places I've been to in LATAM, we cannot. 

It’s almost unheard of people demanding tips in cash at restaurants or bars in Brazil. By law a 10-13% tip can be added to all bills (and most restaurants do that) and you pay it together with the rest of the bill - with CC , Pix or money. Sure, restaurant workers would love if you leave a cash tip - as most restaurants take a tax cut from it - but they don’t expect it.
 

You even can say you will not pay the tip (they are obliged to remove it - but I would not advice doing it, you will be acknowledged as persona non grata). 

[travguy]

Update Monday 12/16/24 pm:

Folks, likely best to leave politics off the forum. But somebody had to start in on it. So, I will try to finish it. "Damn Biden" was posted. He neither controls coffee prices (bad harvest due to bad weather conditions in the growing areas I was told) nor inflation. Question: who supports LGBQTI+ civil rights: much of Europe, Canada, Brazil (Lula), and the US Democrats. Push back against Trans and abortion rights: Republicans. Easy Breezy to figure out. Outside the US, many folks are aghast by the US election results. Here in Brazil Bolsonaro (boasting he was the Brazilian Trump) was elected some years ago when Lula was banned from running for office due to alleged or true crimes in office. But he was not re-elected. South Korea, Britain, France, and Germany all have major political issues now. Japan isn't exactly stable politically. Thailand has a King that you cannot sort of disagree with publicly. Canada is right behind in political instability, but quietly. Is anyone on the Forum from a stable place? The world has become a crazy place.

As for the tips, as a customer in a restaurant, sort of hard to sort this out at the last minute especially after drinks. Yes, perhaps best if the restaurant added the 10% as most do. Should we ask the restaurant to add the tip to the cc bill? What if they don't or what if we cannot ask that in a language foreign to us. Is it poor form to say "charge it" or leave no tip at all. In the US and Canada, managers are expected to pay out tips in cash to the employees each night. So they eat the ? 6% cc fee. I assume they have enough cash paying customers to cover this. Cultural stuff is difficult to sort through even when sober. I certainly do not have a magic solution.

Saturday, the only gay thing I did was pay a visit to 117. Locker 007, but was Bond gay? Busy enough, but not like a week before at Junior's Bday party at 202 or Tuesday night at 117. I think drink prices must be pretty high as I got some for the GPs I hung and did stuff with. 

DId not stay out late Saturday night after the Friday all nighter. Not 18 anymore. LOL

Sunday started icky from what must have been some decent amount of rain overnight or very early morning. But by noon was nice. Had lunch which came with 2 shots of some unknown firewater. Thankfully, my belly had food in it to withstand the D Day landing the shots tried to do on my stomach. Hippie Fair in Ipanema was quiet vs last week. I walked the beach, but it was not that crowded. Water was freezing cold. So, I assume there was a big storm overnight. Far fewer hotties at the beach vs prior weekend. Lots of out gay couples. I was a bit pink, so I stayed less than an hour. I saw a young kid missing a leg. So sad. Reminds me of how lucky we are. Went to Sexy Rose from around 1630-1800+ hours. My luck there continued. Then walked to Gloria, Caipirinhas were as cheap as 12 R$ for 770 ml - which would last me a week, a month, a year.... though most seemed be around 20 R$ for 400-500 ml, stopping by Beto do Rato and the end of the Gloria Sunday market. Caught 2 music groups by the M Rio station. One group was doing samba type ballads. Multigenerational groups were singing along. Never heard any of these before. Lots of young folks trying to get laid. About 500 plus folks in this area. The usual suspects...... The second group, a Banda, had a larger pick up brass band and drum circle combo. Technically they were good. These folks included many gender fluid individuals. But only around 50 or so folks hanging out. Saw a few gays tonguing and grabbing ass in front of their straight friends. But I have never seen so many of our lesbian sisters going at it before. Seems to me like they often are not into public displays of affection. Maybe the CIA was dropping some acid in Gloria via drones onto folks...LOL. Stayed in Gloria until around 1930 hours, and it was still pretty busy with music and crowds. Mind you, all of this was free and not even a tip jar for the Banda. Lots of gay couples out in Ipanema Sunday night as I strolled back to my place.

Monday became pretty hot in the afternoon. Did tourist things of old Portuguese influence: the library near M Urugaiana. 350K books, many shipped from Portugal in the late 1800s. Lovely place - but mosquitos ate me alive here. I was also soaked in sweat from the heat and humidity - yeah, a real dream date. Sao Bento Monastery, also lovely, but no Gregorian chanting when I went. Sundays at 1000 hours I think.  Went to some more old churches as well. I did not understand the opera house style 2nd story balcony like areas in the churches here in Rio. Maybe the rich and powerful attended services in them. Did a bit more shopping in centro. Then it poured rain, but ended in about 15 minutes and was much cooler. Some street flooding quickly dissipated. Went to Sexy Rose from around 1630-1815 hours. Yup, more loose bottoms. But it only takes one tight bottom...LOL. Yes, more fun, so no Novo Meio Mundo or 202/117 tonight. Still no luck via the apps. Lots of friendly chat but no meet ups yet. These guys are 25-45 y.o. and not GPs. Not sure what the attraction to me is. I watched some folks try to resolve some business issues while stuck in the rain. I do not know the context, but it seemed the Brazilian business guy had an unhappy customer / group. I thought compromise from both parties would solve the issue, but the Brazilian guy simply wanted to return the money to the customer / group in cash and offered apologies over circumstances he could not control. Perhaps he wanted business from these folks in the future. Brazilians can be very kind and generous in both big and small ways. Let the kindness show through. 

[floridarob]

36 minutes ago, travguy said:

"Damn Biden" was posted. He neither controls coffee prices (bad harvest due to bad weather conditions in the growing areas I was told) nor inflation.

Was the point of the rolling eyes, sarcasm. Many people thought inflation was his fault, but it was happening all over the world, so obviously it wasn't him.

 

 

38 minutes ago, travguy said:

. I think drink prices must be pretty high as I got some for the GPs I hung and did stuff with. 

They love high end liquor mixed with energy drinks (when someone else is paying) which makes high end liquor a waste of money.  

When someone asks me for a drink, that I'm willing to buy for (so many people that I don't know or don't care for ask and I tell them no) I'll confirm what they are drinking first... sauna mixed drink prices aren't cheap, a lot of it is more than a high end restaurant.

[ShivRoy]

Excellent reports @travguy - we overlapped on some days in Rio. My two cents: 117 on Tues (we were on the same day) was amazing and full of so many hot guys - it's been a while since I remember it this way. Other days at 117 were not that spectacular - not that bad, but Tues blew it all away. It's good they built even more more (dingy) suites downstairs so infamous waits for a suite are much shorter from what I've seen.

I've been to the Junior BDay at 202 - it was the most people I've ever seen at 202 in all those years, more than I've seen on Carnaval or around New Year's - the pasta buffet was pretty weird (it was very heavy and just plain weird to have a heavy cheap pasta with a cheap sauce to stuff your face with while you are in a towel amidst some great GPs). I see they bought even more monitors to show Cher on and put them everywhere - from the clients' perspective, I could already see Cher from everywhere, so that investment going into making suites nicer would be more appreciated lol. Another interesting point from that night: there were lots and lots of people, but not many were hiring - at no point there was a queue for the suites. That was interesting, I wonder why. I was at 202 on Monday, and it was OK  - by Weds I was gone already.