msclelovr

Remarkable! For those who, like me, don’t speak Portuguese…I just ran this through Google Translate: Life in Ceará was very difficult… I was, because I came from a humble family, and we were in six brothers. Every northeaster's dream is to live in São Paulo, but when I arrived, I had worse trouble than in Ceará. When I arrived, I lived in an aunt's house. I suffered humiliation and neglect. And I started to work with everything that appeared: I was a clerk, a janitor, I ironed clothes in Brás, etc. And arriving in Rio de Janeiro, how was it? I ended up getting involved with prostitution on Avenida São Luís and an agent asked me if I wanted to go to a friend of his, a transvestite, in Rio de Janeiro. At the time I didn't know what a transvestite was. And I came to Rio, living in Baratão 200 [a building on Rua Barata Ribeiro with 507 apartments where, in the past, he became famous for appearing on television in police investigation programs]. I ended up being exploited by her too, and I was almost a "slave". I started working to pay her rent and all her expenses. Also, she barely let me out of the apartment and I still slept on the floor. It was only three months, but of intense suffering.

No, it was a chaotic shambles. Personally I didn’t agree with British troops being sent there in the first place. The best description IMHO came months earlier from a Conservative politician who was sharply rebuked for saying in Parliament that Afghanistan “was a medieval and barbaric country when we went in, and it will remain a medieval and barbaric country when we leave”.

I knew him when we were both young men. I’d never describe him as handsome as he had an angular face and a very big nose. We had what I’d call a nodding acquaintance as we’d acknowledge each other with a nod when we met. We weren’t friends as he was consumed with his film-making and I was heavily involved in the political aspects of gay liberation.

Very well written @Slvkguy . You’ve perfectly described the hazards of being a rich foreigner in Rio. Personally I have always considered Rio to be a more dangerous city than Cape Town simply because the poor areas are much closer to the tourist zones.

I’ve travelled solo a lot…in Latin America, Africa and Europe (but only a little in Asia and not at all in the Middle East)….and I’ve never encountered any problems. I do however act cautiously, even in places I know well. By this, I mean: I dress down and hide any obvious signs of wealth; I also ask various locals for advice on safety and what areas may be dangerous; and I keep a clear head (I like to drink with dinner but I stay sober) and always know the area I’m in. Places change over time and so I always check whether certain places or areas I like have changed since I last visited. I think @bert that as long as you’re savvy and stay alert, you should be fine in Brazil. I feel problems arise when visitors get too carried away by the delights of Rio in particular and Brazil in general (the charming, fit young men who prefer older men, and the relaxed atmosphere at the beach).

I read about the new variant in The NY Times yesterday. Their report was, to my mind, more alarming than this later report on the BBC. FWIW I agree with @vinapu that his “second option” is the way to live. And so I guess I won’t be going on my usual trip to SA in January.

Succinctly put @floridarob And if more people did as you do, there would be many fewer sad reports of assault (and worse).

Then I wish you good luck negotiating in Portuguese @Vanbcanthony. I speak 5 languages but I find it very hard to understand Portuguese when it is spoken rapidly to me. At least, if you write down the sum or rate that you’ll pay, there can be no argument later about what fee was agreed.

You might also carry with you @Vanbcanthony a small paper notebook and a pen. Then you can easily note down any phone numbers, time agreed on for a date or meeting, and of course prices when you are negotiating.

Do you mean what budget is needed for an expat American or European to have a middle-class standard of living @Vanbcanthony or for a local? I have a few Brazilian friends, two who are in the middle class and each of them has told me of how they live from paycheck to paycheck (with a nice flat in SP, newish car etc) but little savings.

Time and lots of dollars heal all wounds @Kevie770

My 2 cents @TotallyOz: Spain. My preference for a city, based on numerous visits and long stays, is Barcelona for the great mix of culture, amenities, healthcare and easy access to other countries. My second choice is the Balearic Islands; I have a place in Palma de Mallorca which I love visiting but I wouldn’t choose the small city as a main base. I’ve also visited Argentina often and spent more than a year there. The culture is very interesting but I find nothing works easily there. Healthcare is very good assuming you can pay for the private hospitals. I find the level of “insecurity” (as locals term violence and street-crime) disturbing even tho I was never robbed there. There are a lot of attractive young men who like older men…but they like to talk a lot and have to be persuaded into bed. Brazil is much easier if you want companions.

Ah, now I understand. Thanks @Tomcal

Not in jest @Tomcal but is this correct: you put your name down after 7.40pm and got there at 5am?! As someone who sees spending time in bars as wasting time, I can’t understand what you do outside the room - just chat with old and new friends?

I look forward to your detailed reports @Tomcal on Brazil and its men. Meantime I have to ask: is it true that the bigger the font-size, the bigger the cock? 😎

Yet Al Jazeera reports that deaths from COVID in Brazil exceed 600,000. And there is a part-protest, part-memorial on Copacabana beach to the dead. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/9/brazil-surpasses-600000-covid-deaths

You’ve made me recall many happy evenings @PeterRS with this thread. I must play some of the recordings I have of Jessye Norman (JN). I wouldn’t have said that she performed on opera stages much less than Kiri Te Kanawa (KTK) but I was always more of a fan of JN than KTK. I saw both in various operas but I saw JN in many different roles. Certainly JN appeared very often in recital whereas I only attended 2 recitals by KTK. IMO KTK had a lovely voice in its prime but it was a small voice and didn’t work well in large opera houses or large concert halls. Just to add to what you wrote about encores, early training and fees. (1) I always felt JN was relaxed and at her best in the encores and I looked forward to her choices. I heard her sing He’s Got The Whole World In His Hands to close various recitals. At other times, she sang American spirituals. (2) I recall an interview she gave on BBC Radio years ago about her life and career. She spoke about working in Germany and how keen she was to be taught by one particular teacher (IIRC Pierre Bernac) in another city: he refused but she persisted. He then told JN he could only see her at 7am each day. She said “so I got up each day at 5am for 3 years to have my lessons with him”. I was very amused in the same interview when the respectful interviewer observed JN’s voice wasn’t exactly soprano nor a mezzo, and asked how she would describe it. JN immediately retorted “I’’M A SINGER!” in her original Georgia accent, and not the posh English tones she sometimes affected. (3) I heard about the fees privately from one Opera House General Manager. Subsequently I confirmed what was said with another General Manager. At that time, early 1980s, the Four Tenors were each being paid US$10,000 per night. JN insisted upon the same fee and was paid it. Both General Managers confirmed that JN was the only female singer to be paid so much, and one added no-one else “came close”.

Thanks for posting this @PeterRS. For many years, I attended every performance Jessie Norman gave both in recital and in opera in Europe and the US. Her voice was truly magnificent in its prime. The last time I heard her sing was when she gave a recital and a masterclass at UCLA (in 2008). I talked to her socially only twice: once years ago after dinner at a rather aristocratic “ball” in England) and the second time when she happened to be staying in my building on the UES (in 2012 IIRC). Ms Norman was quite a diva (in the popular sense) at times. I was once very amused to see her arrive at a London venue in a chauffeured Mini. She was sitting in the back but did manage to emerge somewhat elegantly from the tiny car. And did you know @PeterRS that she was the only soprano that opera houses worldwide paid at the same, very elevated rate that each of the ‘Four Tenors’ earned?

One aspect many posters may be unaware of…Greek policemen often work in ‘plain clothes’. They do this to catch visitors and locals who think to break the law, particularly nowadays the pandemic regulations. On-the-spot fines are levied. One example is that it’s lawful to NOT wear a mask when eating outdoors at a taverna, but you MUST wear a mask when stepping inside to use the bathroom. It didn’t happen to our party of friends, but one dinner time 3 people from 2 nearby tables entered, forgetting to put on masks first. All were grabbed by plain clothes police officers as they tried to rejoin their friends - the fine was €300 each (if paid instantly) but it escalates sharply if you argue about being fined, go to court etc

Life is short @davet and I don’t believe in wasting time. When I’m in a new city and I’ve found out which gym is fashionable/which has the hottest trainers, it’s straightforward. 1. I work out on my own 1x or 2x as part of checking out the trainers. I don’t go at “rush-hour”; I usually go mid/late morning when the trainers aren’t busy. Sometimes trainers have approached me to chat and ask if I’m interested in personal training. If not, I book personal training sessions at reception and say I want to work out with A or B or C (the hot guys I fancy). Reception is always happy to book who you want. 2. When I’m exercising with the trainer, I’m very friendly and chat. I tell the guy I’m visiting on my own, looking for some fun, and that I’m into men. If this sparks some interest with the trainer, I add that I’m happy to invite him out and pay for drinks or dinner. Also I emphasize that I’m low-key and discreet. If there’s no interest on his part, I ask him if he can recommend a friend who will help me out. Generally speaking, trainers know who is gay-friendly and could use some extra cash. 3. I make a point of inviting that first trainer out to lunch after our session, even if he’s turned me down. The trainers all talk together and it helps to be known as the friendly, generous new guy who’s into men. Once I’ve got names and phone numbers, I’m pretty direct. When trainers ask me what I’m into, I state I’m pretty vanilla but I’m a selfish top. If they want more details, I add that I’m into deep kissing, I like to fuck, and I really enjoy getting sucked off to completion.

That’d be the Perfect Boyfriend experience @Slvkguy 😛

Very well put @Riobard. Over the years, I’ve had a lot of fun with hot personal trainers. Some were gay but many defined as str8. The str8 guys who wanted to earn extra $ sometimes had limits/restrictions on what they would do, such as only dry kissing or no cum in mouth. I always agreed and respected their limits. The trainers, however, often relaxed and did much more on further dates.

When I was in a new city, I always looked to train at a fashionable gym. So I asked the gay guys I met which gym they considered to have the best trainers, equipment etc and which gym was popular with gay men. Usually it was easy to discover the best place to go. And when I joined, I used to say I preferred to train with a gay trainer. That inevitably led to questions being asked of me…and when I met a cute trainer, I discussed “and more” as you put it @Ethanmiami

Please don’t take offence @PeterRS. I’m not disputing what you wrote, and I’m certainly not disputing the causes identified in expert reports. I apologise if you feel slighted - it was not my intention. My comment was intended to highlight the emphasis on tyres and debris on runways - a problem common to all aircraft. I mentioned Sydney & Concorde because it is an example of disaster luckily averted. Maybe my understanding is wrong but I cited what a senior manager (in Engineering) at BA told me in confidence at the time, that if the part of the rudder has sheared off in the other direction it would have cut through the lines on that side and the aircraft would have been unflyable (and crashing into the Sydney urban area with great loss of life).

I agree @a-447 but my point was that BA did it monthly on Concorde