mvan1

While it is true that one can use advanced equipment to monitor activities, all it takes is for the internet signal to drop and the surveillance equipment stops working until the signal is restored. I believe that whoever steals from the condo knows about cameras and how to disable them. It is a losing battle.

Good idea, however, security devices can be disabled for periods of time. Internet could go out (on purpose) and the theft could take place. I would not know the exact date of the theft because I am often not in Brazil. I would only know of the theft after I return. Nope, as I said, buying a condo in Brazil was the dumbest thing I ever did.

Ah ha, you are thinking like an honest American. Even if I installed such cameras, I believe the Brazilians who stole the furniture would be knowledgeable enough to disable the cameras long enough for another theft to take place. The only way to stop the theft would be for me to either live there, keep the tenants living there or have someone else live there. When the condo is empty of someone living in it, the condo is a sitting duck for theft. The Brazilians know that I am thousands of miles away and will not know of the theft until I return. Such an invitation is hard to resist for a crook.

Brazil's economy is in the pits. The unemployment rate is horrific. How could any Brazilian afford to buy my condo? I have had several meetings with bankers and prospective buyers only to leave the meeting after hearing the banker tell the prospective buyer they cannot give the buyer a mortgage for the property. I have gone through that too many times. I now just let the tenant pay me the rent (usually late) and I continue to pay the monthly condo fees and other expenses. I figure if Brazil ever recovers to a point where the economy is stable, I might move back into the condo but I have not figured out how to keep the furniture from being stolen while I am not in the condo. I look at it as just a bad investment that might one day be a place to use As to the real bottoming out, I do not think that is so. How can anyone make a prediction like that when Brazil's economy is in such a terrible state? As much as I care for Brazil, I think things will be rough for a while or at least a few years. What possible way can Brazil pull out of its present economic calamity? Look at the low salaries people who are making - those who are lucky to be working - Terrible Not a pretty picture, by any means.

No doubt about it. However, how can a non resident gringo and part-time condo resident go up against Brazilians who deny any involvement in the disappearance of the items?

It is a combination of issues but the major devaluation is the fact that I bought the condo when the real was trading around 160 or so. In other words, I had to use more U.S. dollars to buy the condo then than if I bought it today for the same price in Brazilian reais. If I were to sell the condo even at the same price I paid, the exchange rate is less than half of what is was when the condo was purchased. Then there are the upgrades to the condo that added to the cost. Back then, when President Lula was in office, Brazil was the shining star of South America. There were predictions of great wealth and growth for Brazil and for those who made investments there. I knew several Americans who also bought condos in Brazil. We all took a hit. However, I am the last one standing. After the corruption scandals involving Brazilian politics, Brazil's currency began a negative slide and you know the exchange rate today - 3.75 to 1 usd.

I agree. They knew that the gullible gringo who bought the condo was not there a good portion of the time. Even though many Brazilians are wonderful people, there are also dishonest Brazilians.

It depends on who is buying and who is selling and when the property was purchased. Right now, the U.S. dollar and other major currencies are strong against the Brazilian real. Real estate in Rio and other parts of Brazil are cheap for those with a strong currency. However, for Brazilians, the properties are too costly. To answer the Rio part of your question, here is a portion of the below linked article from Forbes" "Rio de Janeiro real estate prices fell over 2% over the last 12 months, correcting for inflation. The capital city of Brasilia saw a 1.2% decline year-over-year. Prices continue to decline in real terms nationwide. Inflation ended the year at 6.5%. Here is the full aricle: https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2017/01/04/brazil-real-estate-distressed-investing/#6b014a083cdc

Americans buying Real Estate in Brazil - don't do it! I started visiting Brazil about fifteen years ago. Like most Americans, I was taken in by the lifestyle and the fascinating garotos. So much that I visited Brazil every other month for the first few years I began visiting Brazil. Sometimes I visited more often. One day I decided to take the advice of several Americans who had purchased condos in Brazil. I looked for and finally found a condo I liked and I bought it. After making an offer, I had to apply for and get a CPF number to furnish to the real estate company and to whomever needed the number to record me as the new owner. Buying real property in Brazil was probably the dumbest thing I ever did. After being ripped off by three different supposed “contractors” to remodel the condo (which they only did partially and badly), I was finally able to move in. I bought furniture and settled into a fairly nice condo. However, I had to return to the U.S. every month or so because of other commitments I had. The first time I returned to the Brazilian condo after being gone about one month, the refrigerator, the stove, the television and other furniture had been stolen from my condo. This was despite there being a 24-hour guard on the front door of the building. After replacing the stolen items, I moved back to the condo. After a few weeks, I again returned to the U.S. and I returned only to find more furniture stolen from the condo. I replaced the stolen items only to have them stolen yet a third time. That was it. I decided an absentee occupant of a condo in Brazil was not workable. I immediately returned to a hotel and put the condo up for rent and/or for sale. The "return on my investment" is negative, big time. The price of real estate in Sao Paulo has not gone up like is inaccurately implied in these forums. My condo is worth less than one-third of what I paid for it (not counting the multiple thefts of furniture and the dead beat tenants that did not pay their rent or the fake contractors who got me to advance money for remodeling they did not do). Not only is it a hassle as a part-time occupant having a condo in Brazil. Each month there are condo fees, utilities, door men to pay (24 hour services). Worse though is the fact that Americans who do not own a business in Brazil cannot legally open a checking account even to pay their condo bills. You cannot pay condo fees and other condo related expenses with credit cards. Having no Brazilian bank account means repeated trips to an ATM machine to get cash to pay the condo and other expenses. No, owning a condo in Brazil as a part time resident is not something I recommend or am happy about doing. Nope, hotels are fine for me -

With respect to safety. A month or so, ago, I posted instructions how to download a Brazilian app to an American smart phone. The app is a Rio de Janeiro app and it sends smart phones (where ever the phone is) a message each and every time a shooting is reported to the local police in Rio. The app is intended for Brazilians but it is accessible to anyone in most parts of the world. The app signals at least once each hour. That is a lot of shootings reported. Not all shootings are in favelas. The time and address of each shooting shows in the app signal. To install the app on Android, go to the Play store and enter OTT (onde Tem Tiroteio) - The app is free. The app can also be install on an IPhone. I think if you install this app and see the locations shown where the shootings occur, you will know to be cautious while in Brazil. I am not saying you should not go to Brazil or that you should go there in fear. I am saying that there is crime and you should be cautious. On your comment about your liking to have a kitchen and all, you never know what kind of apartment you will get when renting in Brazil. Some apartments are quite nice but many are quite shabby and/or are in bad neighborhoods. Considering this is your first trip and you are there only one week, you might want to consider a hotel and check out possible apartment facilities for your next trip. As to meeting guys on dating apps in Brazil, it is fairly easy to do. Just be careful when you communicate if you do not know Portuguese. Translating apps are good but they are not always helpful for meeting a garoto from an app. Saunas are safe and practical, especially for a first time visitor. Sorry for being negative about Brazil. I love Brazil but you are a new traveler to Brazil and I think you should be aware that the reports about Rio being dangerous are true. Plain and simple.

I must be missing something. I have gone to Thermas in Barcelona many times. I have never had guys be pushy. While it is true that many guys will ask repeatedly if you are interesting in having a thing with them, I found that a polite - no thank you - in various languages had them move on only to return a while later with the same question. None was ever rude. Many were charming but they were not my type. Pushy - never.

"Yes, for many, being in Brazil is a cure-all for many things." (from my post) Good observation on your part. I realize that you like Asia. However, "for many" is almost equivalent to "in my opinion" "Elements of writing style" Cheers,

Yes, for many, being in Brazil is a cure-all for many things. You can be yourself and more. There is no other place in the world like it. No doubt about it.

Information and a history lesson on cell phones in Brazil I think those of us who travel to Brazil have had different experiences with respect to getting working telephone service. When I started going to Brazil fifteen years ago (many more than 100 trips ago), most garotos had old portable telephones without internet. That is when I got my first Brazil phone and number. It was in Rio. I still have that same number working. The only difference with the number is that throughout Brazil, a digit 9 was placed before all cell phone numbers. Brazil was running out of numbers and that was a solution for then and now. I did not know any Portuguese language at the time I got my first phone. I bought the phone for communicating with garotos that I met either at the saunas or through friends. I also used the phone to coordinate with travel companions and other business. I followed the advice of Americans who told me how to get a Brazil phone number which was usually not good advice. I decided to learn how to get SIM cards in my own name. I got a CPF number but I later learned that a passport is fine enough and that a CPF is NOT needed to get a new Brazil phone number Over time I began visiting various cities in Brazil and found that "roaming" with a Brazil phone did not work well (back during 2003 until about 2008). Therefore, I decided to buy a SIM card for various Brazilian cities I visited on a frequent basis. Again, I had no problem using a passport to get a new phone number. Over time, the internet expanded with efficiency and phones became ubiquitous and almost every garoto had a phone with internet. Then whatsapp came along. That became the magic carpet for keeping in touch with friends and all garotos in most parts of the world. I still keep my original Rio and Sao Paulo TIM phone numbers active. This is easy to do. All you need do is add enough funds to the card that will give six months validity. In the case of TIM the amount needed to keep the phone active for six months is R$50. Of course, you need to use the phone in Brazil at least once every three months or the number will go dormant and your unused funds will be lost. If you think you will not return within three months, you can still keep the number active by going on-line to tim.com.br and setting up an on-line account. You should set up the account while in Brazil because a confirmation text will be sent to the Brazil number you are registering on-line. After you have the on-line account and if you do not make it back to Brazil within 90 days of when you last used your phone, you can subscribe to a promotion on TIM's site and add internet for a couple of dollars or less. You will be charged through any funds you have prepaid. However, you will not be able to use the internet from TIM but the charge will keep your number active for another three months or until your prepaid funds are consumed. Depending who you ask about SIM cards for Brazil you will sometimes get correct answers and many times you get just plain wrong answers. Bottom line - you don't need a CPF to get a working SIM card (phone number) in Brazil. I hope this history lesson helps some newbies who visit Brazil or some regulars who want to get a Brazil phone and are not familiar with Brazil’s phone systems.

Thanks for posting about the new service from GRU to centro (Luz station) . I think having such a train between Sao Paulo - GRU is a good idea for airport employees. However, using such a service by travelers to and from GRU with luggage could be problematic. Taking luggage on a metro in Brazil would be too dangerous and inviting for danger. On the other hand, for travel only with hand carry luggage, the new train could be a good thing. For those interested in the service, here is an article that discusses the train, the schedule and prices: http://anptrilhos.org.br/sao-paulo-inaugurates-train-line-to-guarulhos-airport/?lang=en I am wondering if you might make a new thread to alert readers from this forum who visit Sao Paulo about the new train service from GRU to the Luz station in centro. As it is, the information about the new train service might be of interest to many readers but the information is buried at the end of this thread about another strike. Just a thought.

Brazil is not yet back to normal. Check out this article for cancellations prompted by the trucker strike - https://riodejaneiroinformer.com/27742/brazils-holiday-weekend-plans-cancelled-due-to-strike/

Even if things in Brazil are getting "unpleasant" as you wrote, I would bet that you will miss Brazil just as soon as your aircraft lifts off Brazilian soil. When you get home, you will miss Brazil even more.

Thanks for the Folha de SPaulo article. That publication is more reliable than the Rio Times publication. The article you furnished gives quite a different opinion of the Pertrobas strike. I hope your article is correct.

Just when we thought the truck drivers strike of more than one week ended (that brought chaos to Brazil's economy and everyday life) today (5-30-2018) another strike begins by Petrobas. When will Brazil return to normal? Check out this link - http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazils-petrobras-delivers-further-blow-to-economy-with-72-hour-strike/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+(The+Rio+Times)

And this one, too, which shows that she probably would have been an efficient prison guard if she had any choice in the matter -

Good news that she is gone. She and Trump share the same bigoted and hateful view of anyone who is not white. Her recent tweets confirm this fact. Although she said she was sorry for saying what she did, if she did not really think that way, she would not have written those hideous tweets. Her apology is insincere. She apologized solely in an attempt to save her job which she rightfully lost.

Even though the person who calls himself "daddy" set up his forum to be separate from the escort review, on the forum is still enough language and discussions about escorts to lead readers straight to escort ads and to the reviews by way of links. Therefore, I don't see why his site is accessible via aircraft wi-fi while this site is not. If ever there was a double standard, there is one, for sure. Here is a link to the subject matter you mentioned about Senator Warren co-sponsoring a bill to strip away sex workers banking privileges: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/human-trafficking-banking-bill-sex-workers_us_5b045577e4b0740c25e5efd1 I always thought she was a decent sort of person and a person out for citizen rights. I had no idea how insensitive and bigoted she is. Although I dislike Trump, I now applaud Trump calling Senator Warren - Pocahontas There is discussion about that woman (Senator Warren) running for president in the next election. If the gays got wind of her co-sponsoring this hateful bill, I think her idea of running for president is a doomed fantasy.

I wonder why message-forum never is blocked. If you read the content there, it is highly sexual many times. Could it be Panasonic doing it? Is there a way around it? Thanks

After eight days of highway blocking lunacy, the truckers strike is over in Brazil - or at least the truckers have agreed to stop blocking the highways across the nation and make deliveries they are supposed to make. It will take a few days for Brazil to recover from the numerous highway blockages and truck strike but at least there is optimism on the horizon - - if the truck drivers keep their word. Check out this article for latest details: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/brazils-government-gives-in-to-truckers-demands-to-end-strike/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+(The+Rio+Times)

Was the hamburger at least hot? With so little help in room service, food often sits around after it is cooked. Cold food is not for me, especially a hamburger - yuk! Like you expressed, I also experienced the Uber hike in fees ostensibly because of the strike. While getting ready to summon an Uber to take me to GRU, the price quoted in the Uber app was more than twice the usual price to GRU. Before I clicked the button to summon Uber, I saw a cab sitting in front of the building. I asked the cab driver if he had a flat rate to GRU. He quoted me only R$100 which I immediately accepted. Of course, when we got to GRU, I gave him a hefty tip since his price was lower than Uber. I got to GRU without encountering any truckers blocking the highway.