mvan1

Hi OZ, you asked about AA - Tomcal's answer is correct. If you were to use Delta or United, it is not that easy or thrifty as with AA. With Delta and United, unless you purchase a fare to Brazil that is middle range economy (generally around $1,500 - $1,800) you cannot upgrade to business class unless you first upgrade the lower fare ticket, then come up with lots of miles, plus a "change fee" to upgrade the initial ticket. With AA, any paid fare is eligible for "co-pay" plus miles. Of the three major air carriers (AA, UA and DL), unquestionably, AA has the most customer friendly fee and upgrade structure from economy to business class.

Amazing. That price is more a gift than a charge for transportation, considering how far the flight is. You probably already know that if you bought your ticket with American Airlines, you can upgrade to business class for only $350 each direction plus 25,000 miles, each direction. Some business class fares to Brazil run more than $5,000 - $7,500. You have to wonder why the fares are so low.

I just got an e-mail advising me that American Airlines is selling tickets from Los Angeles to Sao Paulo for $574.00 - round trip - including all taxes. The taxes usually are around one hundred dollars, considering the Brazil exit tax. This means that the fare to the airline, round-trip, is only about $474. Can it be the fares to Brazil are cheap because the airlines got so many cancellations for Brazil and there are lots of empty seats? There has to be a reason for the fares to drop like they never before were. Here is a link to the latest fare discussed above - http://www.theflightdeal.com/2015/06/25/american-574-los-angeles-sao-paulo-brazil-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/?utm_source=The+Flight+Deal+Daily+DealsLetter&utm_campaign=495d0a17e0-The_Flight_Deal_Daily_Deals_Letter3_2_2015&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_eb7686b6a9-495d0a17e0-174829325 -

Yes, my opinion sounds a bit sad. However, my opinion does not mean defeat. The opinions I expressed about Brazil were influenced by my many trips to Brazil, where I have spent much time. During my trips there, I have never seen Brazil with so many problems for the locals as there are now. When the locals have problems, such as Brazil's severe unemployment and out-of-control inflation and an increase in crime, those problems spill over to affect Brazil's visitors (us tourists). Census data shows the median age in Brazil during 2014 was 30.7 - This means that half of the population of Brazil is between 30 and 31 years old. It does not take a genius to understand the impact on Brazil’s standards, values and its economy while its most viable youthful workers cannot find work. I think there will be a few "rough" years ahead for Brazil. Those rough years will continue to affect visitors to Brazil. I agree with your other comment that there will (likely) always be places where Americans and Europeans can go to have a good time. In the meantime, I do not plan to give up on Brazil. My next trip is coming up in a little over a week.

Not only the above, Brazil's Central Bank economists also predict worse inflation through the end of this year. What has happened to our wonderful Brazil? Even though the currency exchange rate has improved for foreigners, Brazil's out-of-control inflation has diminished much of our gain from the improved currency exchange rate. For reasons that are complex, but understandable, it is the garotos who keep their prices far less than Brazil's current inflation. Most other commodities in Brazil are increasing in price daily. Considering that foreigners are only a fraction of the clients of garotos, it is only a guess what the future brings to the sauna scene in Brazil. Logic tells us the saunas will continue. However, if business continues to drop off at the saunas and fewer clients can afford to pay for entrance and/or garotos, it is conceivable that the few remaining saunas in Brazil could slip into history like other formerly popular saunas we have seen come and go. I doubt that will happen, but it is possible. See this depressing article: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/brazils-central-bank-increases-inflation-forecast-for-2015/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 -

Picasso Exhibit Opens in Rio de Janeiro at CCBB today RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Following the recent record-breaking sale of Spanish artist Pablo Picasso’s “Les femmes d’Alger (version O)” for over US$179 million, Rio de Janeiro’s Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil (CCBB) will host the exhibition “Picasso e a Modernidade Espanhola” (Picasso and Spanish Modernity). The exhibit is expected to continue until September 7th http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-entertainment/picasso-exhibition-opens-in-rio-de-janeiro/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 There is no charge to see the exhibit -

DUPLICATE - PLEASE DELETE

“Does anyone know how affordable the other restaurants are?” At Casa Urich, the prices are considered high by some Rio residents. For example, a main dish, excluding drinks and other items is around R$30 to R$40. At the current exchange rate, this is equal to only about $10 or $13 dollars, U.S. Adding in drinks, particularly hard liquor, can increase the price by as much as the meal, itself. Similar pricing applies to the other restaurant I recommended, Confeiraria Colombo. As to your other question, whether it is feasible to go often with the garotos is something that depends on you and on the habits of your friend and of the garotos. It also depends on how adventurous you and your group are. Since you will be in Rio a little over two weeks, it would be something special to see these historical restaurants and experience them for dining. However, you would not want to go there every day. The downside of the two restaurants is that they are both in downtown Rio. This means that you would be safer to visit these restaurants during lunch time or late afternoon. I don’t know if either restaurant is open during the evening. If you have any “special” garotos who spend the night with you (and depending on where in Rio you plan to stay), taking a garoto to either of these restaurants would be something they would highly enjoy and never forget.

“Then 62 people are greatly mistaken as to what one could consider good to fine German/European cuisine.” According to what you claim, 62 other folks who wrote reviews for Tripadvisor are “greatly mistaken” and only you are right. Good grief, all I did was respond to a question that asked for some recommendations for a restaurant in Rio. I gave my opinion about Casa Urich, a restaurant I enjoy and have visited many times. In response, you called that well-respected and well-reviewed restaurant “terrible” which was certainly your right to do. In response to your assertion that the restaurant is “terrible” I furnished web link addresses to the restaurant and to Tripadvisor reviews of the restaurant that do not share your assessment of the restaurant. I furnished the links for others so that they could make up their own mind about the restaurant. Instead of letting the matter go, as a rational person would do, you posted the following: “MVAN1. Stop the cut and paste shit already. I've eaten there more than once. The question is have you? If anyone thinks that when dining at Casa Urich, they will enjoy food at all similar to what one will find at a German, Polish or Czech restaurant back in the States, they are in for a major disappointment.” In addition to your strange posting cited above, you also said that I had posted a review about the zoo in Rio. See below: “I cannot forget your cut and paste job at this site or the other one concerning the wonderful reviews for the quite sad zoo in Rio either.” I have never been to the zoo in Rio and did not “cut and paste” any review of the place because I know nothing of it and have never seen it.

Do you know the two guys in the third picture? They are in several porno movies. The guy with the ring on his left thumb is named Marcelo.

It's a good thing we all like different things and different places. That "terrible" Casa Urich has 62 reviews on Trip Advisor and most of the reviews are very good to excellent - Of the 62 reviews, 16 rated it excellent, 39 rated it very good, 5 rated it average, 1 person rated it poor and 1 person rated it terrible. Here is a link to the Trip Advisor ratings and a little more about the restaurant. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g303506-d2352693-Reviews-Casa_Urich-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html - There was no "cut and past' in my response. I simply recommended the restaurant and supplied web link addresses to it and to reviews from Tripadvisor. 'I've eaten there more than once. The question is have you?' I have eaten at Casa Urich many times. Sometimes with only one other person and at other times with several friends. Similar to the reviews shown in the link I provided to Tripadvisor, none of us found the restaurant "terrible" as you reported. I never stated or implied "If anyone thinks that when dining at Casa Urich, they will enjoy food at all similar to what one will find at a German, Polish or Czech restaurant back in the States, they are in for a major disappointment." I did not state or imply that the food at Casa Urich is similar to the food to what one will find at a German, Polish or Czech restaurant back in the States." I merely stated that I like the restaurant and that it is one of my favorites in Rio. I stand by my recommendation and heartily recommend the restaurant to those who want a pleasant and unusual high quality restaurant in Rio. The reviews of 62 other people who took the trouble to write a review for Tripadvsior speak for themselves. -

It's a good thing we all like different things and different places. That "terrible" Casa Urich has 62 reviews on Trip Advisor and most of the reviews are very good to excellent - Of the 62 reviews, 16 rated it excellent, 39 rated it very good, 5 rated it average, 1 person rated it poor and 1 person rated it terrible. Here is a link to the Trip Advisor ratings and a little more about the restaurant. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g303506-d2352693-Reviews-Casa_Urich-Rio_de_Janeiro_State_of_Rio_de_Janeiro.html -

There is one more restaurant that I can recommend. It is my favorite in Rio. It is Casa Urich, also in Centro. Below is a link to the restaurant plus another link to some reviews and a little history. The link to the restaurant is in English and Portuguese. Take a look at the menu and the photos of what is offered at this restaurant. http://www.casaurich.com.br Here is a second link in Portuguese - http://www.guiadasemana.com.br/rio-de-janeiro/restaurantes/restaurante/casa-urich You can use Google translate to see what is said about the restaurant. The only thing left out of the reviews is to advise customers that the food is marvelous. I have been to this restaurant many times but always during the day at noon or slightly later. I do not know if it is open at night. It is located in Centro and could be closed in the evening due to security reasons. At noon time, the restaurant is busy and has lots of foot traffic close by. Excellent food is what you will get here, including a large selection on the menu. -

You did say you were looking for something not found in the U.S. I recommend a wonderful restaurant in Rio that is more than one hundred years old. It is a very "upscale" restaurant and is located in a unique and attractive building. In fact, there is no restaurant or building in Rio similar to it. You don't want to go there alone because you will be the only one dining alone. The menu is great and the food is also great. The prices are a little on the high side but worth it, in my opinion. Here is a link to the web site for the restaurant - http://www.confeitariacolombo.com.br/siteen/ The web site can be viewed either in Portuguese or English. There is a map on the web site as well as photos of some of the food available. The restaurant is located in downtown Rio. Everything you need to know in advance is shown on the restaurant's site.

What goes up, must go down (eventually). Many countries, including the U.S., have had devastating economies. Fortunately, most countries were able to pull out of its financial crisis. At the present time, Brazil seems to be in a tail spin. Hopefully, something will bring Brazil's economy in line. http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/economic-indicators-in-brazil-continue-to-deteriorate/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29

Yesterday, it was announced that Brazil MIGHT waive its visa requirement for visitors to Brazil who will be attending the Olympic events in 2016. Many from this forum are aware that Brazil charges Americans $160.00 for a visa to visit Brazil. Depending on the mood of the person processing the visas, visitors are assigned Brazil visas that are USUALLY valid for multiple entries and for ten years. However, there are reported cases where visa applicants pay the same $160.00 for a single entry visa and/or less time valid. The Brazilian Consulate web pages discuss this issue and clearly state that there are NO APPEALS to the type of visa issued. To most, $160.00 is not a big deal. However, if a family decided to visit Brazil for the Olympics, say a couple and two children, they are facing $640.00 for visas that give nothing in return for the $640.00 except the right to enter Brazil. The hypothetical $640.00 plus expensive hotels, restaurants and other high priced admission costs (except sauna bois who remain cheap), the visa cost could be a deciding factor in whether a family attends the Olympics or does not attend. If the family does not attend, that is a direct loss of tourist dollars for Brazil. It makes perfect sense for Brazil to waive the visa requirement for those attending the 2016 Olympics. Those who decide to forgo a trip to Brazil because of the expensive visa will put a further dent on the already struggling economy of Brazil. We will have to wait a while longer before we know if the visa waiver will be approved. In the below article, it is stated that Thailand has four times as many tourist visitors than Brazil has. That says a lot and implies a lot. “Brazil, with its cultural diversity, gastronomy and events can no longer just receive six million tourists per year. Thailand with its six million inhabitants received last year 24 million visitors,” said Alves. - Here is an article about the visa waiver discussion: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-sports/brazil-may-waive-visa-requirement-during-olympics/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 -

I think outlawing knives is foolish. I believe it is unlikely that outlawing knives will reverse the recent increase in violent street crime where a knife is involved. Some specific incidents will be prevented but the reason for the increased crime remains. Law abiding citizens carrying a knife are subject to the same fines and punishment as are street thugs who rob people simply because they can. If there was a way to reduce high unemployment, there would be fewer hungry and desperate people on the streets who resort to violence and crime to support themselves and/or their families. In the U.S. there is controversy over gun control. Some reasonable people believe that guns should be outlawed. There are other reasonable people who feel the opposite. Reasonable people can and do disagree. I realize that gun control involves more issues than a knife ban but each item can be used as a weapon or as a defense. I wish I knew the solution to the problem, but I don't. I can certainly sympathize with demonstrators in Brazil who protest the way the government fails to steer the economy to a beneficial solution.

Rio's lawmakers react to numerous recent knife attacks - - - http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/rios-parliament-approves-law-against-carrying-knives/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 The creation of the new law is a reaction to several cases in the last weeks, where people were stabbed in order to be robbed. The most prominent cases include a doctor, who died when stabbed cycling at the Lagoa, a student injured with a knife when riding the SuperVia and a man waiting for the bus in Centro. - See more at: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-politics/rios-parliament-approves-law-against-carrying-knives/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29#sthash.29xUtq7t.dpuf The lawmakers apparently do not realize that those likely to unlawfully carry knives are the least likely to pay the proposed fine for carrying a knife. Enforcing the law will be next to impossible given the number of homeless people on the streets. -

It is good to know of yet another alternative to obtain cash in Brazil after HSBC leaves - Banco Santander (Brasil) S.A. http://www.santander.com.br/portal/wps/gcm/package/campanhas/welcome_to_brazil_27042015_92031.zip/com_vc_en.html Scroll down to "international withdrawal" where it discusses ATM withdrawals by foreigners. The site does not discuss how much it costs to use the ATM machine, if anything. It does say - "Service fee Withdrawal in Reais with credit or debit cards issued in another country. This service is charged and the fee will be paid in local currency from the issuing bank country. The limit for withdrawal, charges or fee exemptions depend on the bank that issued the client’s card." -I don't like to see HSBC leave Brazil for personal clients. As I wrote, I never had a problem with them and they have been convenient for my purposes. I will miss HSBC when it closes its doors in Brazil. Things change, like it or not!

Twelve of fifteen new trains bought from China will be put in service starting today in Rio de Janeiro. With all the skills and able bodied men available in Brazil to work, it would seem that those expensive metro trains that Brazil purchased from China could have been built in Brazil, creating thousands of jobs for Brazilians. Instead of building the trains in Brazil, with guidance from Chinese engineers, Brazil contracts with China to have new trains built then shipped to Brazil for its transit system trains. Maybe some of the demonstrators in Brazil about incompetence are not that wrong. http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-real-estate/rios-metro-line-4-trains-start-tests-with-passengers/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 -

I never had a problem with HSBC. I guess I was lucky. I have heard of other Americans getting their ATM cards cloned at HSBC but that never happened to me. However, since HSBC is leaving Brazil, I have to make alternative plans for getting local currency when I am in Brazil. Citibank might be an alternative to some of the other banks that might be available in Brazil. I did not know that they had a high daily limit for withdrawals. -

When I visit Brazil, I am usually there for two or three weeks or longer each visit. Due to my length of time in Brazil, I go through a fair amount of local (reais) cash. I prefer to not bring a lot of cash with me. Therefore, ATM's have usually been my way of obtaining local currency. On occasion, Bradesco bank does not accept U.S. ATM cards. This is why I generally use HSBC over Bradesco. Even though Brazilians can open a regular bank account in the U.S., Americans cannot legally open a regular bank account in Brazil. This is odd when one considers how often Brazilian officials use the word "reciprocity" to explain some unpleasant things they do. Americans can legally open a bank account in Brazil similar to a certificate of deposit but daily withdrawals are not allowed. It looks like I have to do some homework on my upcoming return to Brazil to find out which other banks (besides Bradesco and Citibank) allow the use of an American ATM card. I will report back on my findings.

As a foreigner to Brazil, I can use an ATM card at Bradesco without much problem except they do not allow as large a daily limit as did HSBC. You also mentioned Banco Itau which does not accept U.S. ATM cards. There are several banks in Brazil where a U.S. ATM card cannot be used. Losing HSBC means Americans have to look for alternatives to their cash needs while in Brazil. Nothing lasts forever. I am always amazed at seeing HSBC on all jet bridges in countless countries throughout the world. That logo is a great form of advertisement for HSBC. I wonder if those logos will be removed from the jet bridges in Brazil. -

HSBC, is an enormous bank. It has branches in many parts of the world. In Brazil, it currently has more than one hundred branches. As a form of advertising, the HSBC logo is found on most jet bridges at most airports in Brazil and in many other parts of the world. For reasons that were not made clear by financial analysts, HSBC is soon ceasing business in Brazil. I use this Bank while in Brazil and found it very convenient because of its many branches. The closure of HSBC is one more sign that the economy in Brazil is not so good. A long-established bank would not close its branches if it were making money. The closure of HSBC in Brazil cannot be a good thing for Brazil's economic future. Check out this article: http://riotimesonline.com/brazil-news/rio-business/hsbc-to-close-in-brazil-cutting-50000-jobs-worldwide/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheRioTimes+%28The+Rio+Times%29 -

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