mvan1

"callipygian, it may go against what I said before but being a contrarian I have to now take the opposite side. These guys usually have a terrible character. They lie, cheat, and sometimes steal. They will pretend anything, and always have the eye on money. Many have contempt for the clients and some have contempt for gays. I don't blame ihpguy or others for having the attitude they do, because if you trust them and like them chances are you will eventually be betrayed." Let us do a little "editing" of your post - Where you wrote, "These guys usually have a terrible character." I would change that to - These guys SOMETIMES have a terrible character. Where you wrote, "They lie, cheat, and sometimes steal." I would change that to - They sometimes lie but rarely cheat or steal. Where you wrote, "They will pretend anything, and always have the eye on money. Many have contempt for the clients and some have contempt for gays." I would change that to - They sometimes pretend they are happy and some only have their eye on money. Few have contempt for gays because the garotos are voluntarily having gay sex with clients for money. If they have contempt, as you wrote, the contempt would be for themselves for engaging in gay sex. Where you wrote, "I don't blame ihpguy or others for having the attitude they do, because if you trust them and like them chances are you will eventually be betrayed." I would change that to - If you trust them and like them and they like you, chances are you will rarely be betrayed. I was never betrayed during any of my many trips to Brazil. I have kept contact with countless garotos and regard those garotos in high regard. I think it is sad that you have such a negative opinion of the very guys you engage for intimate engagements in the saunas. Thankfully, not many hold the views you expressed in your post. If such an opinion was popular, Brazil would not continue to attract gays from all over the world.

Earlier this week, I completed my 122nd trip to Brazil. This means that I have spent a lot of time in Brazil and that I know their culture. I can confirm, without hesitation, that the substance of what tomcal wrote in his post above, is 100% accurate. Quite simply, there is no other country, in the world, that is comparable to Brazil for building close and fulfilling relationships that are so easy to establish. If we have any doubters in the house, you are not a regular visitor to Brazil or you have never been there. If you have never visited Brazil, go there! You will create very fond memories that will last you a lifetime. -

If someone wants to be crude and blunt, the dictionary definition of what the Brazilian garotos do makes them male whores, in that they sell sexual services to other males for money or goods. Are they viewed that way by most of us who travel to Brazil? Absolutely not. The garotos that most of us meet do not limit their involvement with us to selling sex. Many, become lasting relationships and many become friends. There are a few special garotos that I have taken to other countries in South America and Europe and one I took to South Africa. I certainly do not regard those guys as “male whores” as you wrote in your question. There is one former sauna garoto I knew for several years who now works in Sao Paulo for a U.S. airline. When I first met him, years ago, at Pointe 202 in Rio, he spoke zero English. Now, his English is quite good and he has no problem checking in and communicating with passengers using the U.S. airline. Brazil is an extraordinary place. The culture and view of sex is unlike the viewpoint in most other countries. Consequently, unlike in most other countries, it is possible to meet a handsome garoto and have an enormous amount of enjoyment and also have a long-term relationship. Some Americans actually marry Brazilians, although I would never do that. Gay marriage in Brazil is legal. On the other hand, some of the garotos in the sauna only want a quick buck and are what is customarily referred to as a hustler or male whore. They are the exception in the saunas.

Brazil, like you never heard it before -

- I suppose corruption might be a small factor in awarding some of the countless airport contracts to incompetent contractors. However, I don’t think the broken door in the restroom or the inoperative recharge outlets and the delayed luggage has anything to do with corruption. I think the problems at the airport are merely poor design and lousy workmanship coupled with a lack of pride in accomplishment by the workers that installed the equipment. The new airport is very modern. It is also quite glitzy. It has the latest gadgets available at an airport. It also has a huge number of foreign companies (stores, businesses, shops and restaurants) represented at the airport, including a lot of “fast food” restaurants that were not seen in Brazil until the opening of the new terminal. Combine the above factors then realize the new terminal project was started and completed in less than two years time. It is no wonder there are so many non functioning gadgets and facilities at the new terminal. -

I left Sao Paulo this morning after another great trip to Brazil. I already reported on some of my visits to the two rent boi saunas in Sao Paulo. At the Sao Paulo airport (GRU), my former sauna garoto that I previously mentioned from my prior trip was still working at the airline. He remains happy with his job at a U.S. airline. My former garoto friend took a break to give me a little "tour" of the new terminal. He wanted to show me some of the problems with the new Terminal 3 at Sao Paulo's international airport. A couple of us forum members, in a previous thread, remarked about how nice the new Terminal 3 looks. At that time, we had no idea that the new terminal is plagued with ongoing problems. One example of a problem at the new terminal is with the conveyor belts that take passenger luggage to the back area for later transportation to the aircraft. My former garoto friend said that the conveyer belts often do not function correctly and that a lot of checked luggage is late arriving for a departing flight and that a lot of bags often do not make the same flight as the passenger. He said this is a major problem. During the “tour” of some of the places in the new terminal, my friend also showed me the seating area near the departure gates that have big signs boasting about electrical recharge receptacles at certain seats. He jokingly asked me to try to recharge my telephone in any one of the many receptacles found in the seating area. Sure enough, the first outlet did not work. He had me try several more, and they did not work either. Then we finally found one that had power. He said the inoperative charging receptacles is but one small problem at the new terminal. The "tour" also included his showing me the new airport lounge that many of the international airlines use (AA, Delta, United etc.). He said that each of the U.S. carriers is in process of building its own lounge in Terminal 3. TAM already has its own lounge. After the little airport tour, my friend went back to work and I remained in the airport lounge before going out to the gate. While in the lounge, I had been drinking a lot of water and various beverages. Of course, taking in a lot of water, one must eliminate the liquid that forms in the kidneys. So, I went to the lounge restroom. I looked around and did not see any urinals. I thought how strange it is for a new and fancy airport terminal lounge not to have any urinals. Therefore, I entered an empty stall and used it. The stall door closes after you enter the stall. When I finished, I reached for the handle on the stall door to exit, but the handle came off in my hand. Needless to say, I was surprised and was sorry that my friend was not available to show him one more thing at the new terminal that did not work. I thought it would be a simple matter to put the handle back in the slot and the door would open. Not so! The door would not open. I pushed and shoved on the door but it would not open. Eventually, I used a small pair of scissors I had with me to attempt to pick the lock but the door still would not open. I could hear people coming in and out of other stalls but they apparently did not have a problem with the door on the stalls they used. When I called to people that I heard, of course, they would not answer a person calling to them from inside a bathroom stall. After several minutes of my being trapped in the stall, I began to pound on the door and holler in English and Portuguese. The door was much too high to climb over it. Eventually, I began to kick at the door but it still would not open. Finally, after about ten minutes, someone from the lounge facility came in because of the noise and realized the door was broken and would not open and that I was trapped in the stall. That person tried to push open the door from the outside but the door would not budge for him either. That person finally called maintenance and the door had to be removed by the hinges in order for me to get out. Lucky for me, I had plenty of time to catch my flight. One has to wonder about the competency of the engineers and designers of the new terminal. The flight home was on time and was not affected by the weather in the East coast. We had a great crew, which is not always the case on long flights. Despite that bizarre restroom incident, my fine feelings for Brazil remain intact. In fact, I already have my next flight to Brazil booked for six weeks from now. Bottom line, don't use the restroom in the airport lounge in Terminal 3 unless you have a lot of time to spare before your flight leaves. If you are flying with AA, you can alternatively use the TAM lounge that does have urinals in its restrooms.

This controversy boils down to the fact that reasonable people can and do disagree. The issue involves an individual choice. The choice made by one client in connection with the amount the client pays a garoto should not be the concern of another client. Other clients are not paying the garoto that is supposedly getting a higher than the standard usual and customary rate. As to the controversial claim that one client paying a higher fee to a garoto "ruins" it for other clients is foolish and without substance. It was already acknowledged in this thread (and elsewhere) that garotos talk among themselves about clients. Clients that pay more are generally known to the garotos and clients who pay the going rate are also generally known to the garotos. The existence of variety in client habits and patterns does not "ruin" or markedly affect prices for others. It might influence a garoto to attempt to charge more to a foreigner but it does not mean that the garoto will refuse to go with the foreigner for the going rate. To pay the going rate or not to pay the going rate - that is the question - or the issue. So, my vote is to live and let live (or mind your own business when it comes to what others pay a garoto).

I returned to Lagoa tonight (Friday night) and it was busy as a Friday night usually is. The garoto that I met last Friday (Leandro) was not there. For me, that set the stage for a slightly disappointing evening, but I survived okay despite his no show. I do realize that Leandro has to pay his travel costs from the airport area where he lives to get to Lagoa and then pay an entrance fee at Lagoa. After being out these costs (plus his time), there is no guaranty he will score a client to recoup his costs. That is a good reason for a no show. Regardless of the uncertainties of scoring a client, lots of garotos continue to visit the saunas (thank goodness) and also incur similar type expenses. There were a lot of handsome garotos at Lagoa tonight. And, there were lots of clients to engage the garotos. There was one garoto that I had not seen in about seven years. I knew him from a sauna that has since closed. I don't know what this guy eats or drinks but his body and face have not aged a day since I last saw him about seven years ago. He is probably near thirty now (based on the number of years that have passed). If I had never seen him and saw him for the first time tonight, I would guess him to be in his early twenties. He was one of the handsome garotos at Lagoa tonight. He is Brazilian from Porto Alegre and is of German descent. He is blond with blue eyes. Needless to say, his presence pleased clients at Lagoa tonight. While at Lagoa tonight, a strange looking client was walking around and grinning at nearly everyone. When he grinned at me, I did not recognize him. After a closer look, hearing him speak a few words and being told by a friend who he is, I realized the client was an American that I previously had seen many times in Brazil. The American had MAJOR (heavy duty) plastic surgery to his face and body which made him initially unrecognizable, but not in a good way. I have read horror stories about bad plastic surgeries but this is the first time I actually saw one in person. Good grief! The surgery changed his features and shape of his face and body, but not in a good way. He looks more mechanical, rather than human. I felt bad for him but I said nothing as he repeatedly walked around the sauna smiling at everyone almost like he was hoping to get a compliment about his new face and appearance. His frequent grinning at people gave me the impression that he thinks he looks good after the plastic surgery makeover. With that out of the way, I stayed at Lagoa a little longer, then I called it a night. Saturday nights in Sao Paul are generally not busy nights at either of the two rent boy saunas. Therefore, I look forward to Sunday night at Fragata. If that place lives up to its general good times, I will post about it next time.

- You are correct about some other nights having a special price for admission if the customers' bill is paid in cash or debit card versus being charged to a credit card. I generally go to Lagoa only on Wednesday and Friday nights and did not pay attention to a possible discount on admission during other days of the week. However, Monday remains the only day when a customer is admitted for R$35 provided the bill is paid with cash or debit card. The discount applies only to admission, not to incidentals such as rental of a room, food and/or beverages. Factoring in the discount, solely on the admission price, the discount is rather small when compared to what many overall bills become after a night at Lagoa. Considering the size of some bills, the discount on only the admission price is "much a do about nothing" (almost). Again, the lowest amount I ever paid to Lagoa was R$35 on Monday when the place was nearly empty. Incidentally, Lagoa was good again last night in that there were lots of clients and garotos. Additionally, the awful two-week humidity and heat wave that has plagued Sao Paulo with temperatures about 14 degrees higher than normal (for this time of year) has finally subsided.

No wonder it has been miserable in the Sao Paulo saunas where there is no air conditioning Look at the weather - Yikes The dates are shown in small numbers - 17 Actual Temp 94° Lo 71° Hist. Avg. 80° Lo 60° 18 Actual Temp 94° Lo 73° Hist. Avg. 80° Lo 60° Yesterday 19 Actual Temp 94° Lo 72° Hist. Avg. 80° Lo 60° Tonight 20 A t-storm late this evening Lo 70° Hist. Avg. 80° Lo 60°

In theory, the R$35 promotion is a good idea. Notice, I said "in theory" because last night was a flop. The R$35 did not bring in lots of clients and garotos. I doubt there were more than 10 garotos and maybe 12 clients during the two hours I endured being at Lagoa last night. Most of the garotos were garotos that I have seen at Lagoa for several years. A couple had migrated from sauna Fragata. All but one were either over weight and/or out of shape. I became nearly speechless after one garoto who was at least fifty pounds over weight walked up to me and abruptly asked if I wanted a "brincadeira" him. There had been no prior conversation - he merely waddled over and asked. I politely declined. This guy should reassess his role at Lagoa and consider being a client rather than a garoto. In fairness to the failure of last night's R$35 promotion, the weather in Sao Paulo has been very hot and uncomfortable. With the lack of air conditioning at Lagoa, it is understandable why clients and garotos did not leap at the discounted entrance fee and visit Lagoa last night. In short, I doubt that I will be opting in for any promotions from Lagoa now nor at any time in the future. Traditionally, and as I have said many times, Wednesday and Friday are the best nights to visit Lagoa. I will be sticking to that schedule for future visits. Of course, it is possible to have a good time on days other than Wednesday and Friday. We all know that it only takes one (or more) to have a good experience. -

I have been visiting Lagoa for many years. I do not doubt that you saw a sign on the entrance (or over the check in area) that announced promotions. I rarely went to Lagoa other than on Wednesday and Friday. Therefore, promotions offered on days that I was not there, escaped me. Yesterday was the first time I got entrance to Lagoa for R$35. Another thing, considering that I have visited Lagoa so often, I rarely pay attention to advertisements posted on the walls, although the R$35 promotion is on a wooden plaque hanging at the back wall of the check in area.

Thanks - Well, if there are big ones in Thailand, you can be sure that Rodolfo found them -.

I was not aware that the promotion was also offered about a year ago. I only heard of it yesterday morning. When Edgard (the now deceased former majority owner) was working at the sauna, he initiated various promotions to bring customers to Lagoa. The Monday only - R$35 cash promotion supposedly is the idea of Rodolfo, the successor owner.

I knew that Rodolfo (the current 100% owner) went to Thailand for vacation. Clients ( and some garotos) who knew Rodolfo had gone to Thailand were left bewildered. This is because it is a known fact that Rodolfo likes only guys with HUGE cocks. Anything short of huge, he rejects. In Thailand, it is my understanding that the guys are generally modestly equipped (penis wise) compared to some Brazilians. Therefore, can it be that Rodolfo went to Thailand for a vacation away from sex? As evidence of Rodofo's partiality for HUGE ones, there are a few garotos that work at Lagoa who do not have to pay the customary garoto entrance fee, provided that they occasionally have a session with Rodolfo (at a reduced price, of course). Maybe I am incorrect in my assumption that the guys in Thailand are not comparable in size to Brazilians? -

No problem. Many of us have been to Brazil lots of times. We sometimes use the same airline company. It was interesting to discuss the interiors of the different planes that have taken us to Brazil. After all, we spend more than twelve hours on each flight. -

For several years, it was customary to find Lagoa busy mainly on Wednesday and Friday night. However, I learned this morning that the owner of Lagoa had decided on a plan to increase business on Monday nights. As part of the plan, the owner reduced the entrance fee for clients from a high of R$65 to R$35. The price depends on the mode of payment. For example, if a credit card is used, a client pays the highest entrance fee. If cash is the mode of payment, the client pays the lower entrance fee. As Tomcal pointed out in a different thread, 98% of the sauna customers are Brazilians. It is the Brazilians that fill the saunas, not the foreign tourists. Therefore, in theory, the lower entrance fee plan for Monday nights (bringing in more clients) should be a success. To many Brazilians, the difference in the lower cash fee is a strong incentive to visit the sauna. The R$35 cash entrance fee is valid only on Monday night. This promotion has gone on for a short while and I was told that Monday night at Lagoa is, little-by-little, transforming into a busier night than some other busy nights. The main key to making Monday night a busy night is for word to get out to the garotos. If the garotos learn that Monday at Lagoa is loaded with clients, garotos will flock there, hopefully in large numbers. If there is not a major increase in garoto attendance, the Monday night R$35 plan will fail. We will see. I will again go to Lagoa tonight. Not so much for the lower entrance fee but to maybe find Leandro again. He is quite a memorable hunk. I will update this thread after I experience Lagoa tonight.

Meanwhile back to Lagoa, a Brazilian sauna - I returned to Lagoa this evening. Leandro was not there. Since I have an appointment with him for next Wednesday, I did not expect to see him there. This being Sunday, Lagoa was not so busy. At most, there were twenty clients and about that many garotos. Wednesday and Friday are the best days for Lagoa. Best meaning high probability of a lot of good looking garotos. The lack of airconditioning was obvious tonight due to today's temperature reaching more than 90 degrees in Sao Paulo. The heat and humidity most likely was the cause of the low turn out, both in garotos and clients. High temperatures are again predicted for tomorrow. I stayed at Lagoa longer than I thought I could, given the heat and the lack in interesting inventory (garotos). There is always tomorrow. -

The largest single expense for a commercial airline company is fuel. The price of oil (fuel) has recently dropped more than 30% but the price of airline tickets to Brazil and to many other locations has dropped only 5%. I guess we will have to subscribe to the same arithmetic course used by the airlines to understand the logic behind the pricing of air fares.-

Thanks for the clarification about the aircraft number. Along those lines, American is in process of retrofitting its old 777-200s similar to those found on the 777W model you mentioned. Eventually, the new retrofitted aircraft will be in heavy use along with the 777W. At the present time, the retrofitted 777-200 leaves from Miami to Rio (and Spain). Those going to Rio might want to route through Miami to experience this newly designed interior. The 777-200 retrofit eliminates first class. The service on the 777-200 will be business or coach. Check out the photos at the below link. Here is the link: http://www.aa.com/i18n/aboutUs/ourPlanes/boeing-777-200-retrofit.jsp -

I just realized that I failed to mention that Lagoa was recently remodeled. The most obvious change is the demolition of the former "non smoking" television room. That floor space is now part of the former small bar near where the shows are performed and near where the open glass showers are found. Drinks and food are served at the larger bar area. The larger space gives the illusion of a larger sauna. I am not too crazy about the color of paint used in the new bar area but at least the color is cheerful. Some other areas of the sauna were ungraded and a gym area was added in the room just past the "swimming" pool. The new gym area doesn't get much foot traffic except from admirers of body builders. I noticed that a couple of the body builders seemed entranced at watching themselves in the mirrors in the new gym. I never saw the body builders come out of the gym to mingle among other folks in the general sauna area. One change that was not made is the failure to add air conditioning to the sauna. During the current heat wave in Sao Paulo, it would be nice to visit Lagoa and not have to endure a hot and humid environment. Considering the high cash flow to the sauna, the cost to add air conditioning would probably be offset by the increase in paying customers during the three hot months of Brazil's summer. Bottom line? Lagoa's facilities have been upgraded for the better - try the place -you will like it.

That makes sense. I had not factored in the traffic to your final destination at that early time of the morning.

If your return flight is not already locked in, American Airlines has a non stop flight from Sao Paulo to LAX. The flight leaves at 12:15 a.m. - or 15 minutes past midnight. The extra time would allow you to stay at Lagoa maybe an hour longer than usual. The flight number is AA216 - -

I will have to ask his permission prior to posting his photo. Some garotos like to have their photo posted as a sort of advertising, while some garotos do not want their photo shown. It is an individual thing. I plan to see him again next Wednesday night at Lagoa. However, in Brazil, we have to add in a "maybe" to the plan, as Brazilians are often undependable.