travguy

You might consider if you are a coroa, if I have the word correct. Older, maybe furry guy. Not sure if we would call it a bear. Some younger guys are into coroas. I have met a very small number of younger gay guys that are ok with older, but mostly to hang out with. FWIW I am not a bear. If you speak some PT you have some chance of meeting such younger guys. Will not be easy though. Best of luck.

Xclay rules!! On this and on the prior trip, I have had some GPs say no to various offers and counter offers. That stated, I agree that the way an offer is made likely makes a very big difference. I also was trying for what I consider the hottest guys, surfer / body builder guys, that kiss nicely, bottom etc. Therefore, I was willing to pay more vs the regular GPs - that in many cases are also pretty hot. Biggest issues I had were bottoms not being able to be receptive and GPs trying to back out of agreed program while in the room. I reminded the GPs about the agreement or face a steep change in price. Most would grudgingly agree but played nicely none the less. At Bangu, 100- worked and I did not haggle for less. No ideas what local regular punters were paying. At 117 200- was usually fine but without the GP cuming. They wanted almost double for that (before 2100 hours ish). Maybe later at the end of their night it might not be the case, but I did not want to stay until 2300 hours or so. Also note that quite a few GPs leave before the 9pm ish shows at 117 and 202. This includes many of the ones I consider to be very hot looking. I also did not hit 117, 202, MM every night as I was having quite a blast (or was that a squirt, LOL) earlier in the day fairly often at Sexy Rose close by Cinelandia M stop. Also went to Bangu 3 times on Sundays. I wish such places existed back home. If you have not been to Brazil in a few years, the prices for everything are much higher. As stated before, no idea how most folks cope with the prices. But coming from a G7 type country even these higher prices are quite affordable for us. Average Brazilians can also be incredibly nice.

Rio Update as of 1 Jan 2025 Left Rio on the 1st but wanted to update my doings since Xmas. -Sexy Rose I am talking about is close to the Cinelandia M and the CMRJ, Rio City Hall ?Annex?. Wednesday, 25 Dec. A nice beach day. I made no attempt to do 202 and I think 117 was closed. Not sure about Meio Mundo. Thursday, 26 Dec. Brazil has Boxing Day, just like the Commonwealth Countries. Therefore, many things are closed today. Had many things to catch up on so a late start for sex. Sexy Rose (after 4pm) and 117 were both slow today. Friday, 27 Dec. As I am leaving at 1700 hours or so, it starts pouring rain, very hard for at least 20 minutes in Copa. So plans for Cinelandia concert were washed out. 117 was busy from 1930 hours. Saturday, 28 Dec. Met a friend in Niteroi and spent the night together. So did not do the party near The Home in Gavea near Pres Vargas. Sunday, 29 Dec. Went to Sao Bento Monastery near Rio Branco and Pres Vargas in Centro. Stayed from 1000-1100 hours. It was packed and I stood in the heat and humidity dripping in sweat for the hour there. The Gregorian chanting was quite nice but different than recordings I had heard in the past. Then went to Museum Amanha – the very modern looking museum nearby at the water. Please note that those over 60 get in free but you need ID like a passport copy to prove age. Do not wait in the ticket machine queue. Instead go to the special services desk in the middle of the entry area. The person there will process your free entry. Stayed for over an hour. Had a nice lunch and then to Sexy Rose from 1400-1530 hours. Actually fell asleep on a couch after sex for 30 minutes. LOL. Walked to Gloria, but like last week, there was no band playing. But normal big market was closing up. Took an Uber to Bangu Boite Casa Grande. As before, took several tries before someone showed up. Then he got lost, really lost, really really lost in Bangu. Asked a guy in front of a fundamentalist church (of which there are many in Bangu) where the club was and got good directions. Interesting that the church guy knew the location of the gay sauna, perhaps only by its address. Had 3 guys, mostly oral. No issues with Uber on return. Monday, 30 Dec. Busy day doing things other than sex. Sexy Rose was not as good for me as prior visits. LOL. Did not do MM, 117, or 202. Tuesday, 31 Dec. Big beach day and police were checking bags when near the beach in Copa. Two enormous stages being set up with final sound and light show checks late afternoon near Copa Palace Hotel (aka where the Rolling Stones stayed before their concert at the beach in Copa years ago). Beach was packed !!! Left and came back later for the stage shows, people watching, fireworks, etc. I had a great time with maybe 1 million of my new best friends. Where I was the crowd was fine and saw no problems. Many dressed in white, but did not see many flower offerings at the beach this year. Nine barges of fireworks over 12 minutes across maybe10 km. Gigantic show. Partly obscured due relative lack of wind. I had to leave early due to my flights for later in the morning. Glad I changed my airline reservations on the 30th. The week between Xmas and 1 Jan was predicted to be rainy but turned to be ok to great except for Friday night. I had a terrible time finding a place to stay for 31 Dec – 1 Jan but lucked out in a place 30 min walk from M Siquiera Campos. Airbnb was located in Humaita. Host was wonderful. Otherwise, I might have had to stay in a hostel or love hotel (all by myself mind you) and deal with M or a bus back and forth for NYE night. The walk for me was easy and safe as so many people were doing it. Seemed like many French and Germans were staying in Humaita. Flights on 1 Jan were ok and changing airports via airport bus in Sao Paulo was very fast due to lack of traffic. Thanking the several forum members I texted with and met during this trip. They were all great and helpful. Wishing everyone a great 2025 !!

Kvaughn: You can check out my 2 recent postings. If you are into small skinny black / mixed guys with multiple tattoos and maybe some heavy drug use in the past you will be very happy. I see no reason not to go. Not really any white twinks per se. Quite safe to travel by Uber. Just don't expect too much ahead of time and you better speak conversational level PT or have a good translator on your phone. The GPs seem quite social able with the local punters. Of course, the usual hand signals per top / bottom /oral / anal, etc should work just fine.

Update, Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25, 2024: Happy Holidays to all Past weekend was partly sunny, partly horny, partly cloudy, some drizzle (weather and penile, LOL). Saturday night / Sunday am: Arrive 230am at The Week. The Home is the new name. Barriers but no one in line. Then they ask for ID – which I did not bring. LOL. R, vs 0016 0419 hrs. Thumb printed me mult times upon enter and once at exit. Finally gave a long number in place of ID as even my ID app did not work due to lack of wifi. Had to give birthdate ? Country?. Then get a drink card which likely links to ID. Search of small bag – had cell phone in it. I was patted down on entry and on exit. Had to turn cell phone on and put code in to prove it was mine at exit (due to many thefts I guess). Also used metal wand at entry and exit. Almost no one in line when I entered. Likely should have entered earlier – but when? 0100 hours? Maybe crowd was less due to Holiday party weekend? Change of DJs and show was at 0300 hours. Maybe 10 minutes long. There was another DJ and dance area on 3rd floor near balconied area. Second floor balcony was for VIP wrist banded folks only? VIP was extra 60 R$ when they wanted my ID. Pay all bills at exit only. Wanted me to pay cash at exit even though they had handheld CC machine. LOL. I insisted on CC payment and receipt. Had fun. Sort of like big clubs like Heaven or Limelight? In London or large NY or SF gay clubs 15-20 years ago. Lots of steroid and surfer type build guys (20-70 yo). Some hot looking twinks (no fat and in shape minimal muscle; 20-25 yo). Not much sweating as the AC worked well. But the shirts were mostly off. Moderate number of young women, maybe straight. Did not see any drug use and not much water or anything else on the dance floor. Some older bears simply could not stop rubbing against me or invading others’ spaces. These were the only rude folks. No sex on the dance floor beyond grabbing and deep French kissing; mostly 20-40 yo extremely attractive guys. As the semi clean bathrooms had floor to ceiling dividers in the stalls, you could frolic in these if desired. Yeah, impossible for the WC to be really clean. Crowd on the balconies was thinning by 0330 or so. I left after 0400 hours. Music was a bit too loud, but not painful. Did not see any ear plugs, but would have helped. My guess is that the loudness was mostly from the bass. Spot light show was reasonable and no lasers in my eyes. Would be fun with friends, but tough to hook up as an older guy alone. Given how wiped out I was on Sunday after an all nighter Saturday night / Sunday am, probably will not do this again alone. Part of the issue Sunday was someone banging away doing construction work next to my bnb apartment Sunday – so I could not sleep after 0900 or so. After Home, I walked to Pres Vargas and a bit beyond on ave Rio Blanco, got lucky and waved down a bus which was going all the way to Ipanema close to my bnb via Copa around 0430 hours. Used Rio Mais card for fare, but driver could take cash and make change as well. Almost nothing was open in Ipanema when I arrived. They were starting set up for Hippie Market. On the bus, passed a newer? Gay club, Pink Flamingo, near where Copa and Ipanema meet. There was a small cue to get in around 0500. Got cleaned up and slept. Never woke up at 0800 to make Sao Bento Monastery back in centro (which I almost passed walking from Home) for 10am Gregorian Chant service. There was no band today at Gloria on Sunday, just the market which was closing down at 1600 hours, likely 30-60 min earlier. Took 3 tries to get an Uber to Bangu from Vila Rica. They even tried to hit me with a cancellation fee of 5.25 R$ even though 2 drivers never showed !! 430-530 pm Uber to Bangu Boate Casa Grande. No luck at all. The few GPs I liked just walked right past me. Not that they were hot vs bearch, 117 or 202 guys-not. Offered me a free raffle ticket but I left before raffle was drawn. It rained heavily just before I arrived, but rain stopped within an hour or so. It mostly seemed more like an office holiday party where the boys were getting some beers from their usual punters and some would head down or up the stairs for sex. Some GPs were more interested in drinking and hanging out than providing services. Oh well. Seemed like a few GPs were doing groups of local punters at a time. One better looking light skinned black GP seemed to have a new customer every 30 minutes or so ! So I assume he was a top. Even the tatooed twinkier scally lads had big tools. Left around 2000 hours after hanging out for 3 hours. Min rain on return to Rio via uber. Back in Ipa at 2100. By now I was tired and too wiped out to even try 117 or 202 at 9pm – due to The Home all nighter. Ubers were about 75-100 R$ each way. Attendant at Boate Casa Grande helped to make sure Uber driver picked up at the club. Unlike 2 weeks ago, there were many cars parked outside, and the music was blasting out into the street - seemed like a commercial area. Saturday and Monday (23 Dec) I went to Cine Iris, rua Carioca 49. Too hot inside on Saturday around 1430 hours and Monday was cooler inside. Had some trannies both days. No other obvious pay for play guys of interest. Got 1 good BJ. Then went to Sexy Rose to follow on Monday and had a blast. Stayed from 1530-2000 !! I guess I won the ho' award on Monday Dec 23rd. I don't think my dick had been serviced by so many mouths and holes in eons. I wore the linoleum down beating a path to the washroom to clean up after each episode. I still humble myself before our legendary sexer (TomCal I think. Apologies if incorrect). On Tuesday 24 December, 117 was closed. At Fazendola for lunch there was a Super-hot guy eating near me, but I could not get his picture. So, I am including a pic of an older regular guy of similar type found on a hook up website today. If this violates anything, as his face is visible, my apologies and please remove. Lots of guys like this and younger at the beach and were found often enough at 117 / 202 pre COVID. As others have noted, maybe they are on OnlyFans now. Went to the beach due to an unexpectedly non rainy day. Partly sunny am. Dark nasty clouds over far Leblon and the Sheraton, Dois Irmao peaks etc to the west, but mid Ipa Gay Rookerie was only partly cloudy, but not too busy. Despite a base coat, I still got a bit pink - red. Met a young stud Russian guy who spoke good English and might have been the item for an older quite overweight guy, that I did not hear speak. Possibly an oligarch or other older Russian guy that one simply does not mess with unless you are into "small pieces" as Joe Pesci said. Got to Sexy Rose around 1500 hours and a great first 15 minutes or so of great action. But then the place, which was already dead on Xmas eve, went a bit a bit quiet. But multiple folks were still trying to get off and there were some decent group scenes as well. On patron even brought his luggage which was held at the front desk ! Cinelandia was mostly closed up when I left around 1645 hours. The lights went on at S R and they were cleaning the floors, as if that is even possible before closing at 1700. Drizzling so I took the subway back to Ipanema. Many places were closed or closing there too. At least the supermarkets were still semi open to buy food until they started wrapping up for xmas eve at 1800 hours. Could not figure out where to go for a nice drink. Xmas day looks like a beach day. Unlike the forecast of thunderstorms, rain and drizzle all week into NYE, it is sunny today. 117 is closed. Not sure if 202 or Meio Mundo is open. Checking on my flight back I was greatly surprised to find some flights for only about $200-300 USD more than the usual lower fares for 1 Jan 2025 evening departures to the US. Seat maps showed many unclaimed seats as well. Not sure if related to the AA meltdown on 24 December that is apparently fixed now. However, finding a last-minute nice place for NYE would be very expensive. They were beds available in youth hostels that are likely just fine. Without a main squeeze or some buds to hang with here for NYE, decided not to change plans and leave before the 31st.

Buttercawan is Jedi Master ! How did you know about the name change to Home? I am in ipanema near G Osorio, p m me re Home tonight or Bangu Sunday if you can. Thx walked past the address for the week which is 137 and home is 135 and there does seem to a club in there at 135 and 137. Security guard at 135. Seems to be same space from the outside doors. Home has an instagram website that is up to date and includes a flyer for tonight. So big (but not high) hopes for tonight. I am no longer a 24 yo gym bunny. Iris was a bust on Saturday afternoon. Mostly 3-4 trannies looking for ? Pay for play? I had been there before when it had some action. At sexy rose now and having the chrome on my tool polished. Lol. Not tons of folks but folks who like to service

Babybear2: excellent comment. But I paid the other guy at 117 without leche 200. I think it was with leche for same price a year or so ago. He wanted almost double for leche and I said no thank you. The highly paid guy would have been a top paid GP in prior years as well and he was close to my ideal guy and did bottom, good kisser, oral, leche and all. Just no massage. Lol. So for me this ideal guy was worth the high price one time - but also invited to the Frequent Cummers Club with discount 😯. In prior years some of the tall hot muscular mostly black GPs also quoted double the other GPSs for everything. So if 200 ish is the new going rate for them to bottom without leche, welcome to the new world. Glad to hear the comments of others as I certainly do not want want to set a bad example for paying gouged prices. Please also note I do speak some PT and for what it’s worth I am in reasonable shape for age - yeah and viagra plus alcohol helps us all. Lol Thx again babybear2 👍

Update Saturday 12/21/24 1300 in Rio Thanks folks for the various comments and currency graph. I have been quoted 350-400 R$ from multiple GPs if they bottom and also provide leche. 100 R$ at Bangu Sauna, Boate Casa Grande - but the GPs in Rio were what I consider more muscle jock or surfer types, pretty darn hot in my humble opinion, vs Bangu GPs who were simply young guy next door types - and mostly fairly thin and looked a bit sketchy overall. Almost all were black or mulatto and quite friendly for the most part - I would not have paid much more for the PT only speaking Bangu guys. So, in brief, I think I was looking for top priced talent at 117, 202, and N Meio Mundo (300 R$ - but sex was almost impossible due to romp room being an oven). On Friday afternoon, the clouds started rolling in at Ipanema. Did a bit of shopping and by 1630 it was a downpour for about 30 minutes. Rest of the night was on and off drizzle, rain, with patches of no rain. Just a crappy night, so I did not go out. There was supposed to be a good Friday night club on T de Melo, 31. (Friday possibly being the only gay night) But due to the rain, I think most folks stayed in. Likely explains lack of activity at 202. Saturday am has been dark cloudy but now patches of sun can be seen offshore to Ipanema's beach. May head to centro for play as more rain is predicted. Might do the trip to Bangu again if Sunday proves rainy as predicted. If others are in Rio, feel free to contact me and share a cab / Uber. Thinking about going to The Week, r Sacadura Cabral 137, if it is still going on Sat night. However, I cannot find any current information about it. There is one in S P as well. Might try to walk past the location as it seems walkable from Pred Vargas and the M Rio subway stop. Could also consider Taurus at rua da Lapa, 8, again late Sat night if the Cines (Cine Iris, r de Carioca 49 Cine Rex r Alvaro Alvim ?33) and Sexy Rose (r Alvaro Alvin ?33) are bad this afternoon.

Update Friday 12/20/24 noon in Rio Thanks folks for the various comments. I will leave out some of the typical tourist stuff. Tuesday: Went to the beach around the Aproador area, climbed the rocks and found the muscle gym at the beach near the rocks - sort of like the Flintstones as the benches and weights all seemed to be reinforced concrete. Guys were pretty hot - literally and figuratively as there was no shade there. Not sure how they secure the weights at night. And then another free cabin Tuesday night at 117. The visual smorgasbord was great, though not quite like last week. All depends on what type of guy you are looking for. I was looking for a muscle god with very little fat and a 6 pack. Or even a skinny twink with a nice face and dick. I lusted after Marcel from Sao Paulo. Great kisser. It was a hot session; AC barely was on. Room was a bit warm. LOL. He was hot. This was a 33 yo guy that reminded me of one of the hotter guys in high school years ago. Folks, here cums the bad news: yeah, I paid too much, or did I? Chinese guy from Helsinki made the intro for me as he knew him but did not hire him while he was in Sao Paulo. Another younger guy punter from Rio that I sometimes hang with knew him from a few years ago. Thought he was from Belo Horiz. Guy from Rio also remembered when we balked at me having sex with another super-hot guy for 200 R$ last trip this past spring - because he would not bottom, only oral. The GP from Saturday night remembered me from prior trip. 200R$ to bottom plus oral, kissing, etc, but almost double if he would cum. Inflation, I guess. Marcel offered me a discount for another round of sex ? different day? "Frequent Cummer Club" (gives new meaning to the FCC - regulates broadcasting in the US) …. How about a business class upgrade or a free night at a hotel. Green Stamps maybe? Why did I pay his high asking price? Escorts on Grindr wanted 400 R$ for everything including both of us having happy endings. I tried bargaining with several GPs over several nights at 117, 202, and Meio Mundo. Most would barely drop the asked for rate. So maybe they knew they would get their price from another punter. The guys I talked to and mostly in PT or FR with some EN were hot to my tastes. Or maybe because I am a top. Regardless, I needed the Priceline negotiator, and it wasn't happening, and I did not want to lose this guy. So, I paid and we played. I was at 117 from 1820 to almost 2100 hours. Did not see anyone I thought might be from the Forum or foreigners I recognized from other nights. Wednesday: Spent the day in Niteroi and went to an early evening samba school art exhibit opening at MAC, the museum that looks like a flying saucer, designed by Oscar Niemeyer. Yes, as before, the museum has tons of unused space and almost more employees than visitors. Great fun and they had food and drinks for the exhibit opening party. Interesting to mix water, some type of orange juice, very cheap champers, and beer with potato and other hors d'oeuvres and possibly the best guacamole I have had in a long time. If you are shopping for "stuff" or meds, price things out in Rio first, price it out in Niteroi to follow, and you will likely buy in Niteroi, as many prices are much lower here. Caution: a few prices are higher across the bay. Meds (need to check many places) and food can be 1/2 price vs Rio. Got back late via the ferry, so no boys today. I heard there is a sauna in Niteroi but did not check it out or even look it up....LOL. Thursday: Another beach day in the Rookery. While there, I really did not connect with anyone. But then I saw a vision of heaven Imagine Venus de Milo, Ursula Andress (Dr No Bond movie beach scene) gay equivalent coming out of the surf at the gay rookery as I was going in. I took some pics later on. I hope they are ok to post. If not, I understand moderator deletion. Not sure where he was hanging out but was frolicking in the surf with another young friend as I left the beach. Definitely had to get off after seeing him. Yup, Sexy Rose again. from 1730-1900 hours. It was busy, but not like Monday. Places to eat nearby in Cinelandia like Amarelinho da Cinelândia and Chapolin next door - where I ate were packed and had tables up set outside beyond too. Saw many gay couples hand in hand walking around Ipanema when I got back. Friday morning has been sunny then cloudy, back and forth. Might not rain today, though rain is predicted on and off for the next week. Might hit the Fort near copa and aproador. Thinking about going to The Week, if it is still going on Sat night.

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.

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.

Latbear4blk: I am in your debt for pointing out my unseen cultural / business insensitivity. I did leave the asked for tip in cash.

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.

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.

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.