davet

I wouldn't chug tap water. But how can you stay away from the juices? It's the second best thing about Brazil. Caju, caja, graviola, maracuja, manga, mora, abacaxi ... One of the juice joints around the corner from 117 also has a hot guy behind the counter.

+1 on Catete. Non-touristy (and therefore safer), convenient, interesting, and lots of restaurants.

This is a depressing report from Thermas. Still trying to figure where to spend some currently bargain-rate euros.

It's a great thread. But I didn't see comparative discussion between Prague and Zurich.

SP massage houses first Then 117/202. They now get almost the same crowd. Then Lagoa - still worth it but not a must.

There were 1 or 2 from the saunas and 2-3 from the massage houses that make me want to see them again. But over all, this trip felt rather subdued. I must have been there only 2-3 weeks before you, but every night seemed less populated than usual. Even the garotos said so, and they didn't know why. The free cabine nights did not bring on the packed staircases that I remember from days gone by. The weather wasn't that bad. I thought maybe people were recovering from Carnaval, but nope, they were partying in Lapa all night.

Coincidentally, those were the two I went to. They are equal in price and quality. Given the recent issues, I don't want to "over-identify" these guys. Let's say they ARE the guys in the picture. A couple times, it took me a few minutes to confirm this, but that's because people just look different from their professional shots. If anything, the guys were a little more muscular and a few years older, but still pretty stunning. Xtudio Lotus is in hilly aclimacao, a 20-minute walk from Paraiso metro. I had a "quatro manos" massage for 450 R. They started with rubbing my feet and legs and worked their way up. Somehow, they never got past the pelvic region, LOL, but it was better than most massages given by sex workers as there were some signs of formal training. I have never been lucky putting together a 3-way, but this one knocked it out of the park. The two guys' apparent familiarity with each other and team play experience must have helped. Mind you, there was no reciprocation or kissing but I wonder if that could be negotiated. For penetration, they wanted an extra 100 R each, which was well worth the tag-team to follow. All in all, 650 for 2 guys as hot as ever, 1 hour of sex as hot as ever. It was in a nice, clean house. The mattress was on the floor but the sheets were laundry-fresh. A spotless bathroom was down the hall. InHouse was in Vila Mariana (a great little neighborhood to stay and eat in, by the way), also a clean, modern house. One time I must have gotten the deluxe suite with an in-room jacuzzi. The second time was more like the Lotus set-up. I engaged 1 muscle guy for 250 the first time and another 4-hands for 450 (no penetration) the 2nd time. Interestingly, not all guys would do 4-hands, which I was told when I picked the first 2 guys I wanted from their website. So InHouse told me to just come by and the talent will come out to greet you. It's not as awkward as the experience of 25 Thai boys dropping everything to line up and stare at you. LOL. It helped that the very first guy, who wasn't even on their website, already had me at ola. I have two long-term Brazilian fixations. One of them is a Brazilian Asian stripper I saw at Lagoa some years ago. Now he's listed at one of the other agencies. We almost had a date, and then I was told he was working in Campinas that week. Oh well. I cannot emphasize enough what a thoroughly pleasant experience this was. All 5 guys were very friendly, decent, almost charming. They all spoke some English. It's a less crazy experience than in a sauna cabine (except for the 3-way at Lotus, which got sweaty-crazy) and a more relaxing time, which was what I was after. Each time, I scheduled an appointment only 1-2 hrs in advance. A couple guys were strippers or go-gos working the night clubs later that evening, but they said they were available "full time" to come to the house for an appointment. The saunas are rodizios - one guy after another coming around with skewers of meat. There are better and worse, but rodizios are usually quantity over quality. The massage houses are more like a la carte restaurants where you can have a limited but more leisurely repast. I used to wonder what would happen if the lumpen clay of magnificent beauty that was at Lagoa actually should get some refinement and training (by a caring, expert, and thorough trainer such as myself) to turn them into courtesans. This might be it.

What kind of water do they use in their juices? Honestly, I got so careless in Latin America that I stopped watching what I was eating or drinking. Then I got a moderate case of traveler's bowel in DR and a more serious case of maybe food poisoning in Rio. I'm thinking it was the juices, which are mixed with water, but filtered/boiled or tap?

When I was there a few weeks ago, rates were firmly at 150. One guy started with 200 but I said no cumming for 150 and he easily agreed. For another guy I offered 100 and he asked to make it 120 to cover his entrance fee. Maybe the garotos are not getting multiple clients a night and figure they should milk (ahem) their one romp for all it's worth, then go home. If it made any difference, it was usually I who brought up the rate first (saying "okay for 150?" instead of asking him how much), which perhaps let them know that I know the scene. Same in Rio. Everyone, even a snooty muscle boy at 117, immediately agreed to 150.

Turkish oil wrestler muscled.

If one would like company with blond, smooth, frat/jock types, would it be better to go to Zurich or Prague?

If one would like company with blond, smooth, frat/jock types, would it be better to go to Zurich or Prague?

You are not there for a Latin lover experience or even an Omar Sharif lover. It's wham-bam-thank-you-sam. Aquarius only provides an uncomfortable massage table that you wouldn't want to spend much time on anyway. There is so much gay sex going on in any moslem culture but it's the don't-ask-don't-tell variety. And no, they don't bang you like a female. They bang you like a worthless meat object that exists solely for their penile stimulation. Excuse me while I jump in a cold shower.

Based on my recent trip to Rio, you can still find something at 9 pm at 202 on Mon. and Wed. nights or 117 on Tue. and Fri. nights. But don't expect a cornucopia at that time, more like 1 definite and 1 maybe-if-you're-real-horny.

I just came back from Brazil a few weeks ago. Headlines: 1. Didn't bother going to 555, given how mediocre even Lagoa was. 2. Lagoa is just not like the sauna of yore in the old location. The horse-dicks are still there as well as many twinks and "veterans" (guys I passed up 5 or 10 years ago). But gone are the massive muscles and flawless beauties you want to suck face with for half an hour. Gone is the ambience of a horny frat house you can rampage through like a slutty cheerleader. On my two visits, I barely hooked up with one garoto each time. 3. But that doesn't by any means suggest that hot muscle sex in Sao Paulo is no longer happening. The scene has moved to the "tantric massage" houses, where I found bods to compare with the best from 20 years at old Lagoa. They are more expensive and less participatory, though participation seems to be upwardly negotiable along with fees. However, one guy at a massage house (250-350 R) does not cost much more than a sauna visit where you could find only one guy to your liking (150 + ~120 sauna entry & cabin). In return, you get a much nicer room, more time, and even something almost approaching a professional massage. 4. For nostalgia, I went to the old Lagoa site. Veterans here might remember this ritual: the shopping center with the metro stop, the Habib's for a pre- or post-snack, and what used to be the Citibank I withdrew garoto cash from. But the former happiest place on earth is now a construction site with another skinny condo tower going up. 5. Rio was better but also subdued. Will write more about that maybe later.

There is no normal rate. It is what it is. You can do a cost-of-living or purchasing power parity comparison but that's only in broad strokes, with lots of inconsistencies. Even the famous "Big Mac Index," in my view, is distortive because what's low-brow fast food in the US is considered an exotic luxury in other countries. FYI, when the real was born, it was 1:1 with the dollar, so that was what's intended to be "normal." When I first went to Brazil, a few years later, the rate crashed to almost 3:1 with, shockingly, no inflation. Brazil was insanely cheap then. Foolish me paid 50R for os garotos when I later surmised the going rate was closer to 20-30R. Looking back now, why didn't I just move to Brazil for a couple years?!

I do not carry that much cash. Worried about cards not working? Bring multiple! I bring 2 ATM cards and 3 credit cards and maybe $200 in US cash. That's all the backup I've ever needed. I do not bring all of them when I'm going out and I split them in 2-3 locations in my luggage.

Brazil is a bus country. A non-stop bus from Rio to SP is 6 hours. Flying will require 1 hr. early arrival at the airport, 1 hr. flying, and 1 hr. to deplane and out of airport. I'm assuming that getting to and from the airport or the bus station is about the same, but the bus station is often in a more convenient location and could save another half-hour. So the bus only takes 2.5-3 more hours and does not have the stress of airports. Though you could show up right at departure time, I'd recommend getting to the station 15 minutes early at least: Brazilian bus stations are huge. Tiete (Sao Paulo) is the size of an airport but still easier to get through and no security lines.

Valparaiso is amazing. Exercise your legs because you'll be walking and climbing hills a lot, but you can also take easy excursions to the wineries nearby. The "Switzerland-in-South-America" extends over the Andes to the Chilean side. Some small towns had places selling kaffee und kuchen - plus volcanoes and hot springs. Chile is a naturist's country so do try to get out of the city. Near BA is San Antonio de Areco - not a big city by any means but, rather, a small town that retains some of its colonial layout and a lot of its gaucho culture. It has dude ranches (I stayed at a gorgeous one that has since been converted to a $700/night Relais and Chateau property) and the best empanadas I've ever eaten. Colonia del Sacramento is interesting too. It's a tiny place and requires a bit of planning with the ferry, which was hours behind schedule when I did it many years ago.

For any nationality, you'd probably have a better interaction with them in their home country. In Portugal, I imagine the Brazilians have to deal with hassles, law enforcement, and some racism. That wouldn't put you in the best mood, would it? To answer your question: Brazil, DR, Cuba, and Brazilians in Spain. I have never failed to find at least one monster meat per trip to Brazil. Never. Easily the 5 biggest and probably 9 out of 10 biggest were from Brazil. Mind you that these were big cocks attached to stunning bodies and faces too. There have been huge ones I passed up because the rest of the guy didn't appeal to me. Surprise smaller city: Belo Horizonte, which has a better sauna scene than Pto. Alegre, Salvador, or Curitiba.

The wait time on free cabine nights (Tuesday at 117, Wed. at 202) seems like bad business from the house, the boys, and the clients. The old Lagoa had so many nooks and crannies for quickies and the guys there were usually quite willing. At 117 and 202, however, I found neither opportunity nor receptiveness for such hanky panky. Is it house policy to discourage it? It takes away from their business but if their rooms are booked solid for 90 minutes, I'd think it'd be better to keep the clients and boys continuing to do their business one way or another.

Doesn't Chili Pepper also have a sex club? Is it perhaps TOO gay friendly (i.e., if you actually want to sleep without the thump-thump disco music of most sex clubs)?

What Brazil needs is a fitness camp with "training + sex"

That is about 1/3 of the waterworks I remember from 30 years ago.

The beaches are far away from the historical center, which is beautiful but changes block-by-block in terms of crime and danger. You cannot be close to both.