SolaceSoul

There must be a lunar eclipse. I actually agree with you.

I’ll dry my tears of shame on the towels at Club 117, Point 202, and Thermas Lagoa. Somehow, I’ll recover. My heart will go on.

Jesus Fucking Christ. These questions have been answered here in the past few months by at least 3 recent and regular travelers, including me, and 2 additional new ones. Wht should we repeat ourselves? That’s what the search function is for

A legend at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Salvador is an experience that isn’t right for everyone.

What? You mean all these hot, young, built Carioca sex workers aren’t turned on just by looking at these Orville Redenbacher / Danny DeVito lookalikes? You don’t say….

Not sure about that, but if you keep your bill current, you won’t lose the number.

Saunas in Rio and SP close generally about 11 pm or so, and later on weekends, but after the shows end (about 10), they are practically vacant. Depending on personal style and preference, people will go home, go grab a bite to eat or a drink, hook up with a date or just get some rest. I train on the beach every morning so I’m up when the sun comes up at 5 am. A late night for me is unusual.

Some people prefer Claro. I prefer TIM.

The best way to find out if a place on AirBnB allows guests is to look at each individual listing’s House Rules. If it explicitly states guests are not allowed, or has some similar restriction about visitors, then scratch that one off your list. If it does not explicitly state it, then mention to the host that you will have local friends dropping by and you want to make sure that’s okay. Often times, some hosts are not okay with overnight guests who do not pay. But technically, if it’s not included in the House Rules, it should not be an issue. Also, always book for at least 2 persons, not just for yourself. I just wouldn’t book a place without the host knowing upfront that I may have a local guest — because I don’t want an issue during the stay or afterwards (an unfavorable guest review). I own a rental property that is often used on AirBnB and I don’t allow guests other than those registered. So it’s best to look for the House Rules abd ask the host directly.

In Rio, it is very common for the payboy saunas to be less busy on weekends than on certain weekend days. 117’s busiest night is currently Tuesday, while 202’s busiest night is currently Wednesday.

República. It has its own Metro stop.

A football running back in college is about 5’11 and 210 pounds. Twinks are generally less than 150 pounds. Are you sure “twink” is the right word to describe what you’re attracted to?

You’re probably better off going to theJuan Bim Bim establishment or Narciso’s house out in the country for twinks. Even cruising the Conde or Parque Colon. You can’t shake a stick without bumping into one. It’s much easier to find skinny twinks in the DR — much to my dismay (they do nothing for me). But my friends who love twinks have a field day.

Sign prominently displayed on a door to the indoor bar room at Club 117 (where the shows take place). This is current, but it’s been there for years. It translates to “No filming or photography.”

No one at the sauna is going to take issue with only stage performers being filmed / photographed while on stage. My comment above was about snapping photos of garotos or clients being inside the sauna (unless it’s inside a suite). a snapshot inside the non-private area of the sauna could (whether intentionally or not) also capture background subjects that can be identified. With facial recognition technology having been almost perfected, it’s obviously a major privacy concern. At least one of the major Brazilian saunas has (or had) a notice on the wall prohibiting the use of cell phones for taking photos.

Taking photos inside the saunas are strictly prohibited. Violators can get themselves ejected and even banned — especially if the subject of the photo is a client or a garoto. I suppose if you took a photo inside a private suite with the other party’s consent, that would be fine. The only other photos taken are the ones of the show participants -/ drag queens and gogo boys, thst end up posted on the sauna’s social media pages and websites. You can still carry around your phone to use translator apps, store contact information and send / check messages. That’s quite common.

Like in the States or in any gay nightclub/bar/circuit scene, just as I tend to avoid hard / recreational drug users, they tend to avoid me as well. Like attracts like. I’ve managed to visit Brazil regularly for 12 years now and have not had one experience with a garoto using anything “harder” than smoking weed in my presence (although I have been asked by a few before, I always decline and let them know it’s not my thing). The beach scene is also rife with drug offers, and easy to find, or turn down / avoid, if you so choose.

Just be careful bringing the poppers with amyl nitrate into Brazil or having possession of them in the country. Unlike in most parts of the USA, poppers made out of anyone nitrate are a controlled substance. Amyl Nitrite is a drug that requires a prescription in Brazil. Attempts to bring them into the country or even possession could result in jail / prison time and deportation. “Could” doesn’t necessarily mean “will”, though.

Pix is basically the Brazilian version of Zelle. It does money transfers from one Brazilian bank account to the next, for those who have signed up for the Pix service. Like with Zelle, each person’s bank account can be linked to one ID form — the CPF number (similar to our Social Security Number), an email address or a (possibly Brazilian-only) telephone number. Like with Zelle, the money transfers almost immediately and there is no fee to the sender or receiver. Brasileiros love it. Ir might be a bit difficult for a non-Portuguese speaker to set up a Bradesco account, particularly if you’re not trying to do it in person, and don’t have a Brazilian ID. A workaround is to sign up for and use the Remitly app. It will link your US bank account to their service, and they will use their Brazilian bank to send your funds to your favorite Brasileiro amigo or garoto’s bank account, using his preferred ID information. It has two delivery options: express (same day) for a $5.99 fee, and normal 3-5 business day delivery for $1.99. All of this can be done from any location and on your phone or laptop.

I have literally watched a very elderly client — he looked to be in his 90s — with an oxygen tank being carried up to a suite in a sauna before. God bless him. Money is the great equalizer in this scene. If you’re paying, you suddenly look like Nick Jonas, Idris Elba or George Clooney.

I also prefer to stay in República, but it might be considered too dangerous, grimy and seedy for many other people’s tastes. It reminds me of old school Times Square, pre-Guiliani. I personally don’t ever want it to change, but it is going through a bit of a rapid gentrification period — so all the fun might be over soon. When the seedy bars, video booth shops, street hustlers and hooker trannies are replaced with avocado bars and cupcake shops — then you’ll know it’s over.

There are love hotels designed just for this purpose — a few are in Copacabana. I have never heard of one in Ipanema or Leblon, but I know there’s one past Leblon going toward Vidigal. Plenty of them in Gloria and Centro.

Arpoador is a great scenic location choice. Their beach post is Posto 7, so you’re right down the beach street from the main gay friendly beach area between Postos 8 & 9.

Rio used to have more cruisy spots (in the same vein of the 70s / 80s / early 90s American gay cruising scene) but it really isn’t the city for that kind of scene anymore. São Paulo rules the roost in that area. In Rio, you now have Sexy Rose in Cinelândia, which is an odd combination XXX video booth / dark room / drag show / gogo show place. It’s next door neighbor is an old school adult theatre, very dark where mostly very bland looking and older patrons and a few low-budget street hustlers are available. I think it’s called Cine Rex, but not sure. There used to be a Seven Cruising Bar in Centro that stayed open until 10 pm, but I’m not sure if it shut down due to the pandemic. Google Maps says it’s open, but I would still check other sources before venturing out there. Rio is a big beach culture. If you are able to learn the delicate art of beach cruising, and you don’t stick out like a swollen sore thumb, then it could take you a long way. Check the areas along Ipanema Beach with the pride flags and go from there. That’s all I have for you. If anyone else has something RECENT and UP TO DATE to contribute, I’m all ears.