mvan1

Since you have never been to Sao Pauo, I heartily recommend that you consider a visit to the city. Sao Paulo is quite different than Rio. There are many more things to do and see in Sao Paulo. If you like museums and other touristy places you will find more than eighty museums. You do not need to take taxis to the sauna. The metro is more than sufficient to get you to Sauna Lagoa. You must walk about four blocks from the Metro to Lagoa but that is nothing for Brazil. With respect to Sauna Fragata, you can take the Metro to the stop near Avenida Paulista and walk the difference which is about twenty minutes of a walk. On the other hand, taking the bus to Sauna Fragata is cheap and easy. The buses run often. All you need is ANY bus that says on the front of it "via Reboucas" and you take it as far as MacDonald's. From there, you cross the street and walk two blocks to Fragata. Rio is fun but Sao Paulo is huge and has much more to offer. Try it, you'll like it.

"Apple needs to play catch up with competitors, like the Samsung Galaxy S III, that come with 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) service. The future of mobile connectivity relies on the ultra-high-speed networking, and to not offer that in the iPhone 5 would be a mistake." Have you considered an android? If you travel internationally, the Samsung Galaxy SIII comes with a (micro) SIM card. You can switch out the SIM card for each country and avoid roaming fees. In addition, with the Android and SIM, you can use VOIP applications to call most places in the world for very little cost. Apple is great but it is not the only system in town. -

I was in Madrid over the past few days. Sauna Adam was like the poster said. I think the small turn out of clients and hustlers is heavily influenced on the behavior of the person who works at the entrance to the sauna. I went to Sauna Adan several times in the past with friends. Most of the time, the place was fun. However, over this past weekend, the employee who worked the reception area, never said hello or thank you to us. He simply took our money and rudely slapped a key and foot wear in front of us and rudely said "entra." Once inside the sauna, we saw that the area of lockers where our assigned keys were, there were several clients talking and changing back to their street clothes. We decided to wait a few minutes and let them dress in peace. Within less than one minute, the rude employee came out of his office and told us to hurry and change. After I pointed out the changing area was busy with clients, the employee said nothing. Instead, he scowled at us and went back to his office. As the minutes went by and the clients were contined talking with each other and taking their time to dress, I asked the employee if we could go to the bar area for a while. Instead of saying a yes, he began to scream and wave his hands and shake his finger at us like a crazy person all the while shouting something we could not understand. However, we could understand the "no" part of what he was ranting. Some of the clients and hustlers overheard the employee and the way be behaved toward us and came to talk with us. The clients and hustlers said we should not pay any attention to the employee because he is always angry with clients and hustlers. Even though we had paid our admission, we decided to leave because of the hostile employee. In my opinion, that one employee is a severe negative influence at the sauna. There must be clients who do not want to go there because of the angry and strange behavior of the employee. This equals lost money to the owners of the sauna. The hustlers are harmed because they have fewer clients coming to the sauna that has a hostile environment because of that employee. Of course, this equals less money the hustlers can make because there are fewer clients willing to tolerate being shouted at by that strange employee. Without question, that one employee is a negative factor in a sauna that could be a fun place to visit and it is a fun place when that nutty employee is not working. I wonder about the owners of Sauna Adan. Could it be they are not aware of how that employee behaves toward paying clients and hustlers? . On the other hand, the original poster mentioned Black and White bar. Now that is a fun place. Even though it usually does not get busy until after midnight (and later), we arrived around midnight and there were lots a good looking and friendly hustlers available in the first floor bar. As we entered, we were greeted with a friendly hellos and smiles, unlike the lunatic that works at Sauna Adan. So, if you happen to be in Madrid, I highly recommend Black and White bar.

I have been to Porto Alegre countless times. I can attest to the fact that most of the guys in that city are much lighter skinned than found in Rio or Sao Paulo or in Norther Brazil. Remember from your history books, the Southern part of Brazil is where numerous German officers went when they fled Germany after world war two. Many settled in Argentina but many more settled in Southern Brazil,not far from Porto Alegre. In smaller towns near Porto Alegre, you will often hear German spoken by the inhabitants. The settling of the Germans accounts for the lighter skin tones on many inhabitants in Porto Alegre. I believe that Tomcal's photos are authentic.

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In liberal Brazil, some anti-gay politician is proposing a heterosexual parade in Sao Paulo to offset the huge parade the gays have each year. Here is a link to the article concerning the proposed parade - - - http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2011/0804/Heterosexual-Pride-Day-in-Sao-Paulo

I hope you do not believe that the man does not make any money from his site. All the advertisements on the review section pay him handsomely. The claim of poverty by forum owners was started years ago by Hooboy. Hooboy also begged for money from members of his site. He did his begging while he was touring around the world with his boyfriend and staying in luxurious hotels and living a high life style. I suppose it is possible that Hooboy lost money from his site and lived his lifestyle using his own funds. I guess we will never know for sure which scenario is correct.

It also shows pretty good photo shop skills - - - -

"As someone who has traveled to Brazil five times when it was a bargain. It is very hard to take a chance on a trip now. Higher prices all around, perhaps fewer sauna boys, although I agree it takes just one for me to have a good time. But the stories of the guys hired who were duds and ho were thieves, well, that is kind of the icing on the cake." Lucky, I can relate to your apprehension, however, your concerns are excessive, and I mean that in a friendly way. It is true, regardless of what a couple of people will post here to the contrary, that the quality and quantity of garotos in the saunas have declined. This, does not mean you will not have a good time in Rio. It means, simply, that you will not have as good a time as you had during prior trips. "Yet the information is so contradictory. I was told by a friend that he spoke to the owner of Meio Mundo and learned that a recent night there were 71 boys available. If I couldn't find one of 71 then it is me that is to blame." I have been to Meio Mundo many times. That can be a fun sauna. There are days when that sauna is very busy and there are days when that sauna is nearly empty of garotos. As to the claims of the owner (Asyr), I sometimes find that he sometimes becomes a salesman when he overstates the number of garotos in the sauna. I have been there on certain nights with friends when the place was dead and/or with only a few garotos. The next day I returned and the place was not dead. On one of my return days I saw and spoke with Asyr. I remarked to him how dead it was the prior day. He said that I was mistaken because the sauna was very busy. What could I do, call him a liar? I think not. After that conversation, I take anything Asyr has to say with a grain of salt. This is not to mean that he is not a nice person. Rather, it means that he is protecting his investment by claiming the sauna was busier than it really was. I know this because I was there and saw the opposite of what he said. The only way he could have been correct would be if many garotos suddenly arrived after I and my friends left after 9:00, which is highly unlikely. Asyr does a great job running Meio Mundo and he is a real asset to the place. However, he is in business to make money and acknowledging an empty sauna is not good for business. "So, ultimately, who do I believe? If I was wealthy, I would simply go and find out for myself. But, not being so, it's a big investment to go and find the negatives to be true. Snip snip - - - I have free tickets to Rio." Who do you believe? That is up to you and I agree, it is not an easy decision to make. Considering that you are planning to visit only Rio on your vacation, your probability of having a good time is greater than if you planned your trip to another city in Brazil, such as Sao Paulo or Porto Alegre or Recife. It is true that you will spend more money in Rio than you did in the past. However, your airfare is paid (free). This means you will only have costs after you arrive in Rio. If you are willing to accept the fact that there are fewer garotos than on your prior trips, you will have a good time because your expectations are not relying solely on your past experiences. Although you did not ask me my opinion, I think you should take your trip to Rio knowing that probability is in your favor. I expect my response will have the usual counter posters who will tell you that there is no decline in the sauna despite numerous complaints by several posters. Even the post just before this one from "Mac from England commented on the decline. The most ridiculous dissent offered as proof that there is no decline in the saunas is a count of 150 garotos advertising on the internet in Brazil. I am not smart enough to figure out how garotos advertising on the internet somehow disproves the decline of quality and quantity of garotos in the saunas. Maybe you can figure out what was meant by that analogy. Bottom line, give Brazil another chance despite your apprehensions. Although I do not live in Brazil, I am in Brazil almost every month (except December and early January to avoid the holiday seasons). I am adventurous and I know Brazil well. If I, and several others, say that there is a decline in quality and quantity of garotos, believe it despite anything anyone else might write. Notwithstanding the decline, you will more than likely have a great time if you go ahead with your plans to visit Rio on your next vacation. Boa viagem!

Hi Lurker: The weather man promises that tomorrow there will be no rain in Rio. Instead, there will be bright sun and 79 degrees. That combination is perfect to start the day by a visit to the "Hippe Fair" in Ipanema. I assume you have been there in the past. When you come back from Hippe Fair, I expect to find another narrative posted here describing how your night went. Life is too short for aggravation. You are in Rio for such a short time. Enjoy the place for what it is. There really is no other place like Brazil. Cheers,

"Ok.. my posts on this vacation are over.. First, I get chastised from a poster over my plate size at a restaurant in a public post.. then I get a pvt message from another poster who is telling me "Why bother when you seem to enjoy making lots of mistakes? I suppose it gives you more garbage to write about. Instead of having a better, less expensive vacation? " I never mentioned that this vacation was about pinching pennies. I merely mentioned prices to give some perspectives to others who might not have been here recently.. Story over.. once again the few loud voices ruin it for the many. Lurkerspeaks" _________________________________________________________________________________ You must not be having a good time on your present trip to Brazil for you to post such a strange message. You interpreted my question about the size of your plate as being "chastised"? My goodness, I was trying to determine why your bill was greater than my customary bill. How can that be chastising? Your reaction to a harmless question about the size of your meal is, to say it bluntly, bizarre. My question was to alert you to the fact that you might be overcharged. When you complained about the food not being hot, I advised you about a microwave oven that is available for customers who like their food hot. You spent a lot of time traveling to Brazil to enjoy yourself. Your flying off the handle over a simple question and a private message that did not involve me indicates that your are not having a good time or that something else is bothering you. Remember, your intention to visit Brazil is for fun. Forget the anger or whatever it was that caused you to post such a angry and hostile message. Whatever you do, please do not be so sensitive when you are in the saunas talking with garotos. They will be confused by such behavior. I hope the rain stops in Rio and that tomorrow will bring you lots of enjoyment and that you enjoy the remainder of your trip.

"I had one decent sized plate, a coke zero and some dessert, and my bill came to 43R (about 30USD)." Can you define "one decent sized plate" for me please? I frequent this restaurant fairly often. Sometimes I am alone while other times I am with a garoto or other times with some friends. The only time my bill runs high is when I am with a garoto who fills his plate almost to the sky. I cannot imagine how anyone eating alone at Siqiera Grill in Rio could have a bill as high as you were charged. It is not that thirty dollars is a lot of money. I wonder if the cashier made a mistake when you paid your bill. I realize that "one decent sized plate" might mean what a typical garoto would put on a plate. Next time you are there, remember to use the microwave oven to make your food hot. Thanks again for the person who posted the video of the restaurant that showed the microwave oven. -

Thanks for the video. That is the place. Yes, I briefly saw the white microwave oven. Did you notice that there appeared to be no one waiting to use it? For reasons not understandable by me, Brazilians enjoy their food lukewarm. When food is hot, many Brazilians wait until it cools before eating. I think the microwave over is for the few foreigners that frequent the restaurant. The utube video was right on.

"so I stopped by the old stand by, Sigueira Grill…For those not familiar, it is a fairly popular buffet style restaurant where they charge by the weight (por kilo).. I had one decent sized plate, a coke zero and some dessert, and my bill came to 43R (about 30USD). While the flavors of the food were good, the temperature of the hot food was lukewarm. Not one thing was piping hot.. Don’t know about you, but when I spend 30USD, I expect my hot food to be hot…" There is a microwave oven not far from the salad bar/food area. It is located against the wall to the left of near the entrance that leads to the second dining area. I have never had to wait to use the microwave because I noticed that most Brazilians did not use it as they like their food "lukewarm" like you described. Next time you are in Siqueira Grill restaurant, try using their microwave, it makes a difference when the temperature of the food is to your liking. -

"5 days until departure...got my Brazilian currency from the bank.. got my shopping done...come onnnnnnnnn...... Tuesday.." You probably paid a fee and got a terrible exchange rate to buy the Brazilian currency from your bank. If you need more local money while you are in Brazil, you can use either the HSBC Bank or Bradesco Bank ATM machines. There is no ATM fee charged by these banks and they both give an exchange rate that is comparable to the current exchange rates quoted in the various markets. There are countless branches of these two banks throughout Brazil. You will find several just in Copacabana. Avoid Citibank and other named banks as they are a rip off for fees and lower exchange rates. Boa viagem -

A privilege to travel? That is what that halfwit, Janet Napolitano and the moron, John Pistole keep saying when people complain about the trashy treatment they get when going through their "TSA security" at airports. No, travel is a right, not a privilege. Somehow, that concept got left out of the government's "rules" when a passenger buys a ticket to travel on an airplane. -

"If you hear an owner say "it's my message board" just ask him what he would have if none of us posted!" Hmmm, that hits close to somewhere far far away.

Actually, the R$50 is for Friday, Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Other days are $40.00. Yes, the garotos (except "special ones" that Rudolfo likes who get in for free) now pay $R15. When you consider that the garotos pay their fare (metro, motobike, omnibus or car) plus the R$15, many of the garotos will not be able to afford to go to Lagoa. This has to have a negative effect on the number of garotos at Lagoa. The good side is that the higher entrance fees should make Fragata's business pick up with more garotos. You have to wonder what could have possessed Lagoa to raise its entrance fees to the present rates. Sextas, Sábados, Domingos e feriados R$ 50,00 Demais dias R$ 40,00 Aceitamos todos os cartões de crédito e débito, e dinheiro (somente reais)

I posted the link to the video on another gay site. There was not even one comment. I guess I should not be surprised. The garoto in the video certainly has talent and charm. Saint-Saens' music (Death of a Swan) added elegance to the video.

Google Translate on Android will now perform real-time, automated audio translation for conversations between English and Spanish speakers, Google announced in a blog post today. The service is just beginning and is reported to be very experimental. Franz Och, head of Google's translation services, said in February of 2010 that this new service should "work reasonably well in a few years' time." Given the wide range of languages, accents and intonations in the world, we probably shouldn't expect this to be much more than a gimmick yet.

This is from the United States - Department of State web page as of 11-5-2010. After reading even a portion of this, would anyone feel safe visiting Columbia? SAFETY AND SECURITY: While security in Colombia has improved significantly in recent years, violence by narco-terrorist groups continues to affect some rural areas as well as large cities. The potential for violence by terrorists and other criminal elements exists in all parts of the country. In recent months there has been a marked increase in violent crime in Colombia. Murder rates have risen significantly in some major cities, particularly Medellin and Cali. Kidnapping remains a serious threat. American citizens have been the victim of violent crime, including kidnapping and murder. Firearms are prevalent in Colombia and altercations can often turn violent. Small towns and rural areas of Colombia can still be extremely dangerous due to the presence of narco-terrorists. Common crime also remains a significant problem in many urban and rural areas. For additional details about the general criminal threat, please see the Department of State's Country Specific Information for Colombia. The incidence of kidnapping in Colombia has diminished significantly from its peak at the beginning of this decade. Nevertheless, terrorist groups such as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), the National Liberation Army (ELN), and other criminal organizations continue to kidnap and hold civilians for ransom or as political bargaining chips. No one is immune from kidnapping on the basis of occupation, nationality, or other factors. Kidnapping in rural areas is of particular concern. On July 2, 2008, the Government of Colombia rescued 15 hostages, including three Americans, who had been held for more than five years. Although the U.S. government places the highest priority on the safe recovery of kidnapped Americans, it is U.S. policy not to make concessions to or strike deals with kidnappers. Consequently, the U.S. government's ability to assist kidnapping victims is limited. U.S. government officials and their families in Colombia are permitted to travel to major cities in the country, but normally only by air. They may not use inter- or intra-city bus transportation, or travel by road outside urban areas at night. All Americans in Colombia are urged to follow these precautions. For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's, Bureau of Consular Affairs' web site. It contains current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays). The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s extensive tips and advice on traveling safely abroad. Back to Top CRIME: Although the threat of terrorism has decreased in most of Colombia’s cities, they nevertheless experience much of the same crime that is seen in comparably sized cities throughout the region. Robbery and other violent crimes, as well as scams against unsuspecting tourists, are common in urban areas. Generally speaking, if you are the victim of a robbery, you should not resist. Some of the most common methods used by criminals in Colombia are noted below: Robberies of ATM customers: Tourists and others have been robbed after using automatic teller machines (ATMs) on the street. In some cases, robbers have used motorcycles to approach their victims and later flee the scene. Americans are urged to use ATMs only inside shopping malls or other protected locations. Driving to and from the location – rather than walking – provides added protection. When using an ATM, you should be on the lookout for anyone watching or following you. Robberies of taxi passengers: Robbery of taxi passengers is a serious problem in Bogota. Typically, the driver – who is one of the conspirators – will pick up the passenger and then stop to pick up two or more armed cohorts, who enter the cab, overpower the passenger, and take his/her belongings. If the passenger has an ATM card, the perpetrators may force the passenger to withdraw money from various ATM locations. Such ordeals can last for hours. In almost every case of taxi-related crime, the victims have been riding alone and have hailed taxis off the street. Rather than hailing a taxi, you should use the telephone dispatch service that most taxi companies offer. Many hotels, restaurants, and stores will call a taxi for you, and the taxi usually arrives within minutes. When a taxi is dispatched by telephone, the dispatcher creates a record of the call and the responding taxi. Robberies of tourists departing airports: U.S. citizens arriving at major Colombian airports have occasionally been victimized by armed robbers while en route from the airport to their hotel or home. The perpetrators typically scout out victims at the airport and then follow their vehicles before robbing the occupants at a stoplight. Travelers should remain vigilant at airports and report to local airport police if they suspect they may be under surveillance.

Pretty clever photo shopping. .

Am I the only one out here that does not understand what this rambling post is trying to say? -

Whether it is this site or the M4M (daddies) site (or most any other site where people from various backgrounds participate), there will be disagreements as well as camaraderie. That is just how life is, like it or not. This site got a “shot in the arm” as a result of the shabbily planned and temporary shut down of M4M. The temporary closure of the other site caused an increase in traffic of this site. I hope the increase in traffic is not temporary. Now that traffic has increased, I also hope management does not plan to mold this site into a "church ladies" site like Gay Travel Brazil has become. Take a look at the few postings that are made on Gay Travel Brazil. Most of the posts are from the owner or his moderator, Trilingual. Most of the postings on that site are made by general members and those postings are mundane and uninteresting. Many initial members of that site no longer participate or post because of the direction management took the site or the way they were treated. This forum has the potential to become a fairly strong competitor to the M4M site. However, if those members who take time and effort to post here have their postings stifled, the traffic on this site will revert to what it was prior to the meltdown of the M4M site a few weeks ago. This is my observation and no offense is meant.