trencherman

Roberto stayed at Trilingual's apartment when he traveled to Rio. Ceased to be a friend as soon as Trilingual lost everything? That's how it works and that’s about par with common humanity. The friend who stays with you when you are down and out is rare indeed. I would be wary of his so called "friendship."

This is precisely why Charles de Gaulle's characterization of Brazil as not a serious country has so much truth in it.

The last comment of his, I recall reading in a now defunct Brazil gay travel forum, after hearing the story of their separation and his nervous breakdown from a friend (Gingado) who was living in Rio at the time, Trilingual was recommending his boyfriend as an English speaking guide and Portuguese language tutor in Florianapolis or thereabouts where he has then moved back to after uni where he landed a job as math teacher, so it seemed to me that the separation was not at all as brutal or as dramatic as had been reported. Trilingual was quite the pioneer promoter for Brazilian gay travel and I relied completely on his recommendations about this matter so on my first trip to Brazil, I even offered to buy him dinner which he accepted with that boyfriend in tow along with Eduardo from Buenos Aires who was staying with them for a few days on a visit to Rio. He was younger than him but not by much and I was not too impressed by his appearance and demeanor, specially with what was available at the saunas at the time and keeping in mind how he gushed over and went on about him in that travel forum. It could be that he possessed attributes that were not apparent to casual observers. Later, I ran into Trilingual again and again in my subsequent visits since I stayed at the same apartment he recommended which was in the same city block as his apartment. He appeared okay.

Heartbreaking but not as outrageous as when religious zealots destroy works of art as the Taliban and ISIS recently did or the dismantling of practically the whole of Western antiquity by the early Christians.

Certain Brazilian business practices I shall never get used to: Many restaurant owners/managers/cashiers are rude and arrogant. A few of us, as it was customary at the time, was having our post sauna eat at Corrujihna’s one night and we saw this English fellow we ran into earlier at the sauna having his drink alone so we asked him to join us in our table. The cashier stepped down his pulpit and told him off. As I was in Rio for extended stays, I stayed at this inexpensive hotel above Clube 117. For dinner, I usually ordered a grilled filet on a pão Frances from the restaurant at the entrance of Cândido Mendes and since it was only 10 reais, I also ask for one for each of the dj and temp security guard patting-down incoming GPs. One subsequent night upon ordering exactly the same thing, I was charged double the previous night’s price so I asked the cashier and wouldn’t you know it, he almost bit my head off. I’m okay with the 10% service charge automatically levied on my meal and actually will also leave the coins and small bills that come back as change. In Rio restaurants change do not come back which trained me to always be ready with the exact change when eating out.

And only a few minutes walk from Hotel Atlantico.

We disrespectfully referred to him as Jabba the Hut in our private conversations and public comments on Gay Brazilian travel forum of the time. Btw, anybody been to Corujinha’s lately or better still, anybody knows where the action has moved to?

A sweeping view of Ipanema taken from a spot on Pedra do Arpoador which is now used by homeless people as toilet. A short view from the same spot looking East.

This fellow Alexandre had a younger brother too who unfortunately, was not much fun at all.

I’m the opposite. No acrophobic by any means but I can only go as high as the first leg which technically is not Pão de Açucar yet. Only did the hippie fair once but the once a month antique fair in Centro close to the shadow of the Aquiduct, that I do on every Rio stay.

Condolences on your dad's passing. A pesar de eso, thank you for the effort starting an informative and interesting reporting on Argentina (and Uruguay?)

Gauging from the government inflicted political and economic travails of Brazil during the last few years, the cultural programs sponsored by the cultural arm of the city and province of RJ would likely among the first to have been discontinued. Free (or for nominal pittance) for lunchtime and evening concerts held in various cultural and historical venues all over the city. The programs were eclectic and varied too, a lunchtime of Jobim can be followed the next day with an evening with Gerswin, and yet with music composed by Domenico Zipoli for the Jesuit missões of the 17th century, all staged in an apt venue such as the aforementioned Oteiro da Glória, Banco do Brasil, Palacio de Itamaraty or de Glória , Quinta da Boa Vista, etc. My faves were the classical guitar concerts held high up in the Museu Chácara do Céu in Santa Teresa. One evening, I went to a free concert for gaita without knowing what a gaita meant. Turned out to be an unforgettable evening of music for solo and harmonica ensemble. Any one of these locations worth a detour (from the roads leading to the saunas) even without the special events. @CaliPexx all pix I post are from the www.

Riobard suggesting O Mosteiro São Bento reminds me of the other mosteiro, the restaurant. If you are there in Centro during the week and on lunch time, treat yourself to classy Portuguese dishes in an upscale setting at the Restaurante Mosteiro (http://restaurantemosteiro.com.br/) otherwise, have lunch in any one of the numerous chains of international class restaurants called Gula Gula (http://gulagula.com.br/cardapio/executivo) or just take a leisurely snack or dessert in the historic Confeitaria Colombo (http://www.confeitariacolombo.com.br ).

There are lots of guided hiking tours to the Pedra da Gávea (Gull’s stone?) to choose from, from mild to extremely challenging. If you are not opposed to visiting religious sites, let not the nondescript exterior of the Glória church discourage you, it conceals a spectacular treasure inside, and so close to Clube 117 (same subway stop).

Like this:

Up until I came across and read this article, I assumed that Inhotim was owned by Eike Batista, another Brazilian mining magnate that run afoul of capriciously enforced Brazilian law.

The Crimes That Fueled a Fantastic Brazilian Museum https://goo.gl/NNMGe7

I always bring small presents (North American team baseball caps are always welcome), to the sauna bar staff at 117, Point, Lagoa and Fragata that I have gotten to know over the years. I give them cash tips too and take them out for lunch from time to time when special occasions came up. They did not return them with sexual favour nor did I expect any though I got commendation from them to boys they have become chummy with. I also brought with me packages of those Listerine breath tapes that I hand out like candies even to those who do not need them. I am not Japanese but I understand they have a tradition of bringing gifts (usually food specialties, in their case) from whatever places they have been visiting to friends and colleagues to foster goodwill and pleasantness in the workplace. I always ask for a doggy bag too whenever I ate out and give them to street kids who invariably ask for money for drinks to wash down the free dinner.

Goiás has several but I have only frequented Tres Chic, lots of local talents although also visited by traveling gps from SP and Rio. The clients are friendly and welcoming which is a surprise for me because I find the locals outside sullen and not very helpful with directions if not totally ignorant.

The brothers Darke who worked in Pointe gave pretty good massages sans hankypanky. The fellow at Lagoa gave good massages and will offer you his other more intimate services but would respect your decision if you opt out.

Speaks volumes on sportsmen’s hangups. They tolerate bloody violence but not lighthearted camaraderie. I hope nobody reminds me here that it’s not camaraderie, just good manners.

Btw, did you inquire as to what title you would be acquiring from the favela occupant? Should not bear any resemblance to time share which is virtually identical to setting your cash on flames.