sydneyboy1

Is there any update on the relocation of Lagoa? Has a definite time and location been determined? São Paulo without Lagoa is unthinkable.

I have engaged a Columbian from Bogotá the last 2 days at the Thermas in Barcelona. If he is typical of Colombians I can understand the enthusiasm for the place.

A further point. The overwhelming consensus was that the robberies were inside jobs, which comments on this thread confirm. When you hire a cabin you are “advertising “ (for want of a better word) that you are not by definition in the change area and are a sitting duck.

About 10 years ago (at a guess) I was in the locker room at Lagoa getting changed preparing to leave. At the same time one customer opened his locker and was in a highly agitated state. He showed his empty pants pocket to all in the room and talking in Portuguese which I do not understand. He then asked everyone the phone number of the police. That I did understand. I came to the inescapable conclusion that his locker had been broken into. On leaving the premises the victim was on his cell phone I suspect ringing the police. I reported this incident on the old Gay Travel Brazil website at the time and provoked discussion with others reporting having been robbed in the saunas (particularly Lagoa) or having heard of similar episodes.

My question put another way will it be a seamless transition?

I am considering going to São Paulo in November. Do you think the current premises will be operational? What worries me is being caught between the closure of the old and opening of the new. São Paulo without Lagoa is unthinkable.

Good story.

What I obviously meant was a rentboy sauna along the lines of Lagoa etc

Is it an unashamedly rentboy sauna?

An encouraging development in a country where there has been very few encouraging developments of late.

I certainly hope your right. One question. You don’t mention Dreamboys. With the exception of one stunning looking guy there in December (he disappeared after about a week) that too was a tragic reflection of its former self. Nothing would please me more than Dreamboys reincarnated to what it once was.

This wild enthusiasm does not coincide with my observations on my December/January trip with one exception. One writer refers to the number of customers at the Tawan with only 2 seats vacant. On each of my 3 visits the place was packed. What he does not say is the very, very limited number of older, overweight tattooed and with no disrespect tragic looking “boys” on offer. I don’t know what the large number of customers were expecting but it was nothing remotely like the number and standard of boys in years gone by.

I repeat I am certainly not defending this appalling character. He is a classic demigod with simplistic solutions to complex problems and a resort to scapegoats. History is replete with his ilk and the United States currently has a President who superbly encapsulates this phenomena.

I don’t wish to be interpreted as defending this appalling character but you have raised an interesting point. I recall an article where a number of people were interviewed as to why they voted for him. One was a gay small businessman. Although he despised his homophobic attitude the level of lawlessness in Brazil was getting so out of hand that this gay man said (in his words) that for the moment at least staying alive was more important than his sex life and the “new order” promised change.

Just one observation on what night is best in individual saunas. Some of my most memorable experiences have been on what turned out to be a “quiet” night with fewer boys but you connect with someone who is just right. There is an old saying, it only takes one to make an evening!

When I was there in January they were non existent.

Let me assure you there was nobody who looked remotely like that on my 3 visits to Tawan in January. He would be more likely to be the youngest son (grandson?) of the guys on offer a few months ago.

What’s this “grand opening” in April 2019? Is the place being renovated, under new management or what?

They weren’t there on my visit in the Christmas/New Year period. All I saw were mediocre tattooed boys and the place was an extension of the Soi Twilight bars that are a tragic shadow of their former self.

My point is don’t be deluded your safe because an area is “busy”. I have told my story here, on the old Gay Travel Brazil site and TripAdvisor forums. I offer no apology. My motivation has been to prevent my experience happening to others. The reaction of people has been mixed. Some have appreciated the gesture and expressed empathy and appreciated the advice, some have shared their own unfortunate experience, some have trotted out the tired line that it can happen anywhere and I’ve had a few clowns who accuse me of being on out and out liar. The Internet and in particular forums such as this are in valuable medium for intelligent thoughtful people to share experiences. It is also unfortunately a vehicle for trolls, the negative, the cynical and obsessive pedants who wish to deconstruct a story to suit their own bitter twisted view of the world. Let’s leave it at that.

The attack took place between cars parked at right angles to the kurb. I am tall about 186cm. From a distance an American gent saw me between the cars and ran to my aid. By that time the attackers had wandered off. He told me that when he saw me between the cars he realised what was happening. I pointed to the group who continued to stand like stuffed dummies staring at me. His exact words were”sir they won’t help, they won’t help”. He told me he lived in Rio and in proceeding months he had been robbed 3 times the last occasion by an assailant carrying a gun. I can understand people not wishing to be involved while an armed attack is taking place but failure to assist after the attackers have fled shows a certain weakness. It would not happen in my country or yours. I wish you could see the looks on their faces. I was literally screaming at the top of my lungs for help and even after the event did not move a centimetre. There was from memory about 8 to 10 of them in this group totally uncaring. I hope this narrative adds some perspective.

I was mugged in Rio in 2005 which I reported on another thread. There is a wealth of wisdom here. I never go on public transport and am very wary of walking alone. The lesson to be learnt from my experience is that you are not safe because an area is “busy”. My mugging occurred almost in front of the Copacabana Palace at about 6:45pm and barely dark, in front of a group who just stood and watched not to mention numerous passers by who ignored my screams for help.

I went to Moonlight once on my recent trip but I thought it was terrible. A small number of heavily tattooed boys, unattractive and seemed to be lacking interest. In the circumstances who can blame them? Jupiter was better (which is damning with faint praise) and Soi 4 seems to be where the action is. Soi Twilight I’m afraid is a thing of the past.

Any experiences of the massage venues?

Was it the hot weather you reported on another thread?