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numazu

The Reopening of Brazil to Foreigners: some observations

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13 hours ago, numazu1 said:

Brazil Health Theater – Sao Paulo Edition

Some thoughts about the COVID-caused changes that I’ve seen here in Sao Paulo. We are indeed living in a changed world. 

Brazil Bans Pillows

https://onemileatatime.com/brazil-bans-pillows-airplanes/

This seemed ridiculous at first when I innocently asked a flight attendant, while I was getting setup for my Houston to Sao Paulo, why there are no pillows, and there are extra duvets available in Business Class. 

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Apparently Brazil has waged a war against pillows, but not blankets and duvets.  Thank goodness I always take a travel pillow with me in case I need more extra cushioning, but the duvets were enough to act as a pillow as well. I wonder why did Brazil banned pillows on flights. I am unsure what the exact science in behind the decision was, but here we are.

Sao Paulo Hotel Measures

I’ve considered the Staybridge Suites in Itaim bibi, Sao Paulo, to be a good first hotel to stay to start up a Sao Paulo trip, before I spend time in my main AirBNB digs.  This is primarily because with my IHG status, checking in at 9 AM is no problem for them and I get a room in no time to sleep the flight off.

Some interesting measures they have executed for COVID:

There was a Health questionnaire at check-in, which was pretty standard I think. Just asking if you have a fever or ever been close to a COVD positive person n the past 14 days. And also a plastic barrier at check-in. Very common nowadays:

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At the room, you see a lot of things wrapped in plastic, I guess to show that those items have been sanitized and you don’t have to worry about getting COVID though them:

Remotes:

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The free coffee:

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Utensils, carefully wrapped individually:

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Also you get a complementary COVID kit, with a mask, mini hand-sanitizer, and moist towelettes.

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They even had hand sanitizer dispensers powered by foot everywhere:

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I did feel that the hotel was doing its best to assure their guests that they take COVID seriously. I felt pretty safe and COVID was the furthest from my mind.  This is all well and good, but then again I invited guys over to my room numerous times during my 3 night stay, so this COVID-free façade of mine may not have lasted long.  Oh well, you can’t win it all, you can minimize risks, not eliminate them, unless you just stay home forever.

Uber Safety

I haven’t used the Metro in SP yet, but Uber here had varying degrees of engineering controls and COVID equipment to protect drivers and riders from each other. Uber has a mask requirement now for both rider and driver, and I’ve seen all drivers with masks.  And all the rides had hand sanitizers available in the car as well.  But I’ve been in one ride that took things further and installed a plastic shield, separating you from the driver, and also advising you to keep the windows open for ample ventiltion, which is smart:

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The drivers will just go ahead and help you with your luggage, so if you’re pretty sensitive with having others handle your stuff, make sure you handle the baggage yourself.

Ghost Towns and Half Measures

I did not expect things to be normal, or even half normal, upon my return, but I mainly saw fairly deserted spaces with chairs taken out so people can’t conglomerate. The two main restaurants that were my favorites when staying at the Staybridge were super sad:

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The gay bars in Frei Caneca were populated, albeit probably 20% of normal, and no one had a mask on, because people were drinking:

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Sunday is always exercise day for SP, and during COVID, this was still the case, with Uber making sure everyone exercising were wearing masks, and most of them were:

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Finally, grocery stores also had plastic barriers, and alcool gel at the ready:

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What Not To Do: 25 de Marco and Bras Shopping

These two shopping areas, filled with street vendors and vendors with shops, and filled with cheap Paraguayan and Chinese (and Brazilian) swag, has been open since June, and while everyone was wearing masks, if you know how the mix of street vendors, hawkers, narrow alleyways and shop fronts, and people eager to find a deal, looks like, then it is impossible to do any meaningful social distancing in this type of setup.

Not sure what the city of Sao Paulo was thinking with reopening this, and I am not sure what we were thinking when we went as well, but I guess we were also very eager to find deals. I would not recommend going to anyone, but yet, I did, and will probably go back before the trip is done.

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What Not To Do: Clandestine Parties

AGAIN don’t do this, but I must admit that I wanted to see what it looked like, which is a dance party in the middle of COVID. There are many reasons why Sao Paulo has the most cases and deaths among states in Brazil.  One of them are the clandestine dance parties that has happened, and continued to happen, during this COVID times.

Once the BF and I reunited, and in the succeeding days met with our friends, we immediately got invited to the next “balada clandestina” or secret parties that usually happen in smaller towns just outside the city limits of Sao Paulo. We did not want to go, but at least wanted to see what it looked like. Photos and videos were frowned upon, but going into the party, I saw a world before COVID, as in no one was wearing a mask, nor social distancing, no anything. We didn’t stay long, probably best we didn’t go at all.

 

https://www.sbt.com.br/jornalismo/sbt-brasil/noticia/144528-estabelecimentos-funcionam-de-forma-clandestina-durante-pandemia-em-sp

What To Do: Parque ibirapuera

One of the places I love in Sao Paulo, even more than Lagoa, is Ibirapuera Park. I’ve been numerous times before, but the current BF had a way to make this place a must-go every trip. And outdoor places are having a renaissance nowadays with the restrictions in indoor gatherings during the age of COVID.

Everyone seemed to get the memo too, as there was a lot of people waking the trails of the park. There is strict mask wearing all throughout, and with the winter in Sao Paulo making the sun bearable with a mask, it was actually a pretty amazing time just being in Brazil, with Brazilians, in a way that does not make you want to wash your hands 20 times afterward. And with the sun out this week, not a bad venue to eye many a hot Brazilian running shirtless.

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Probably the best thing I’ve done here this trip, so far.

I’m off to Rio tomorrow. I’ll update when I can. Beaches during COVID should be fun.

I can't believe they let the gay clubs be open. @numazu1 Do you know if there is any trade at the gay clubs usually? Did they at least have reduced hours at the clubs?

Thanks for the detailed report! Can't wait to hear about Rio!!!

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10 hours ago, bcdaron said:

I can't believe they let the gay clubs be open. @numazu1 Do you know if there is any trade at the gay clubs usually? Did they at least have reduced hours at the clubs?

Thanks for the detailed report! Can't wait to hear about Rio!!!

People usually don't do trade at regular gay clubs in Brazil.  If there is any opportunities, you would need to speak Portugese.  @numazu1 speaks passable Portuguese, (or better than passable ^_^).

Edited by Walker
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18 hours ago, numazu1 said:

We just arrived in Rio. Its gonna be a hot and sunny weekend so looking forward to some (COVID-era) beach time!

Are both Copacabana and Ipanema beaches open to tourists?  Are the normal vendors (tents with chairs, umbrella and drinks) on the beaches? 

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On 8/12/2020 at 7:13 AM, TotallyOz said:

The baht is strong but  I can still get good sex for less than 70 USD any day of the week. Most on Hornet ask for 1500. The GoGo bars 2,000 baht. I have no complaints at all.

 

When I first went to Thailand, the cost was 300-400 baht for short term. The baht was then 22 to the dollar, so less than $20. Not that I don't support the guys getting more money...

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2 hours ago, yellowheart said:

Hey Numazu1..I looked at the Berkshire Hathaway site and it does provide travelers insurance but do you have to show COVID specific coverage?  the Berkshire coverage doesn't succinctly notate that COVID Coverage.

Yes, you need covid coverage. They will write in your passport the exact number of days you can stay in Brasil, based on the covid coverage dates up to 90 days. Be prepared to show a return plane ticket as well.

I use www.squaremouth.com or www.insuremytrip.com to buy travel insurance. Preference towards squaremouth, because if you have a problem with a claim, they have an ombudsman that steps in to help...happened to me before and things got straightened out within a week.

 

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53 minutes ago, numazu1 said:

Echoing what @floridarob said about Squaremouth.  If you go to their webpage, you'll eventually find these filters, which shows COVID is covered:

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@numazu1 Thank you for sharing info. Do you happen to know what the minimum coverage is? Do you need 100K or outpatient care? It looks like all they want is travel insurance that has a medical component that covers you in medical emergencies or the need to repatriate for medical reasons. Am I right?

Edited by bcdaron
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On 8/13/2020 at 4:57 PM, numazu1 said:

If you compare the 90s to what you saw in 2017, how did both eras compare? Do you miss the old days?  Was the quality better in your opinion?

I'm always curious to compare eras from peope who have been in those times. 

I first went in 2001. It was more or less the same in terms of quality, selection, and skills as now. Just prices go up and down according to the divergent graphs of exchange rate and inflation. That's why I hope that the scene will bounce back from covid-19. It's been a part of the culture for a long time. Despite the availability of online markets, I repeatedly meet guys who said they preferred the sauna because it was easier to bag 1-3 customers and go home. 

Then again, I thought about the Latin American porno theaters would never die, but they were done in by the internet, so who knows.

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