Brazil - umpteenth trip, first report

[ShivRoy]

First of all, thanks to everyone on this forum. I've been reading it for years - could it be 15? - or definitely before my first ever trip to Brazil, which was three lifetimes ago. It provided me with a lot of info and a bit of a chuckle - and I'm sorry I was on silent all that time.

I almost registered when all non-members were kicked out a couple of years back, but then the gods above were merciful to allow us back for a part of it, and my laziness prevailed. Did I say again I'm sorry? - I am.

It's been a hell of a time to see Brazil (and other parts of the world) changing, the same way I was changing too: I came to Rio for the first time 14-15 years ago, totally hated it (the real to USD at 1.6 at that time didn't help), then came back a couple of years later, then there was one whole winter I spent in Brazil traveling to every corner of it (locally, it was summer of course) - and the rest is history. I traveled especially often in the past 4 years throughout the pandemic - it was pretty much one of the only two countries always open (along with Mexico - but I prefer Brazil), and then there were incredibly cheap tickets, initially in 2020-2021 basically free, then just very cheap (that loophole has recently closed, but stayed open for the incredible three years). I was traveling around the world throughout the pandemic pretty much as I usually do, so it passed me by (and by some kinky luck, covid passed me too - never had it) - and I think I was back in Brazil as early as Sep 2020 I think, and then visited about twice a year.

So that historic context aside (and again - thanks to everyone) - several observations on this trip. This year, I'm on a sabbatical, so traveled a bit more than usual - I think I've been to Rio four times in 2023. Good memories - first time Carnival, first time the New Year's Eve a week ago. Amazing. 

Brazil - and saunas - are defo different not only from what it was 10-15 years ago, but from pre-covid too. I still enjoy 117 and 202 very much - but as some others on this forum, I wonder how long they will last. It's not that apps are killing them - Onlyfans are doing that. The standard of the guys in 117 and 202 has visibly dipped - I'm still satisfied very much every evening I go there, but the standard of the guys there say in 2010s is no longer there - they are doing Onlyfans, or Rhyheim's porn, or it's easier to travel to Europe to make better money there than it was 10-15 yrs ago. A case in point, a guy I know, Henry - he started doing Onlyfans with some good success about two years ago but he was still in saunas maybe 2-3 nights a week. He's a stunner, his Onlyfans is successful, I saw him at the Rio gay pride in November as a part of the model entertainers crowd, but he's not in the saunas anymore.

The best guys in 117/202 are now those who fly in from the provinces for a couple of weeks to make money - like Walton from Fortaleza, he's another stunner, and he does some stints in Rio for two-three weeks - I just saw him yesterday in Fortaleza, and he's flying back to Rio again on Weds.

I also started to really really like Point. 202 seems such a warmer, more humane, better organised sauna (and aircon in suites works all the time, unlike in 117). I really like the vibe, the atmosphere, that warm feeling of a crowd near the bar - and moreover, there are some absolute gems of a guy who go to 202 only, and never to 117. I guess, Junior scouts them somehow, and even though a lot of the guys work both saunas, some 202-exclusive guys are marvels. One of my favourites in the past several visits is David (or the correct spelling he put into my phone contacts, Deyved) - just a stunning guy with an incredible smile and an incredible chemistry. He comes only to 202, and only a couple of nights a week at most, but he's one of my highlights. Stunning body, stunning technique and the attention to your needs - for a straight guy - he's also never hiked his fee to 200 as everybody else by the end of 2023 in Rio and stays at 150 (still gets more from me). He saw me at the reception when I came to 202 for the first time on this trip, hugged me, kissed me, and then said "don't come with me now, I will be for longer today, hire me towards the end of the night, and I will give you the biggest cumshot possible". And he did.

With all that said, 202 is losing ground against 117 - or at least that's my impression over the past couple of years. 202 is back to their two big nights - Monday and Wednesday - but lost all other days. I still remember fabulous Fridays at Point - that was their good night too - but then two or even three times I came to Point on a Friday, and it was totally dead, like Elvis dead. Then, next Friday I came to 117 - and everyone was there, and the house was buzzing. At 117, even slow nights are acceptable, but at 202 if it's dead it's no shit dead. 117 attempted to hijack Wednesdays - it hasn't worked so far. So 202 has still solid Mondays and Wednesdays, but the rest of the week it's 117 - even though I'd have preferred it differently. Even this past week between Xmas and NY, 117 was insanely busy, on some nights the line was to the street (never seen that before), whereas 202's Mons and Weds were good and busy but not over the top busy as 117 was all that week. (Still, last Weds I was #17 in the line for the suites at Point at 8pm - so it was still a good night - however, several boys told me it had been busier before and not anymore). So why this is happening, I don't know - as I'd like 202 to thrive, as I just like them, but it's not terribly easy for them it seems. (Interesting that from next Sunday they will be open on Suns too - I'd be keen to know if they are able to break the 117's Sunday monopoly).

Meio Mundo - where do I start. Unlike many posters on the forum, I actually quite liked Meio Mundo back in the day. It has this no-nonsense down-to-earth vibe that was a welcome occasional break from the 117 Men's Health posturing. Yes, it was dirty, but it was kinky dirty. During the pandemic at its new location, Meio Mundo started to drift from its previous "favela sauna" concept to the "drag queen theatre night" concept - that's where it lost the boys, and clients. Still, several of my experiences at Meio Mundo were golden. I think it was two years ago during the pandemic when I came to Meio Mundo because they were the first to start live sex shows in Rio (inbetween the long drag queen sets). It is there where I met Lucas - he was 18 at that time, stunning, with an 8-pack and a shy smile - the definition of a lanky twink top. A friend of his, a typical Meio Mundo favela-style garoto. brought Lucas with him - it was his first time in the sauna. Lucas was so obviously head and shoulders above everybody there that the Meio Mundo owner immediately brought him a free caipirinha and started to fawn over him - the guy was gold. I offered him a programa straight away, and Lucas was initially timid, still with a caipirinha in the suite, not sure what and how to do - sex was great. I was his first ever client, and I think he's likely straight, he's sort of a fixture at 117 now, and we hooked up last week, two years later, for the first time since that forst meeting - Lucas remembered our first sex, I laughed "well, you looked very different from other Meio Mundo garotos on that day", he laughed even harder saying "no doubt about that". He doesn't go to Meio Mundo anymore, and I didn't visit on any of my trips this year - their IG is all full of drag queens, no more live sex shows.

But now to live sex shows. The biggest change I've seen in Rio throughout the pandemic is the explosion of Berlin-style cruising bars. Taurus Bar is just 5 min walk from 117 and is most resourceful of them all. Then there is Seven Bar, the new Cruising Parada bar, something else in Centro, something else in Botafogo, etc. They are mostly non-GP cruising bars, but what they do is they usually haul a bunch of Onlyfans models (2 on a rainy day, 5 on a good day, I've been to a night with 8 guest Onlyfans models) - they are billed as the "interactive sex show" but pretty much 15 sec after it starts it becomes very interactive, and Onlyfans models have sex with all who paid 35 or 40 or whatever reais as cover - it's a free-for-all 40-50 person orgy with a bunch of Onlyfans models in the middle (that's how Taurus Bar does it, and I see it as a valid investment of my 35-40 reais). These are still very local-geared places, and the vibe is VERY different from the GP saunas, but more of these places open, and it's quite an experience. 

I'm in Fortaleza now where such bars equally exploded  - there are several of them - and they are all strictly non-GP, just a general orgy. As other saunas across Brazil, California is struggling to keep pace with Onlyfans, apps, etc. - it is still a very fine sauna, and I had lots of sex in the past few days, but as in Rio and SP, the top-tier gobsmacking talent is no longer there.  Still, some amazing guys - humble, polite, good in sex, but the Greek gods are gone. There was a good guy from Fortaleza, Wesley, whom I met at 117 after Christmas - I told him I would be coming to Fortaleza and he said let's keep the line open privately, as he said he's not working in saunas back home in Fortaleza -  he says he does underwear modeling on IG (whatever that means) but saunas are no-no. I could have easily seen someone like him at California say 7-8 years ago - but that's basically a trend. Onlyfans, IG and private appointments over whatsapp.

California in Fortaleza still the only GP sauna. I've been to Dragon Club several times this year - easily the best-equipped sauna in all of Brazil, but usually just a couple of GPs, and mostly the jaded ones. They have some interesting events - I've been to their Mr Dragon competition where incredibly beautiful guys where on stage, but they did not mingle or even stay after the competition and the house emptied out. This weekend, I've been to a free food slash dance party at Dragon starting at 1400 (!) on Sunday - they had free feijoada and caipirinha till 1600, and then some professional Axe dancing for two hours from 1400 till 1600. I arrived at 1530, and Dragon was full of people, munching and drinking. The (professional straight) dancers were really great but were visibly not too comfortable performing in a gay sauna for towel-clad people - some 80mins into their performance they were pressured to lose T-shirts, and they were visibly uncomfortable with one dancer mouthing "no" - they did lose T-shirts for one song and promptly put it back right for the next number. There were maybe three, max four jaded GPs in this packed house - but I quickly left for California where a couple of those Dragon GPs ended up too afterwards. My only guess why this is not happening for Dragon - high entry fee for garotos?

I'm going to Recife next where there were two very OK saunas - not GP-focused but where I still found some incredible freelancing GPs in the past couple of years, so I look forward to checking them out again.

 

 

 

[scott456]

OK. Good read.

[BlkSuperman]

7 hours ago, ShivRoy said:

Brazil - and saunas - are defo different not only from what it was 10-15 years ago, but from pre-covid too. I still enjoy 117 and 202 very much - but as some others on this forum, I wonder how long they will last. It's not that apps are killing them - Onlyfans are doing that. The standard of the guys in 117 and 202 has visibly dipped - I'm still satisfied very much every evening I go there, but the standard of the guys there say in 2010s is no longer there

 

 

 

Great report! So I'm not going crazy. We were there for Christmas and new years also and the climate has changed, and not for the better, in the saunas. 

I'm glad we got to experience the saunas pre covid and meet some of the sexy uninhibited studs during that time. I still vividly remember Jordan Or nelso in the video room in the dark slapping their hard dicks in the palm of their hand to entice you to move in closer and play with those yard sticks. 

Now thiago is on the sex site and he is charging wayyyyyyy more then what the guys who are currently at the sauna are charging.

Rio was a fun place for us to visit during new years eve because back in those days finding incredibly hung guys was like fishing in a barrel.  

The saunas are still full to capacity at that time but as you said, "the quality of guys have noticeably gone down."

[Connordrick]

13 hours ago, ShivRoy said:

First of all, thanks to everyone on this forum. I've been reading it for years - could it be 15? - or definitely before my first ever trip to Brazil, which was three lifetimes ago. It provided me with a lot of info and a bit of a chuckle - and I'm sorry I was on silent all that time.

I almost registered when all non-members were kicked out a couple of years back, but then the gods above were merciful to allow us back for a part of it, and my laziness prevailed. Did I say again I'm sorry? - I am.

It's been a hell of a time to see Brazil (and other parts of the world) changing, the same way I was changing too: I came to Rio for the first time 14-15 years ago, totally hated it (the real to USD at 1.6 at that time didn't help), then came back a couple of years later, then there was one whole winter I spent in Brazil traveling to every corner of it (locally, it was summer of course) - and the rest is history. I traveled especially often in the past 4 years throughout the pandemic - it was pretty much one of the only two countries always open (along with Mexico - but I prefer Brazil), and then there were incredibly cheap tickets, initially in 2020-2021 basically free, then just very cheap (that loophole has recently closed, but stayed open for the incredible three years). I was traveling around the world throughout the pandemic pretty much as I usually do, so it passed me by (and by some kinky luck, covid passed me too - never had it) - and I think I was back in Brazil as early as Sep 2020 I think, and then visited about twice a year.

So that historic context aside (and again - thanks to everyone) - several observations on this trip. This year, I'm on a sabbatical, so traveled a bit more than usual - I think I've been to Rio four times in 2023. Good memories - first time Carnival, first time the New Year's Eve a week ago. Amazing. 

Brazil - and saunas - are defo different not only from what it was 10-15 years ago, but from pre-covid too. I still enjoy 117 and 202 very much - but as some others on this forum, I wonder how long they will last. It's not that apps are killing them - Onlyfans are doing that. The standard of the guys in 117 and 202 has visibly dipped - I'm still satisfied very much every evening I go there, but the standard of the guys there say in 2010s is no longer there - they are doing Onlyfans, or Rhyheim's porn, or it's easier to travel to Europe to make better money there than it was 10-15 yrs ago. A case in point, a guy I know, Henry - he started doing Onlyfans with some good success about two years ago but he was still in saunas maybe 2-3 nights a week. He's a stunner, his Onlyfans is successful, I saw him at the Rio gay pride in November as a part of the model entertainers crowd, but he's not in the saunas anymore.

The best guys in 117/202 are now those who fly in from the provinces for a couple of weeks to make money - like Walton from Fortaleza, he's another stunner, and he does some stints in Rio for two-three weeks - I just saw him yesterday in Fortaleza, and he's flying back to Rio again on Weds.

I also started to really really like Point. 202 seems such a warmer, more humane, better organised sauna (and aircon in suites works all the time, unlike in 117). I really like the vibe, the atmosphere, that warm feeling of a crowd near the bar - and moreover, there are some absolute gems of a guy who go to 202 only, and never to 117. I guess, Junior scouts them somehow, and even though a lot of the guys work both saunas, some 202-exclusive guys are marvels. One of my favourites in the past several visits is David (or the correct spelling he put into my phone contacts, Deyved) - just a stunning guy with an incredible smile and an incredible chemistry. He comes only to 202, and only a couple of nights a week at most, but he's one of my highlights. Stunning body, stunning technique and the attention to your needs - for a straight guy - he's also never hiked his fee to 200 as everybody else by the end of 2023 in Rio and stays at 150 (still gets more from me). He saw me at the reception when I came to 202 for the first time on this trip, hugged me, kissed me, and then said "don't come with me now, I will be for longer today, hire me towards the end of the night, and I will give you the biggest cumshot possible". And he did.

With all that said, 202 is losing ground against 117 - or at least that's my impression over the past couple of years. 202 is back to their two big nights - Monday and Wednesday - but lost all other days. I still remember fabulous Fridays at Point - that was their good night too - but then two or even three times I came to Point on a Friday, and it was totally dead, like Elvis dead. Then, next Friday I came to 117 - and everyone was there, and the house was buzzing. At 117, even slow nights are acceptable, but at 202 if it's dead it's no shit dead. 117 attempted to hijack Wednesdays - it hasn't worked so far. So 202 has still solid Mondays and Wednesdays, but the rest of the week it's 117 - even though I'd have preferred it differently. Even this past week between Xmas and NY, 117 was insanely busy, on some nights the line was to the street (never seen that before), whereas 202's Mons and Weds were good and busy but not over the top busy as 117 was all that week. (Still, last Weds I was #17 in the line for the suites at Point at 8pm - so it was still a good night - however, several boys told me it had been busier before and not anymore). So why this is happening, I don't know - as I'd like 202 to thrive, as I just like them, but it's not terribly easy for them it seems. (Interesting that from next Sunday they will be open on Suns too - I'd be keen to know if they are able to break the 117's Sunday monopoly).

Meio Mundo - where do I start. Unlike many posters on the forum, I actually quite liked Meio Mundo back in the day. It has this no-nonsense down-to-earth vibe that was a welcome occasional break from the 117 Men's Health posturing. Yes, it was dirty, but it was kinky dirty. During the pandemic at its new location, Meio Mundo started to drift from its previous "favela sauna" concept to the "drag queen theatre night" concept - that's where it lost the boys, and clients. Still, several of my experiences at Meio Mundo were golden. I think it was two years ago during the pandemic when I came to Meio Mundo because they were the first to start live sex shows in Rio (inbetween the long drag queen sets). It is there where I met Lucas - he was 18 at that time, stunning, with an 8-pack and a shy smile - the definition of a lanky twink top. A friend of his, a typical Meio Mundo favela-style garoto. brought Lucas with him - it was his first time in the sauna. Lucas was so obviously head and shoulders above everybody there that the Meio Mundo owner immediately brought him a free caipirinha and started to fawn over him - the guy was gold. I offered him a programa straight away, and Lucas was initially timid, still with a caipirinha in the suite, not sure what and how to do - sex was great. I was his first ever client, and I think he's likely straight, he's sort of a fixture at 117 now, and we hooked up last week, two years later, for the first time since that forst meeting - Lucas remembered our first sex, I laughed "well, you looked very different from other Meio Mundo garotos on that day", he laughed even harder saying "no doubt about that". He doesn't go to Meio Mundo anymore, and I didn't visit on any of my trips this year - their IG is all full of drag queens, no more live sex shows.

But now to live sex shows. The biggest change I've seen in Rio throughout the pandemic is the explosion of Berlin-style cruising bars. Taurus Bar is just 5 min walk from 117 and is most resourceful of them all. Then there is Seven Bar, the new Cruising Parada bar, something else in Centro, something else in Botafogo, etc. They are mostly non-GP cruising bars, but what they do is they usually haul a bunch of Onlyfans models (2 on a rainy day, 5 on a good day, I've been to a night with 8 guest Onlyfans models) - they are billed as the "interactive sex show" but pretty much 15 sec after it starts it becomes very interactive, and Onlyfans models have sex with all who paid 35 or 40 or whatever reais as cover - it's a free-for-all 40-50 person orgy with a bunch of Onlyfans models in the middle (that's how Taurus Bar does it, and I see it as a valid investment of my 35-40 reais). These are still very local-geared places, and the vibe is VERY different from the GP saunas, but more of these places open, and it's quite an experience. 

I'm in Fortaleza now where such bars equally exploded  - there are several of them - and they are all strictly non-GP, just a general orgy. As other saunas across Brazil, California is struggling to keep pace with Onlyfans, apps, etc. - it is still a very fine sauna, and I had lots of sex in the past few days, but as in Rio and SP, the top-tier gobsmacking talent is no longer there.  Still, some amazing guys - humble, polite, good in sex, but the Greek gods are gone. There was a good guy from Fortaleza, Wesley, whom I met at 117 after Christmas - I told him I would be coming to Fortaleza and he said let's keep the line open privately, as he said he's not working in saunas back home in Fortaleza -  he says he does underwear modeling on IG (whatever that means) but saunas are no-no. I could have easily seen someone like him at California say 7-8 years ago - but that's basically a trend. Onlyfans, IG and private appointments over whatsapp.

California in Fortaleza still the only GP sauna. I've been to Dragon Club several times this year - easily the best-equipped sauna in all of Brazil, but usually just a couple of GPs, and mostly the jaded ones. They have some interesting events - I've been to their Mr Dragon competition where incredibly beautiful guys where on stage, but they did not mingle or even stay after the competition and the house emptied out. This weekend, I've been to a free food slash dance party at Dragon starting at 1400 (!) on Sunday - they had free feijoada and caipirinha till 1600, and then some professional Axe dancing for two hours from 1400 till 1600. I arrived at 1530, and Dragon was full of people, munching and drinking. The (professional straight) dancers were really great but were visibly not too comfortable performing in a gay sauna for towel-clad people - some 80mins into their performance they were pressured to lose T-shirts, and they were visibly uncomfortable with one dancer mouthing "no" - they did lose T-shirts for one song and promptly put it back right for the next number. There were maybe three, max four jaded GPs in this packed house - but I quickly left for California where a couple of those Dragon GPs ended up too afterwards. My only guess why this is not happening for Dragon - high entry fee for garotos?

I'm going to Recife next where there were two very OK saunas - not GP-focused but where I still found some incredible freelancing GPs in the past couple of years, so I look forward to checking them out again.

 

 

 

Thanks for the great report. Very handy to prepare for my first ever trip to Rio. Taurus Bar is the only bar with interactive models? Or any of the other ones has interactive guys? 

 

[babybear2]

so true, apps have minimum impact on Sauna- Onlyfans is killing this business 

1st tier guys no longer need to meet clients offline

[Yago]

Onlyfans really killed the business, I hope gays wake up and see that it's not worth paying to see naked men if you can pay to have them in your bed

[bcdaron]

47 minutes ago, Yago said:

Onlyfans really killed the business, I hope gays wake up and see that it's not worth paying to see naked men if you can pay to have them in your bed

I honestly believe that AI will kill OnlyFans. AI-generated images are getting better and in 5 years they will take a significant amount of the digital porn content market by storm. 

[Yago]

2 minutes ago, bcdaron said:

Sinceramente, acredito que a IA matará OnlyFans. As imagens geradas por IA estão melhorando e em 5 anos conquistarão uma quantidade significativa do mercado de conteúdo pornográfico digital. 

I hope so, then everyone will have to go back to the brothels

[ShivRoy]

2 hours ago, Connordrick said:

Thanks for the great report. Very handy to prepare for my first ever trip to Rio. Taurus Bar is the only bar with interactive models? Or any of the other ones has interactive guys? 

 

Taurus is leading the field - curiously for Brazil, they abandoned their IG, the main social network here (possibly after getting banned?), and do all the announcements on Twitter. They've recently started posting raunchy 5-10 sec video clips of every Onlyfans model that would come later that night. The interactivos start at 9pm if I remember correctly (or was it 10pm?), and then repeat again a couple of hours later into the night.

Seven Bar in Centro is also organizing them several times a week, as does the new Cruising Parada 21 Bar in Centro. There are others that I didn't go to as they were further away - one is near Maracana, one in Niteroi, etc. There was another one in Botafogo, but I sort of never heard of them again in the past year.

The Onlyfans models sometimes migrate from a venue to a venue, so just see the line-up for the day - Taurus and others usually publish line-ups a couple of days in advance, Taurus on Twitter, all others on IG (Seven is on Twitter too if that's more convenient). Sometimes it's good to sign up to those OF models on their IG or especially on X-rated Twitter as that's where they announce where they will be (which sometimes leads to new venues that just opened). 

I've seen quite a few of those OF models in Rio saunas still, say, 18-24 months ago - but the A-list is totally gone from saunas, whereas B-list and C-list can still pop down for an occasional sauna night, but those cruising bars (which are 100% local clientele - and not the one that go to 117/202) are where they could be found more frequently 

 

[Yago]

3 minutes ago, ShivRoy said:

A Taurus está na liderança - curiosamente para o Brasil, eles abandonaram o IG, a principal rede social daqui (possivelmente depois de serem banidos?), e fazem todos os anúncios no Twitter. Recentemente, eles começaram a postar videoclipes atrevidos de 5 a 10 segundos de cada modelo do Onlyfans que apareceria mais tarde naquela noite. Os interativos começam às 21h, se bem me lembro (ou eram 22h?), E repetem novamente algumas horas depois, durante a noite.

O Seven Bar no Centro também os organiza várias vezes por semana, assim como o novo Cruising Parada 21 Bar no Centro. Tem outros que não fui porque eram mais distantes - um é perto do Maracanã, outro em Niterói, etc. Teve outro em Botafogo, mas meio que nunca mais ouvi falar deles no ano passado.

Os modelos Onlyfans às vezes migram de um local para outro, então basta ver a programação do dia - Taurus e outros geralmente publicam escalações com alguns dias de antecedência, Taurus no Twitter, todos os outros no IG (Seven está no Twitter também, se for mais conveniente). Às vezes é bom inscrever-se nos modelos OF em seu IG ou especialmente no Twitter pornográfico, pois é onde eles anunciam onde estarão (o que às vezes leva a novos locais que acabaram de abrir). 

Eu já vi alguns desses modelos OF nas saunas do Rio, digamos, 18-24 meses atrás - mas a lista A desapareceu totalmente das saunas, enquanto a lista B e a lista C ainda podem aparecer ocasionalmente. noite de sauna, mas aqueles bares de cruzeiro (que têm clientela 100% local - e não aquele que vai para 117/202) são onde podem ser encontrados com mais frequência 

 

Do models accept going out?

[ShivRoy]

1 minute ago, Yago said:

Do models accept going out?

You need to ask - but my experience they most likely will give you their whatsapp and you can take it from there one-on-one next day or whenever. They still solicit offline clients very much (possibly for a higher fee) - but think that being seen in saunas is sorta below their status now.

That said, in the past year, both in Rio and in SP saunas I've been repeatedly quoted 300-350 for a sauna programa by the guys who understood they are clearly above the rest in the sauna looks-wise - I never took those offers, plenty fish in the sea, but I did see others (mainly foreign tourists) taking them, so good for the guys as their approach paid off, not so good for the rest of us. That may give you a hint that the OF guys from those bars may quote you much different rates for private meetings than the sauna rates you may have got used to.

[scott456]

1.  If all this is true, why not get on onlyfan to find Brazilian models and buy outcalls to your hotel in Brazil. This may be more expensive than sauna but worth it if we are talking about A-list quality. 

2.  In my experience, the interactivo guys are usually lower quality than sauna GP's, because they get paid by the club and the pay is usually less than sauna (if they can get any customers at sauna at all)

[ShivRoy]

9 minutes ago, scott456 said:

1.  If all this is true, why not get on onlyfan to find Brazilian models and buy outcalls to your hotel in Brazil. This may be more expensive than sauna but worth it if we are talking about A-list quality. 

And i believe that's exactly what some people are doing now (I know of friends of friends who were in Rio for the NY Eve - and this is exactly what they were doing). Totally different costs though, I believe. The sigh is about the fact those A-list quality guys were in the saunas maybe as late as 2019.

Some interactivo guys are not up there, that's true - that's why those bars have them in a bulk order for certain nights. But there are some that are really great, and they are not doing the saunas. When I look at the line-ups for those bars for the week ahead, there are usually about two nights across all of them that stand out because of good cast - but that's obviously not a given on your regular night.  

 

[Connordrick]

 

16 hours ago, ShivRoy said:

Taurus is leading the field - curiously for Brazil, they abandoned their IG, the main social network here (possibly after getting banned?), and do all the announcements on Twitter. They've recently started posting raunchy 5-10 sec video clips of every Onlyfans model that would come later that night. The interactivos start at 9pm if I remember correctly (or was it 10pm?), and then repeat again a couple of hours later into the night.

Seven Bar in Centro is also organizing them several times a week, as does the new Cruising Parada 21 Bar in Centro. There are others that I didn't go to as they were further away - one is near Maracana, one in Niteroi, etc. There was another one in Botafogo, but I sort of never heard of them again in the past year.

The Onlyfans models sometimes migrate from a venue to a venue, so just see the line-up for the day - Taurus and others usually publish line-ups a couple of days in advance, Taurus on Twitter, all others on IG (Seven is on Twitter too if that's more convenient). Sometimes it's good to sign up to those OF models on their IG or especially on X-rated Twitter as that's where they announce where they will be (which sometimes leads to new venues that just opened). 

I've seen quite a few of those OF models in Rio saunas still, say, 18-24 months ago - but the A-list is totally gone from saunas, whereas B-list and C-list can still pop down for an occasional sauna night, but those cruising bars (which are 100% local clientele - and not the one that go to 117/202) are where they could be found more frequently 

 

Thanks; that sounds great. I'll check those bars out. There have been some doubts about the quality of the interactive boys in those Brazilian bars. However, for some nights, it may be true that not all the interactives are model-looking types, and you can still have some fun. I've never heard of any city, even the gayest and most LGBTQ+ friendly, having bars with interactive boys. Just for that reason, all those bars will have my patronage. I'll continue visiting them and spending time and money there to ensure the bar keeps offering that rare option.

For example, at SP HotHouse, I went three times. The first night, the interactive boys were regular street guys, similar to the ones you might encounter while cruising in a sauna, sex shop, or park. It was a novel experience for me, and I had a lot of fun. Then, on the second day, both interactives were really attractive. One was a full bottom, and the other was also very appealing. I had a lot of fun again. The third time, it was a porn actor, a 7/10, and a regular guy. The porn actor wasn't as good, but the regular guy was very engaging.

In summary, I like to try everything, and even though I'm not usually lucky at cruising places like regular bathhouses or sex parties, it's enjoyable to be in a place that feels like a bar but still offers opportunities for interactions. In HotHouse, the dark room is mostly for patrons to have fun with other patrons. In my experience, finding a good partner depends on how hot you look, so in that department, I am out. lol

As a side note, about the "OF" (OnlyFans), don't you find it curious how much money they claim to make, like three figures a month, but end up having $1 sales and pushing their account for you to sign up? I am talking about the no celebrities, but hot guys that started their OF. I have two friends, one of whom is a porn actor with a significant fan base, and they told me that they do not make huge amounts; it's almost just passive income, both of them use their OF as landing page to find some other way to make money, with clients, pornmovies. or even doing sales and getting some money as a 'influencer'

[buttercawan]

Black Cat in Copacabana also have interactive boys and live shows. I was there on New Year's Day and had lots of fun.

[Keithambrose]

On 1/9/2024 at 10:09 AM, ShivRoy said:

First of all, thanks to everyone on this forum. I've been reading it for years - could it be 15? - or definitely before my first ever trip to Brazil, which was three lifetimes ago. It provided me with a lot of info and a bit of a chuckle - and I'm sorry I was on silent all that time.

I almost registered when all non-members were kicked out a couple of years back, but then the gods above were merciful to allow us back for a part of it, and my laziness prevailed. Did I say again I'm sorry? - I am.

It's been a hell of a time to see Brazil (and other parts of the world) changing, the same way I was changing too: I came to Rio for the first time 14-15 years ago, totally hated it (the real to USD at 1.6 at that time didn't help), then came back a couple of years later, then there was one whole winter I spent in Brazil traveling to every corner of it (locally, it was summer of course) - and the rest is history. I traveled especially often in the past 4 years throughout the pandemic - it was pretty much one of the only two countries always open (along with Mexico - but I prefer Brazil), and then there were incredibly cheap tickets, initially in 2020-2021 basically free, then just very cheap (that loophole has recently closed, but stayed open for the incredible three years). I was traveling around the world throughout the pandemic pretty much as I usually do, so it passed me by (and by some kinky luck, covid passed me too - never had it) - and I think I was back in Brazil as early as Sep 2020 I think, and then visited about twice a year.

So that historic context aside (and again - thanks to everyone) - several observations on this trip. This year, I'm on a sabbatical, so traveled a bit more than usual - I think I've been to Rio four times in 2023. Good memories - first time Carnival, first time the New Year's Eve a week ago. Amazing. 

Brazil - and saunas - are defo different not only from what it was 10-15 years ago, but from pre-covid too. I still enjoy 117 and 202 very much - but as some others on this forum, I wonder how long they will last. It's not that apps are killing them - Onlyfans are doing that. The standard of the guys in 117 and 202 has visibly dipped - I'm still satisfied very much every evening I go there, but the standard of the guys there say in 2010s is no longer there - they are doing Onlyfans, or Rhyheim's porn, or it's easier to travel to Europe to make better money there than it was 10-15 yrs ago. A case in point, a guy I know, Henry - he started doing Onlyfans with some good success about two years ago but he was still in saunas maybe 2-3 nights a week. He's a stunner, his Onlyfans is successful, I saw him at the Rio gay pride in November as a part of the model entertainers crowd, but he's not in the saunas anymore.

The best guys in 117/202 are now those who fly in from the provinces for a couple of weeks to make money - like Walton from Fortaleza, he's another stunner, and he does some stints in Rio for two-three weeks - I just saw him yesterday in Fortaleza, and he's flying back to Rio again on Weds.

I also started to really really like Point. 202 seems such a warmer, more humane, better organised sauna (and aircon in suites works all the time, unlike in 117). I really like the vibe, the atmosphere, that warm feeling of a crowd near the bar - and moreover, there are some absolute gems of a guy who go to 202 only, and never to 117. I guess, Junior scouts them somehow, and even though a lot of the guys work both saunas, some 202-exclusive guys are marvels. One of my favourites in the past several visits is David (or the correct spelling he put into my phone contacts, Deyved) - just a stunning guy with an incredible smile and an incredible chemistry. He comes only to 202, and only a couple of nights a week at most, but he's one of my highlights. Stunning body, stunning technique and the attention to your needs - for a straight guy - he's also never hiked his fee to 200 as everybody else by the end of 2023 in Rio and stays at 150 (still gets more from me). He saw me at the reception when I came to 202 for the first time on this trip, hugged me, kissed me, and then said "don't come with me now, I will be for longer today, hire me towards the end of the night, and I will give you the biggest cumshot possible". And he did.

With all that said, 202 is losing ground against 117 - or at least that's my impression over the past couple of years. 202 is back to their two big nights - Monday and Wednesday - but lost all other days. I still remember fabulous Fridays at Point - that was their good night too - but then two or even three times I came to Point on a Friday, and it was totally dead, like Elvis dead. Then, next Friday I came to 117 - and everyone was there, and the house was buzzing. At 117, even slow nights are acceptable, but at 202 if it's dead it's no shit dead. 117 attempted to hijack Wednesdays - it hasn't worked so far. So 202 has still solid Mondays and Wednesdays, but the rest of the week it's 117 - even though I'd have preferred it differently. Even this past week between Xmas and NY, 117 was insanely busy, on some nights the line was to the street (never seen that before), whereas 202's Mons and Weds were good and busy but not over the top busy as 117 was all that week. (Still, last Weds I was #17 in the line for the suites at Point at 8pm - so it was still a good night - however, several boys told me it had been busier before and not anymore). So why this is happening, I don't know - as I'd like 202 to thrive, as I just like them, but it's not terribly easy for them it seems. (Interesting that from next Sunday they will be open on Suns too - I'd be keen to know if they are able to break the 117's Sunday monopoly).

Meio Mundo - where do I start. Unlike many posters on the forum, I actually quite liked Meio Mundo back in the day. It has this no-nonsense down-to-earth vibe that was a welcome occasional break from the 117 Men's Health posturing. Yes, it was dirty, but it was kinky dirty. During the pandemic at its new location, Meio Mundo started to drift from its previous "favela sauna" concept to the "drag queen theatre night" concept - that's where it lost the boys, and clients. Still, several of my experiences at Meio Mundo were golden. I think it was two years ago during the pandemic when I came to Meio Mundo because they were the first to start live sex shows in Rio (inbetween the long drag queen sets). It is there where I met Lucas - he was 18 at that time, stunning, with an 8-pack and a shy smile - the definition of a lanky twink top. A friend of his, a typical Meio Mundo favela-style garoto. brought Lucas with him - it was his first time in the sauna. Lucas was so obviously head and shoulders above everybody there that the Meio Mundo owner immediately brought him a free caipirinha and started to fawn over him - the guy was gold. I offered him a programa straight away, and Lucas was initially timid, still with a caipirinha in the suite, not sure what and how to do - sex was great. I was his first ever client, and I think he's likely straight, he's sort of a fixture at 117 now, and we hooked up last week, two years later, for the first time since that forst meeting - Lucas remembered our first sex, I laughed "well, you looked very different from other Meio Mundo garotos on that day", he laughed even harder saying "no doubt about that". He doesn't go to Meio Mundo anymore, and I didn't visit on any of my trips this year - their IG is all full of drag queens, no more live sex shows.

But now to live sex shows. The biggest change I've seen in Rio throughout the pandemic is the explosion of Berlin-style cruising bars. Taurus Bar is just 5 min walk from 117 and is most resourceful of them all. Then there is Seven Bar, the new Cruising Parada bar, something else in Centro, something else in Botafogo, etc. They are mostly non-GP cruising bars, but what they do is they usually haul a bunch of Onlyfans models (2 on a rainy day, 5 on a good day, I've been to a night with 8 guest Onlyfans models) - they are billed as the "interactive sex show" but pretty much 15 sec after it starts it becomes very interactive, and Onlyfans models have sex with all who paid 35 or 40 or whatever reais as cover - it's a free-for-all 40-50 person orgy with a bunch of Onlyfans models in the middle (that's how Taurus Bar does it, and I see it as a valid investment of my 35-40 reais). These are still very local-geared places, and the vibe is VERY different from the GP saunas, but more of these places open, and it's quite an experience. 

I'm in Fortaleza now where such bars equally exploded  - there are several of them - and they are all strictly non-GP, just a general orgy. As other saunas across Brazil, California is struggling to keep pace with Onlyfans, apps, etc. - it is still a very fine sauna, and I had lots of sex in the past few days, but as in Rio and SP, the top-tier gobsmacking talent is no longer there.  Still, some amazing guys - humble, polite, good in sex, but the Greek gods are gone. There was a good guy from Fortaleza, Wesley, whom I met at 117 after Christmas - I told him I would be coming to Fortaleza and he said let's keep the line open privately, as he said he's not working in saunas back home in Fortaleza -  he says he does underwear modeling on IG (whatever that means) but saunas are no-no. I could have easily seen someone like him at California say 7-8 years ago - but that's basically a trend. Onlyfans, IG and private appointments over whatsapp.

California in Fortaleza still the only GP sauna. I've been to Dragon Club several times this year - easily the best-equipped sauna in all of Brazil, but usually just a couple of GPs, and mostly the jaded ones. They have some interesting events - I've been to their Mr Dragon competition where incredibly beautiful guys where on stage, but they did not mingle or even stay after the competition and the house emptied out. This weekend, I've been to a free food slash dance party at Dragon starting at 1400 (!) on Sunday - they had free feijoada and caipirinha till 1600, and then some professional Axe dancing for two hours from 1400 till 1600. I arrived at 1530, and Dragon was full of people, munching and drinking. The (professional straight) dancers were really great but were visibly not too comfortable performing in a gay sauna for towel-clad people - some 80mins into their performance they were pressured to lose T-shirts, and they were visibly uncomfortable with one dancer mouthing "no" - they did lose T-shirts for one song and promptly put it back right for the next number. There were maybe three, max four jaded GPs in this packed house - but I quickly left for California where a couple of those Dragon GPs ended up too afterwards. My only guess why this is not happening for Dragon - high entry fee for garotos?

I'm going to Recife next where there were two very OK saunas - not GP-focused but where I still found some incredible freelancing GPs in the past couple of years, so I look forward to checking them out again.

 

 

 

Great report. Makes me want to get on a plane!

[12is12]

Please excuse my ignorance; m not sure I undrstnd these interactive scenes. 

Is it like a free for all orgy, payment covered by first drink or actually free? 

And the working guys just make out nonstop with any patron that grabs them?

[scott456]

 

1 hour ago, 12is12 said:

Please excuse my ignorance; m not sure I undrstnd these interactive scenes. 

OK

1 hour ago, 12is12 said:

Is it like a free for all orgy, payment covered by first drink or actually free? 

Yes, you pay an entry fee to the club, no other fees to the dancers unless you want to voluntarily tip them, but most customers don't. 

1 hour ago, 12is12 said:

And the working guys just make out nonstop with any patron that grabs them?

It's up to the dancer, he may skip you, play with you less, or play with you more.  Some dancers just stand there for anyone to touch them and/or suck their cocks. Actually, the play positions are quite limited, mostly standing up, sometime sitting down, because there is no mattress like in a sauna room. In any case, the dancers will not just play with you, they are there to be shared.  So, don't expect much one-on-one play.  And, these dancers are usually much lower quality than sauna GPs because they are not able to earn sauna price, that's why they are there.  This is geared towards the lower end of audience in the market as well.  The cost to the customer is less than 1/3 of one sauna programma, so you know why.

[Axiom2020]

On 1/9/2024 at 2:27 AM, scott456 said:

OK. Good read.

I truly enjoyed your post, but the size of the font literally "killed my eyes."  A cordial request:  in future posts, please used a larger size of font for those of us whose eye site has changed with age.  Write, highlight, enlarge.  This would be most appreciated.  Obrigado!  (16)

[ShivRoy]

1 hour ago, Axiom2020 said:

I truly enjoyed your post, but the size of the font literally "killed my eyes."  A cordial request:  in future posts, please used a larger size of font for those of us whose eye site has changed with age.  Write, highlight, enlarge.  This would be most appreciated.  Obrigado!  (16)

OK - good to know. To me, it looks like the font size everybody else's posts appear on the screen - sorry about that. Your font does look a bit larger though)

[Latbear4blk]

1 hour ago, Axiom2020 said:

I truly enjoyed your post, but the size of the font literally "killed my eyes."  A cordial request:  in future posts, please used a larger size of font for those of us whose eye site has changed with age.  Write, highlight, enlarge.  This would be most appreciated.  Obrigado!  (16)

You know that you can use the zoom in your computer or phone if you struggle with character size, right?

[ShivRoy]

2 hours ago, scott456 said:

 

OK

Yes, you pay an entry fee to the club, no other fees to the dancers unless you want to voluntarily tip them, but most customers don't. 

It's up to the dancer, he may skip you, play with you less, or play with you more.  Some dancers just stand there for anyone to touch them and/or suck their cocks. Actually, the play positions are quite limited, mostly standing up, sometime sitting down, because there is no mattress like in a sauna room. In any case, the dancers will not just play with you, they are there to be shared.  So, don't expect much one-on-one play.  And, these dancers are usually much lower quality than sauna GPs because they are not able to earn sauna price, that's why they are there.  This is geared towards the lower end of audience in the market as well.  The cost to the customer is less than 1/3 of one sauna programma, so you know why.

very well described, Scott.

Two small things 1) at Taurus while the interactivo action starts downstairs on a platform they put near the bar where the interactivo guys indeed stand while others sucking/rimming/fondling/touching them, quite soon afterwards the action and the crowd moves upstairs to this giant fuckodrome they have in the well-lit upstairs room leading to darkrooms - that fuckodrome is essentially a huge rectangular mattress/couch taking pretty much the whole room - in that respect Taurus is a tad different

2) agree on a general level of interactivo casts - still, once or twice a week one of the bars would have a goldfish of another level, and that's the night(s) worth attendng. On a regular night, that would be a bulk order of more ordinary guys - however hey, 45 reais cover plus a free caipirinha, and then a free orgy - even if I don't want to partake, that's a valid way to, say, spend an hour (but I tend to go to those nights only where there is that goldfish talent).

[Marc in Calif]

4 hours ago, Axiom2020 said:

I truly enjoyed your post, but the size of the font literally "killed my eyes."  A cordial request:  in future posts, please used a larger size of font for those of us whose eye site has changed with age.  Write, highlight, enlarge.  This would be most appreciated.  Obrigado!  (16)

The font size in Scott's post was exactly the same as anyone else's post here. It's the default for Gay Guides Forums at 14 pt. Your font is 16 pt.

Perhaps you had unknowingly zoomed out on your browser size? In a browser like Chrome, the command for "zoom in" is Ctrl +. The command for "zoom out" is Ctrl - .

[Keithambrose]

On 1/9/2024 at 6:00 PM, BlkSuperman said:

Great report! So I'm not going crazy. We were there for Christmas and new years also and the climate has changed, and not for the better, in the saunas. 

I'm glad we got to experience the saunas pre covid and meet some of the sexy uninhibited studs during that time. I still vividly remember Jordan Or nelso in the video room in the dark slapping their hard dicks in the palm of their hand to entice you to move in closer and play with those yard sticks. 

Now thiago is on the sex site and he is charging wayyyyyyy more then what the guys who are currently at the sauna are charging.

Rio was a fun place for us to visit during new years eve because back in those days finding incredibly hung guys was like fishing in a barrel.  

The saunas are still full to capacity at that time but as you said, "the quality of guys have noticeably gone down."

I go back 40 years, the old Copacabana Palace, and Air France , Concorde (!). It was business! Around the hotel gay area, dance bars,  picked really sexy guys. Then later there was Sauna Leblon, again packed, sex on hand, you walked into the dark room and someone would just put my cock in his ass. Rooms with rows of beds with people fucking, and so on! Pre HIV. Of course I was young then, distant memories.

[Riobard]

9 hours ago, Keithambrose said:

I go back 40 years, the old Copacabana Palace, and Air France , Concorde (!). It was business! Around the hotel gay area, dance bars,  picked really sexy guys. Then later there was Sauna Leblon, again packed, sex on hand, you walked into the dark room and someone would just put my cock in his ass. Rooms with rows of beds with people fucking, and so on! Pre HIV. Of course I was young then, distant memories.

This could use an Onlyfan account.