msclelovr

It's very sad news. As a man who's older than he but in good health, it shocks me that he's dead at 56. I wonder if pneumonia was the cause.

I feel you've had good advice here @tassojunior. I can only add to the warnings not to engage in a sham marriage as there are severe penalties for both of you. On the immigration front, the lawyers at Barst Mukamal & Kleiner are the best. When I looked into this myself, 3 heavyweight law-firms separately recommended BM&K as the specialists to hire. On the question of protecting your assets, I'd also recommend you pay a firm of lawyers of his choice to advise your friend on the prenuptial agreement. This may cost you an extra $6-10,000 in fees but save you much more later. You should ensure that you enter into the prenuptial agreement long before you get married (so there can be no argument that he was pressured into signing).

"Argentina is a special case" - these are such wise words, @Tartegogo. They apply not only to escorts but to all other aspects of the country. I found that everything works there, but not in the way you'd expect from a European or North American standpoint. I certainly recall this complication with the phone numbers. And before WhatsApp, I only called and never texted. I particularly remember how working guys there often changed their working name and, less often, their phone numbers. I met many nice, well-muscled guys who were keen to please and satisfy. But I also recall less pleasurably the chronic lateness of guys. The best and the worst example was a beautiful, green-eyed young soldier who turned up 2 hours late for our pre-dinner date of 8pm; he was terrific in bed and asked for very little; I finally took him to dinner just before midnight.

There's been quite a lot of coverage of this issue in the UK press. The links between taking crystal meth (and other illegal drugs) and using Grindr (and other websites) to invite strangers home for group sex and resulting non-consensual activity have been well publicised. If you're interested, there's a recently published account by one of the first openly gay soldiers in the UK Army of how he got into the whole chemsex scene and was raped (on two different occasions). The UK police authorities have been fairly supportive to male victims, but there's very little the Police can do. Victims rarely speak out and they are generally unable to identify (in some cases, even describe) their assailants.

You've not forgotten but rather you're not emphasising one important step IMHO: the transfer from airport to hotel. In Latin America, it's best never to take an ordinary taxi from the international airport to the city. They can be unsafe and robberies 'en route' happen often. Rather you should hire a "remise" (car and driver) - usually such firms have a booth or kiosk before you leave the secure area, and the transfer is a fixed price which you can pay with a creditcard at the time of booking. I usually booked these online for cities such as Buenos Aires; some firms offer a discount if you book airport transfers both ways (30% off with the firm I used in Rio). I suggest you google the airports you'll be using to see the major firms.A smaller point is that you will need some cash money immediately (to buy coffee or bottled water at the airport and for gratuities to the driver, hotel porter etc.) The airport may have an ATM and also a forex kiosk. If you intend to use an ATM in the city, make sure you go in banking hours. And one note of caution: check the notes you get out of the ATM - ripped or damaged notes may be refused later in shops - and at the forex kiosk, count the money again before you leave the counter - first time in Buenos Aires, I exchanged US$200 and the clerk counted the notes rapidly and pushed them at me; I recounted and pointed out it was the equivalent of US$30 short; without apology, he just pushed more notes at me!

I agree with the above comments by @Latbear4blk AND @tassojunior about the architecture, theatre, amazing club scene, food etc in Buenos Aires. As I speak Spanish, I just find it easier in general to negotiate the huge city and explore its distinct culture. My own answer to @KevinC is that I found many attractive muscleboys in Buenos Aires that appeal to me more than sauna-boys. It's just my preference: I'm not into steroidal bodybuilders at all, even tho I was approached by a few in Rio. I really like to share my bed with guys who have model good-looks. I much prefer the preppy-looking, well-groomed young men with fit athletic bodies in Argentina. Coming largely from middle-class backgrounds, I found these guys easy to relate to over dinner and good company on trips. With the economic pressures in Argentina, nice young men seemed happy to meet a discreet, well-dressed foreigner and keen to supplement their incomes.

I don't mean to be quarrelsome @tassojunior, but I checked and my statement is correct. "If you are a U.S. citizen or resident alien, the rules for filing income, estate, and gifttax returns and paying estimated tax are generally the same whether you are in theUnited States or abroad. Your worldwide income is subject to U.S. income tax, regardless of where you reside." Source: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/international-taxpayers/taxpayers-living-abroad

I agree the issue will be taxes. But I thought that while you retain US citizenship you remain liable to pay US tax on your worldwide income, even if you do reside abroad for long periods.

That's wise; unless you spoke good Spanish, I'd steer very clear of street-trade. There is one particular section of Lavalle and Santa Fe where they're seen but only after midnight. As a foreigner, you will stand out. This can be very useful and I found it was surprisingly easy to pick up guys on the street and in the gym. Young Argentines often socialise in the ritzier malls and at the gym. If, like me, you prefer good-looking and nicely muscled young men 21-30, I'd suggest you join a gym with a day-pass. Smart gyms, such as Megatlon, located in upmarket shopping malls have quite a few young gay men as members. Basically if you want a guy who's 'hot' and a 'looker', I suggest you dress well, smile and discreetly offer to take a guy you encounter for a drink or coffee. If he's interested, he'll understand. Be prepared to be generous and pick up the dinner-check and you may not even have to pay him. Apart from soytuyo mentioned by @Latbear4blk there is also www.revistaratones.com (Also, there's a local online forum for discussing escorts but you need very good Spanish to follow the reviews and discussions) As for the longstanding gay bar, Contramano, the hours and location are correct. It has strippers and customers are aged 30-70 mainly. I went once and was propositioned there by a young guy aged 20+: he wasn't an escort; he was seeking an older man to look after him. On my visit, a local customer in his 30s was celebrating his birthday and when the completely nude stripper found out, he used his hard cock to forcibly throat-fuck the customer in the middle of the club. There are other gay bars and a gay restaurant in the area of Palermo. @tassojunior mentioned the Retiro train and bus station. I know that years ago there was some action at the train station restrooms but it's very much 'at your own risk'. And you'd better keep some money (ARP 200-300) separate and ready to hand over to any policeman who intervenes. There is a large informal settlement (known locally as Villa 31 or something) near the rail-tracks and there are many street-robberies and bag-snatchings in the vicinity. And as another instance of how Argentina is truly a different country, I heard some years ago of how parents sent out their handsome 15/16 year old sons to the station restrooms to service older men. The idea was not to earn money from a casual encounter but rather for the son to develop a relationship with a well-off older man. The parents then would threaten to denounce the man to the police but their silence and acquiescence could be 'bought'.

I can answer the questions about Buenos Aires and Uruguay, with the caveat that I last visited in 2012. Inflation has been high since then. The saunas in Buenos Aires (Bs As) are NOTHING like those in Brazil. In Bs As you may meet attractive young men or closeted older men but they are there to play for free with men they find attractive. There are some sex-cinemas and you will occasionally find guys there who are service-providers looking to earn some cash. In general, it's advisable NOT to take a guy to your hotel-room unless you know them very well. The crime rate in Bs As is very high. Anyone you bring to your hotel will need to show their ID and be registered at reception. There are 'telos' which rent rooms by the hour - several in Recoleta - and I was never asked for ID there; they are well-kept and do not discriminate against gay men. Another cautionary note is to check the age (shown on their ID card) if a young man interests you. I've been propositioned by fit young men claiming to be 18-20 tho they were as young as 15 and 16. I've no interest in under-age sex and was glad I checked their ID as the penalty for such sexual relations is very severe; you would not want to spend any time in an Argentine jail. As to price, it all depends. The young guys on the street asked very little (the equivalent of US$20-30). It seems rather important that you treat the local working guys respectfully and then the rates are very low. Equally I've seen a rude visitor rejected firmly by a working guy. Locals who are middle-class, goodlooking with fit bodies may have a high opinion of themselves so you have to be discreet in picking up at the gym. That said, I'm an older man in good shape who dresses smartly - such things matter in Argentina and Uruguay - and I had no problem meeting (mainly in the local gyms) handsome young men with nicely muscled bodies. I had sex for free quite readily but of course I paid for the 'telo' and for drinks and dinner afterwards. I also met and played with some well-brought up preppy guys whom I took to the theatre or clothes-shopping. I also dated a local heart-throb, a real looker with a great body; when he spent the nights with me at my hotel I gave him US$100 for the 'taxi fare' home each morning. I'm not aware of any saunas in Montevideo. I spent most of my time outside the capital, at the beach resorts in Punta del Este. I was advised to 'import' a nice guy for company and I did invite a blond muscleboy from Bs As; he was happy to look after me as I paid for his airfare, the hotel and all meals.

I glad it makes sense to you now. I always thought their hours were one reason why they are so long-established. It's a very residential area and in London the fastest way to get closed down would be to annoy the neighbours late at night.

I feel that the influence of evangelical/fundamentalist churches is growing in Brazil. Also I suspect that most visitors to the country have a rose-tinted vision of gay life there; it's not as tolerant and open as the beaches of Rio may suggest.

Given the legal problems other sites have had, I understand the constraints on reviews. I don't feel that current reviews are "useless" at all. I check to see what the guy offers in his ad and then I look at the reviewer's profile. If I were interested in hiring the guy, I need to know whether he's a bottom or versatile, affectionate etc and to be assured that he relates well and is eager to please a much older man. Everything else is negotiable. And as we all know, personal chemistry is indefinable but important.

Ouch!

All the reviews published so far have been unanimous: it's the most idiotic show on TV yet. Some of the reviews make it sound as if it's so trashy it might be worth watching on an otherwise very dull day.

To those of us who prefer smooth, muscled young men who like to bottom, Joel is very appealing. Thanks for posting his details, Latbear4blk. Maybe I should plan a return visit to Buenos Aires....even tho friends tell me it's much more expensive these days and crime remains at a very high level.

Very true. Confirmed last night by my (mutual) Brazilian friend.

If his age is correct, he's a very hot 19 year old. Sorry for the obvious suggestion but have you contacted the WH studio to see if they can put you in contact?

I'm delighted to be able to help you, Tassojunior. I met the man featured in your photos several years ago. I would not describe him as an escort: he does some modelling work and also works as a personal trainer. The only porn he's done was strictly amateur: he was caught out in a cyber-chat scam but he wasn't embarrassed by the photos of his rather large and very erect cock being circulated. He's predominantly straight but very gay-friendly...and if you're generous, he's engaging, affectionate and sexually versatile. Now the bad news. He is Brazilian and he lives in Sao Paulo; his name is Jonas Sulzbach. I recognised his birthmark and his tattoo. If he were in Prague, or Europe even, I expect I would have heard via mutual friends.

I stayed at the Ipanema Plaza when I was accompanied by a blond, muscled Argentine who was 20 years younger than me. We were treated in a friendly fashion there. Late one afternoon, on coming back from the beach together, we did see a man stopped by security before the elevators. He was with a rather luridly and scantily dressed female. He was asked to register his 'guest' at reception before proceeding. Having spent a lot of time travelling in Latin America, I appreciate the security of having strangers registered, and their identity checked, by the hotel before they go to a room. I have heard of various violent incidents where guests managed to evade security and were then robbed by their newly-met companions.

About 3 years ago, I met a young Spaniard who had worked there for one Summer. He'd come to London to improve his English and to study dance. He was 21, dark good looks with a fit, muscled body. He was a good bottom, a decent cocksucker and had a submissive streak. I mention all this to put in context his remarks to me. He said he was very successful at VG. He simply turned up one evening just as they were about to open and told the manager he'd like to work there. The manager gave him an appointment for the following day. In the interview, there was no 'casting couch' but he was asked about what he was willing to do in bed...and also asked if there were things he did not do. He started work there that evening. He told me that the management was very honest: clients often left tips for him with the manager and he was paid them in full. He also said that clients asked for repeat-sessions and also asked for his number to date him outside VG. He preferred to work only at VG as he did not want the hassle of organising dates and visiting clients in their homes, even for the higher fees offered. As you may suspect, Evan24, he defined the key elements for success as being punctual for the required shifts and being able to service various clients as required. FWIW what he told me almost exactly echoed what Enzo, a young Brazilian/Italian, told me about VG 6 years before. (Enzo was a strikingly handsome 22 year old with a beautiful physique. He was sexually versatile and I had an affair with him for a year, after he left VG. He had worked there for 6 months to finance getting himself established in London). As to your last question, the law is complex but its enforcement is relaxed. Street-work is punished, and is extremely rare in London. Public sex acts are also punished. The police do not bother with guys advertising online and meeting men for sex privately.

I know we are all aware to some extent of the incompetence, corruption and mismanagement of resources in Brazil. This article, however, on Rio's decaying legacy of 2016 is a shocking summary. (The Daily Mail is a UK newspaper with a hugely popular news website) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4803642/Dashed-hopes-Rio-2016-s-lasting-legacy.html

I'd encourage you to post your travel reports Likeohmygod. I enjoy reading about the travel and experiences of Tomcal and others, and the reports are often very helpful. The internet is like life. You can't let rude or irritating people dictate the conversation. When they upset you, just ignore them. Remember there are plenty of other people here who value the different inputs.

I agree with Numerito. I also just use the Classic version. I also sympathise with Tassojunior: I've never understood why escorts change their 'stage-names' but the guys in Prague do have this in common with the working guys in Buenos Aires.

Your actions, bobbalino, seem very sensible to me. Anyone who is genuinely in need of help for a true emergency would happily comply with your stipulations.