ihpguy

It has been announced that the festivities on the Copacabana Beach will not be taking place. Will Carnaval be next? I cannot imagine the Sambódromo either in Rio de Janeiro or Sāo Paulo hosting the desfiles/parades. Supposedly the sauna/hotel Chili Pepper has permanently closed. No one here had posted anything but I was told that country passed a law that ended at the end of June 2020. Any renter of a space for residential or commercial purposes was able to cancel their contract with zero financial penalty. Now that places have reopened for the moment, it is sad to pass by my regular restaurants and not have them open for business. Not even for pickup and delivery.

Somebody mentioned a favourite burger place by Fragata, 2 blocks west at R dos Pinheiros 320. Meats
BTW for shuttling between Fragata and Lagoa, the Über fare estimate is about R$10.

Just down the hill from Lagoa is Villa Grano Breads. Which has an excellent buffet à quilo. Near the new location are Mestiço, Athenas, La Frontera, Sujinho and the food truck park on Rua Augusta

You should go to ABC Bailao in SP or La Cueva in Rio on a saturday night. You might enjoy some of the older gentlemen going to these mlaces 

On the Journal here in São Paulo last night, cambios were offering 4.60 reais per dollar

In Grindr or Scruff, at least in Rio, there is an increasing number of guys who claim to like "maduros" or "coroas"or "50 +" ie older gentlemen. 
During my first trips to Rio, back 10 years ago, these ads were very rare. They are now common and are basically of 4 types : 
- the garotos de programa who are identified as such in the ad 
- the garotos who are in fact garotos de programa but who do not identify themselves as GP and try to find an older gentlemen who will think that he is not a guy next door and not a GP
- the garotos really liking older gentlemen, who are of course a very small minority. They are not expecting anything else than finding a boyfriend or starting a relationship with someone older. They are not looking for money. Since my first travel, I met around 15 of these boys and am still in contact with a few of them, even meeting some of them, for dinner or more,  when I am in Brazil
- the  crooks. This is a new category which seems to be growing and I know that there is a gang of these boys operating in Rio and Sao Paulo. They will meet you and then blackmail you, rob you and put pressure on you to get money. 
Below are some of the precautions I take to try to identify the boys who genuinely like older gentlemen : 
- I make it very clear that I am not looking for a GP and I am not prepared to pay for sex (normally the guys from first 2 categories above stop chatting)
- I make it clear that I am not (only) looking for sex but want to have discussion on subjects such as politics, travels, languages, art, music, ... 
- I try to use internet sites which are specialized in bears (and therefore avoid Grindr or Scruff or be even more careful on these general sites)
- I check if they know the places where older gentlemen and younger guys who like them meet together (ie La Cueva in Rio and ABC Bailao in Sao Paulo, or internet sites such as ursosderio, or sauna such as Carioca in Rio or Sauna LeRouge 80 in Sao Paulo)
- Some questions raise a red flag, in particular the question "are you alone in Rio ?" or personnal questions coming too early and not naturrally during the exchange (on job, ...)
- Some attachments also raise a red flag : a too good looking guy -almost a model -, nudes of open asses or huge dicks sent very early in the exchange, ...
- I always meet in a public place first, never in my hotel or apartment. I normally arrive in advance in order to see who is coming, if he is alone, is he looks like the pictures which were sent, etc
- I never ever go to a boy's place. It is an unknown environment and you never know whom you are going to meet. In addition, a movie or pictures of your meeting can be done ... 
I remember the story of this american guy who recently in Rio went with 2 guys he met in the street and with whom he had drinks. He was threatened to be thrown from the window and his head and torso were already out (his shouting made the neighbours call the cops). BTW the 2 guys were working in 117. I saw one of them in 117 a few days after the incident. The other is banned from 117, certainly for other reasons. In addition, it is impossible to know what is going to be 
 
 

Apologistas for Rio de Janeiro crime, go f_ _ k yourselves. 
#1) I have lived here ten years.
#2) I was assaulted RECENTLY, February 2019 on the sidewalk in front of the beach in Ipanema at about 2pm on a Sunday afternoon. Directly in front of Posto 10. I speak fluent Portuguese.  I told the pivette I had nothing for him, as I changed from my tennis shoes to chinos.
#3) No one came to help or chase the pivette
#4) thenowner of the quiosque called me an ambulance, the police and the firefighters. For 20-30 minutes, no one came to help a tourist, and I heard the owner talking on his phone. He gave me two bags of ice. After the bleeding to my eyebrow reduced, I grabbed myself a taxi to Copa D'or in Copacabana, where I received three stitches. 
#5) Apologistas for the dangers that can take place in Rio de Janeiro, just stop. If it can happen on a Sunday afternoon, near the Ave. Vieira Souto at 2pm in front of a lifeguard station, in can happen anywhere.
#6) The pivette got nothing from me, except a free escape, no one went after him, no authority ever showed, I took it upon myself to arrange my own care.
#7) So to the apologistas.....stop already.

This isn't news to me. I was assaulted three times in February. A tall younger Brazilian friend was visiting me in the center of São Paulo on a weekday at 11am, was assaulted and robbed. I posted a warning six months ago, and most of the members on this site made light of it. I gave up. It seemed no one wanted to take the advice of a gringo who has been living in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo permanently for the last ten years.

With this guy, I have no need to ever go again to either Lagoa or Fragata here in São Paulo. He is from a smallish city near Campinas but lives near Largo do Arouche. Both in-calls, out-calls and overnights. R$100-R$250.

Apologistas for Rio de Janeiro crime, go f_ _ k yourselves. 
#1) I have lived here ten years.
#2) I was assaulted RECENTLY, February 2019 on the sidewalk in front of the beach in Ipanema at about 2pm on a Sunday afternoon. Directly in front of Posto 10. I speak fluent Portuguese.  I told the pivette I had nothing for him, as I changed from my tennis shoes to chinos.
#3) No one came to help or chase the pivette
#4) thenowner of the quiosque called me an ambulance, the police and the firefighters. For 20-30 minutes, no one came to help a tourist, and I heard the owner talking on his phone. He gave me two bags of ice. After the bleeding to my eyebrow reduced, I grabbed myself a taxi to Copa D'or in Copacabana, where I received three stitches. 
#5) Apologistas for the dangers that can take place in Rio de Janeiro, just stop. If it can happen on a Sunday afternoon, near the Ave. Vieira Souto at 2pm in front of a lifeguard station, in can happen anywhere.
#6) The pivette got nothing from me, except a free escape, no one went after him, no authority ever showed, I took it upon myself to arrange my own care.
#7) So to the apologistas.....stop already.

This isn't news to me. I was assaulted three times in February. A tall younger Brazilian friend was visiting me in the center of São Paulo on a weekday at 11am, was assaulted and robbed. I posted a warning six months ago, and most of the members on this site made light of it. I gave up. It seemed no one wanted to take the advice of a gringo who has been living in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo permanently for the last ten years.

With this guy, I have no need to ever go again to either Lagoa or Fragata here in São Paulo. He is from a smallish city near Campinas but lives near Largo do Arouche. Both in-calls, out-calls and overnights. R$100-R$250.

This isn't news to me. I was assaulted three times in February. A tall younger Brazilian friend was visiting me in the center of São Paulo on a weekday at 11am, was assaulted and robbed. I posted a warning six months ago, and most of the members on this site made light of it. I gave up. It seemed no one wanted to take the advice of a gringo who has been living in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo permanently for the last ten years.

Actually, I kind of disagree with Lurkerspeaks.
Take the camera but keep it in a backpack unless you are physically taking a picture and then always have someone with you watching your back.
On your own, I wouldn't risk it. A simple point and shoot camera would be cheaper than a smart phone.
I had a smart phone stolen right out of my hands by a kid on a bicycle. It can happen that quickly.
I normally do not take my cell phone out of my pocket unless I am in a protected area. I'll go into a bank branch, office lobby or Starbucks to use it.
Corcovado/Cristo Redentor/Christ the Redeemer and Pao de Acucar/Sugar are safe. They are filled with tourists and thieves won't go up top normally, That costs money and there there are levels of security to pass through.
 
 

25 to 50 Reais is not nearly enough money.
After being in the hospital once more for my heart before New Year's Eve, I was finally feeling well enough to take the sun for more than an hour.
I was at the beach on Sunday with a friend. One bottle of water, one juice, one agua de coco, two chairs and an umbrella cost 47 Reais.
They do offer a special. If you eat and drink 40 Reais worth, you get the sun umbrella and two chairs gratis.
I brought my own suntan lotion, No food consumed. I was always go to Barraca de Miriam #53.  They have wifi, so bring your cell. I've always felt very safe and protected by the team that works at this barraca.
And they accept debit and credit cards.

It is even hard to differentiate the boys from the customers ... some boys must  be around 35. 

Monday night was always good in the past. Many boys. Wide choice. I am at NMM. It is monday 7 pm when I arrived with friends. Few boys. Totally worn out. Some big dick on show but on ugly old guys. Mostly black guys. Not a single boy I would think of taking to a (filthy) cabin. Now they charge 57 R$ for entrance to this shitty place. Certainly my last visit to this place. I have never been an aficionado of the place but now I am a strong opponent.  I am nor that desperate to take an ugly boy to a filthy cabin with plastic sheets. Of course the sauna is as filthy as usual with only one shower for tens of customers and boys. 
117 on the contrary is just as usual. Clean,  with a variety of boys. Worth the 57 R$ you pay for entrance. Tomorrow is free cabin night. I will go there no doubt.
NEVER AGAIN TO MEIO MUNDO !!

Fortaleza - Jericoacoara then overland by 4x4 to Cabure / Atins, standup and kite surf, Lencois Marenhenses, then to Barreirinhas and finishing in Sao Luis.
I've been twice.
 

Look for me tomorrow at the Maracana. Opening Ceremonies - Section 115 Row O. Oprah is arriving with Michelle and the girls. Maybe we'll be sitting together LOL
Saturday and Sunday with fencing followed by sessions of men's and women's gymnastics in the Barra Olympic Park.
Monday with swimming and more fencing back in Barra. Tuesday at Marina da Gloria to see the sailors get ready. In my younger days I raced 2 different Olympic classes -Finns and 470
Wednesday out to Deodoro for 6 games of Rugby 7's with the men beating on each other - maybe I'll see an New Zealand haka? - followed by Canoe Slalom. Way too cool.
Thursday I am working doing the floral designs for a supper in honor of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg back out in Barra by the Maripendi Lagoon.
Friday through Monday in Sao Paulo with a friend visiting from up north.
The second week has cycling at the Olympic velodrome, a session of track and field at the Engenhao and finishing up with the men's basketball semifinals and final. Go Team USA.
 
I've been in and around the city the past few days. Yesterday's 6 women's football games went off without a hitch in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the Minerao in BH.
Today the men are in action. Tomorrow the Sambodromo hosts some archery even before the official opening ceremonies at the Maracana.
The VLT line is completed and operation. The second line was never planned to be operating before the games began.
Praca XV has been turned into the "Boulevard Olimpica"  with over a dozen food trucks, dozens of Skol beer stands, a Nike video cube, Nissan hospitality installation. Various video screens. Multiple bathrooms with water tanks in places that look like mini mobile homes. The CCBB has an art exhibition with 85 post-impressionist works from the Musee D'Orsay and Musee de L'Orangerie.
They've got the tunnel open and the route is completed linking Santos Dumont past Praca Maua all of the way to the bus station Novo Rio.
I was in Copacabana last week and the beach volleyball stadium is completed and enormous. 
Casa Suica at the Lagoa baseball field is done.
I was by the Stock Exchange today and nothing showing that Casa Australia was ready to open.
It looks ready to open the new Praca Candelaria by the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, the workers are gone, but the temporary construction fences are still up.
The even have my favorite, the Diana fountain running.
The biggest no-no is Guanabara Bay which I see and smell daily. Two or three months ago there was an interview with a politico who said that it was never in the card as the money for building the Deodoro complex came from the installations of new sewage treatment facilities.

Look for me tomorrow at the Maracana. Opening Ceremonies - Section 115 Row O. Oprah is arriving with Michelle and the girls. Maybe we'll be sitting together LOL
Saturday and Sunday with fencing followed by sessions of men's and women's gymnastics in the Barra Olympic Park.
Monday with swimming and more fencing back in Barra. Tuesday at Marina da Gloria to see the sailors get ready. In my younger days I raced 2 different Olympic classes -Finns and 470
Wednesday out to Deodoro for 6 games of Rugby 7's with the men beating on each other - maybe I'll see an New Zealand haka? - followed by Canoe Slalom. Way too cool.
Thursday I am working doing the floral designs for a supper in honor of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg back out in Barra by the Maripendi Lagoon.
Friday through Monday in Sao Paulo with a friend visiting from up north.
The second week has cycling at the Olympic velodrome, a session of track and field at the Engenhao and finishing up with the men's basketball semifinals and final. Go Team USA.
 
I've been in and around the city the past few days. Yesterday's 6 women's football games went off without a hitch in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and the Minerao in BH.
Today the men are in action. Tomorrow the Sambodromo hosts some archery even before the official opening ceremonies at the Maracana.
The VLT line is completed and operation. The second line was never planned to be operating before the games began.
Praca XV has been turned into the "Boulevard Olimpica"  with over a dozen food trucks, dozens of Skol beer stands, a Nike video cube, Nissan hospitality installation. Various video screens. Multiple bathrooms with water tanks in places that look like mini mobile homes. The CCBB has an art exhibition with 85 post-impressionist works from the Musee D'Orsay and Musee de L'Orangerie.
They've got the tunnel open and the route is completed linking Santos Dumont past Praca Maua all of the way to the bus station Novo Rio.
I was in Copacabana last week and the beach volleyball stadium is completed and enormous. 
Casa Suica at the Lagoa baseball field is done.
I was by the Stock Exchange today and nothing showing that Casa Australia was ready to open.
It looks ready to open the new Praca Candelaria by the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, the workers are gone, but the temporary construction fences are still up.
The even have my favorite, the Diana fountain running.
The biggest no-no is Guanabara Bay which I see and smell daily. Two or three months ago there was an interview with a politico who said that it was never in the card as the money for building the Deodoro complex came from the installations of new sewage treatment facilities.

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.  Anti-Coruption minister resigns over leaked recordings.
Cunha, Temer et.al. voted out Dilma and put in their own cabinet, all white and all male. Already three are gone for being caught on tape trying to end the Lava Jato investigations.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brazil-corruption-idUKKCN0YL14V
 
And little Michel Temer is the owner of investment property. Quite the entrepeneur
 
http://plus55.com/politics/2016/05/michel-temer-corruption-son-owns-millionaire-estate
 
 
 

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.  Anti-Coruption minister resigns over leaked recordings.
Cunha, Temer et.al. voted out Dilma and put in their own cabinet, all white and all male. Already three are gone for being caught on tape trying to end the Lava Jato investigations.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brazil-corruption-idUKKCN0YL14V
 
And little Michel Temer is the owner of investment property. Quite the entrepeneur
 
http://plus55.com/politics/2016/05/michel-temer-corruption-son-owns-millionaire-estate
 
 
 

Sometimes you just can't make this stuff up.  Anti-Coruption minister resigns over leaked recordings.
Cunha, Temer et.al. voted out Dilma and put in their own cabinet, all white and all male. Already three are gone for being caught on tape trying to end the Lava Jato investigations.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-brazil-corruption-idUKKCN0YL14V
 
And little Michel Temer is the owner of investment property. Quite the entrepeneur
 
http://plus55.com/politics/2016/05/michel-temer-corruption-son-owns-millionaire-estate
 
 
 

Dilma is out for up to six months. Here crooked Veep Michel Temer has appointed a new cabinet with 8 less ministers to save money, Something Dilma wanted to do over a year ago and couldn't get passed by the obstructionist House of Delegates. The new cabinet is all-male and all-white, no one brown or black. By the way, Temer is not permitted to even run for election in 2018 or 2022 because of past political shenanigans. Whether or not Dilma didn't want to see what was going on at Petrobras while she was chairman, we now have a verified crook as president.
Every time I see a mosquito or get any type of bite or irritation, I'm scared shitless that it is either Zika or Chikungunya.  I know more and more people that have been getting infected with one or the other. Remember to spray yourself with off on your arms and legs. They say that the mosquito that carries the viruses isn't active at night. I don't believe the reports. If you don't have screens, turn on the air conditioning and leave the windows closed.
All of the airlines here are facing contractions in their businesses. I've found that GOL is doing the worst, facing bankruptcy and hoping for another cash injection from Delta. Check for fair sales. LatAM, Azul and Avianca as well have had great fares depending on the day and destination.
Inflation is rising. Business is contracting. Not a good combo. And the Minister of Finance is predicted to lower the interest rate to try to promote some business growth. Personally, my fixed line phone bill has gone up nearly 20 percent this year and my satellite TV went up 12 percent this month. The French rolls have gone up 15 percent in price here and the bakery is producing a smaller roll as well. Starbucks hasn't yet raised prices for coffee, Frappes or baked goods, but then the average Carioca isn't spending 20 to 30 reais daily like I do. LOL
AND MOST IMPORTANT - THE BOYS ARE STILL DOING THE DEED FOR 80 REAIS and 20 MORE TO COME.
Meio Mundo has raised their entry to 57Reais Mondays and Fridays, 50 Reais on the other nights.

LOL Has it really been that long?
Armistead Maupin autographed his first five to me at a signing many decades ago in Chicago.