Juan Corriolis

I can see why you would resent use of the word oblivious. Perhaps it wasn't the right word. After all, you admitted in your first post on this thread that you were aware of Prep but didn't take it.  So let us consider your actions.  By not taking precautions you became infected with HIV and, by your own admission, had unprotected sex with many men...who knows how many you infected.  You also claim to love Brazillian men - what is your definition of love? Mine includes to care and to protect. That includes to care about, and to protect from HIV. 
Perhaps a better word is 'selfish'. Or perhaps 'irresponsible'. Maybe 'uncaring'.  I am not trying to be harsh, just keeping it real. Your actions have consequences.

I hope the rumors do not become reality. Competition is good for the saunas and those of us who love them. 

I agree to your not being a fan of internet escort sites.  I have tried that on occasion.  Not once did the experience even come close to the enjoyment that I got from a face-to-face meeting with a guy before engagement, as we got from the Brazilian saunas.  
My experiences with internet hires have been disappointing.  My friends who tried internet sites also had disappointments.  Occasionally, the photos on the internet ad are outdated, and sometimes the photos are not of the person advertising.  Without exception, my biggest complaint from hiring internet escorts is that many of them insist on being paid in advance of any activity.  Once they have your money, they can do as they please unless they want repeat business from you. 
I look back with extreme fondness on the many saunas that were in Rio and Sao Paulo that are no longer there.  It seems that Rodolfo, of Lagoa, has a special charm as the only sauna that survives in Sao Paulo.  There are rumors of Monique in Rio planning to shut down 117 so maybe Junior (of 202) will have the luck like Rodolfo and be the only viable sauna in Rio.   

I agree to your not being a fan of internet escort sites.  I have tried that on occasion.  Not once did the experience even come close to the enjoyment that I got from a face-to-face meeting with a guy before engagement, as we got from the Brazilian saunas.  
My experiences with internet hires have been disappointing.  My friends who tried internet sites also had disappointments.  Occasionally, the photos on the internet ad are outdated, and sometimes the photos are not of the person advertising.  Without exception, my biggest complaint from hiring internet escorts is that many of them insist on being paid in advance of any activity.  Once they have your money, they can do as they please unless they want repeat business from you. 
I look back with extreme fondness on the many saunas that were in Rio and Sao Paulo that are no longer there.  It seems that Rodolfo, of Lagoa, has a special charm as the only sauna that survives in Sao Paulo.  There are rumors of Monique in Rio planning to shut down 117 so maybe Junior (of 202) will have the luck like Rodolfo and be the only viable sauna in Rio.   

Sorry, I do not believe that the old Fragata reopened and closed. 
There is a sauna that opens and closes and opens again, named 555.  I wonder if that is the sauna you mean.  That sauna is not anywhere near where the old Fragata was.  It is in a very nice area.  I went there several times in hopes that it might be as nice as the fold Fragata or some of the saunas that formerly were in Rio and Sao Paulo. 
If it is sauna 555 that you mean as the replacement for Fragata, then let me comment that my time, the Uber money and entrance money I spent were a waste.  I can understand why they close but I remain puzzled why they reopen only to have just a few customers, then close again.    

This thread started discussing Sao Paulo saunas.  Are there any posters here who remember the extraordinary sauna in Sao Paulo called Alterosas?
For anyone who remembers, do not forget, this sauna was opened 37 years - yes, 37 years. 
Then, one fateful day, a church was built across the street from the sauna.  Needless to say, the sauna (a fay whore house) across the street from a church was destined for clash and eventual death for the sauna. 
Sure enough, the sauna was falsely accused of harboring drugs and worse.  After 37 years in the wonderful business. the church people called the police and had the sauna raided for drugs but no drugs were found.  The police ordered all garotos and customers to line up against the wall and be photographed while wearing a sauna towel.  The raid became a reason for the owner to choose retirement of the sauna.  What great memories were made at that facility. 
Here is an old newspaper article that discusses the fake raid and the false accusations against the sauna. 
https://extra.globo.com/noticias/brasil/sauna-gay-de-37-anos-recebe-visita-da-policia-741071.html
 
 
 

Great hotel.  I have stayed there many times.  
If you have at least Platinum status, that hotel treats you very well, including upgrades to suites, its gym, its lounge access (where you can get a decent breakfast without paying extra).  The location is perfect, only one block from Avenida Paulista,  but, Lucky already knows these things.  I posted in case other readers might want to stay at that hotel.
Even if you do not have high status with Marriott's loyalty program, the hotel is very nice and in a great location, and it has a decent restaurant. 
It is likely that readers are going to visit Rodolfo's Lagoa, which is only a short Uber ride from the hotel.  I was once talked into walking there but I doubt I will do it again (about two miles).  There is a taxi stand across the street on the corner, but if you have Uber, you will get a better price and better service.  Uber meets you in front of the entrance to the hotel.  
An odd thing happened when I was booking that hotel again.  A month or two ago, I was making a reservation for Sao Paulo.  At that hotel, the daily rates were around $400.00 U.S., but last year, the daily rates were around $200.00.  I hesitated to book a room at twice the price and waited.  
Now, I see that the rates have come down to a little more than $200.00 daily.
During the day, MASP is within walking distance of the hotel.
MASP often has some excellent art on loan from various museums around the world.  
 

Not in sauna, I met some strippers at the clubs and took them home

Thank you for sharing your perspective.
I always think about personal risk assessment and how I will react if I am confronted - because I have previously found myself in those situations when traveling.  Usually, when we fall victim it is to a crime of opportunity.  A wrong place at a wrong time.  I have had it happen to me in Chicago; Mexico City (multiple times) and I came close to it happening to me in Rio during my first trip maybe 20 years ago.  We should do our best to remain informed and aware.  I do a fair amount of pre-trip research in local news sources, social media, etc. I walked extensively today along the beach avenues. Along the length of Copacabana there are military police and local police throughout both on foot, standing still and in vehicles - in groups of three.  It is the weekend and a lot of people are out. Another marathon along the waterfront tomorrow, too (in honor of the UAE?). Travel behaviors are going to be individual decisions.  For me, I am not going to travel mostly or only to ride in taxi's / uber at my destination; that is not me.  If the overall risk is too great, I will not visit a destination.
I am in Rio for more than the sex opportunities.  I enjoy the city and its residents, and to enjoy it I have to see and feel it as close as practical.  I respect the decisions of others that differ from my own.
Wish us all well!

You would not hesitate to walk along the sidewalks in Copa up to 9 at night. Think again. I was mugged by 3 thugs almost in front of the Copacabana Palace at about 6:45 barely dark, with a group of locals watching and numerous passers by ignoring my screams for help. Be warned. Rio has a crime problem.

Great hotel.  I have stayed there many times.  
If you have at least Platinum status, that hotel treats you very well, including upgrades to suites, its gym, its lounge access (where you can get a decent breakfast without paying extra).  The location is perfect, only one block from Avenida Paulista,  but, Lucky already knows these things.  I posted in case other readers might want to stay at that hotel.
Even if you do not have high status with Marriott's loyalty program, the hotel is very nice and in a great location, and it has a decent restaurant. 
It is likely that readers are going to visit Rodolfo's Lagoa, which is only a short Uber ride from the hotel.  I was once talked into walking there but I doubt I will do it again (about two miles).  There is a taxi stand across the street on the corner, but if you have Uber, you will get a better price and better service.  Uber meets you in front of the entrance to the hotel.  
An odd thing happened when I was booking that hotel again.  A month or two ago, I was making a reservation for Sao Paulo.  At that hotel, the daily rates were around $400.00 U.S., but last year, the daily rates were around $200.00.  I hesitated to book a room at twice the price and waited.  
Now, I see that the rates have come down to a little more than $200.00 daily.
During the day, MASP is within walking distance of the hotel.
MASP often has some excellent art on loan from various museums around the world.  
 

The Renaissance.

Sao paulo is so odd
with population 10X many other smaller cities, its client base can only support one sauna?
How is that? I expect SP to have at least 5 good paid saunas 

As shown in the previous post, it confirms that the medical community learned more about the gene than it thought it knew back in 1995, when I took the test.  
As I stated, I believed that I was immune based on what I was told by the literature and by the laboratory that administered the test back in 1995.   Although I gained a lot of resistance, as the articles show, I was not totally "immune" as I had been told. 
Thankfully, I never acquired that awful disease, even though I likely was intimate with many who were HIV positive.  
I appreciate the posting of this updated and corrected information.  

While it may be the case that those with the mutation are resistant to infection, the mutation does not make those with it bullet-proof. I certainly wouldn't rely on this mutation to throw caution to the wind. I know of no public health organization which either recommends getting tested for this, nor of any statement that prophylaxis isn't needed when the mutation is present. 
https://www.nature.com/scitable/blog/viruses101/hiv_resistant_mutation/
"...The CCR5-delta 32 mutation in a sense locks "the door" which prevents HIV from entering into the cell. 1% of people descended from Northern Europeans, particularly Swedes, are immune to HIV infection. These lucky people are homozygous carriers of the mutated gene - meaning that they inherited a copy from both of their parents. Another 10 -15% (the number has even suggested to be 18%) of people with European heritage inherited one copy of the gene. Just one copy of the mutation does not prevent against infection. It does however reduce carrier's chances of infection and delays the progress of AIDS. Since the CCR5-delta 32 is tied primarily to the Eurasia region, the mutation has not been found in Africans, East Asians, or Amerindians...
...CCR5-32 Delta is exciting. It presents possibilities for new ways to protect against HIV. Many wonder if genetic testing is available yet to see if one has the mutation. There are some tests available (just google CCR5-32 Delta testing and you'll see) but it is not yet widespread or widely recommended. The mutation is not completely fool proof. Cases of homozygous carriers that have become infected with HIV have been reported. These few exceptions have dissuaded health officials from fully supporting genetic tests over ethical concerns. It would not be wise for those with the mutation to assume that they can lead a dangerous lifestyle and remain healthy. Understanding how and why certain people are resistant to HIV/AIDS with the help of CCR5-32 Delta will hopefully lead to new and highly successful treatments in our lifetime."

Members  3k Posted just now I am puzzled why I have never seen, in any gay forum or gay news reports, the fact that there is a certain group of people who are lacking a specific gene that prevents them from becoming infected with HIV. 
These people can have sex with thousands of HIV positive people and never get infected with HIV because of the lack of a certain gene that prevents HIV from infecting them.  
When HIV was raging before and into 1995, there was no HIV medication that prevented most HIV patients from dying.  Several of my friends died from HIV in 1995 and prior. 
About that time, the CDC and other reliable medical sources (Medical schools)  wrote articles about a lab test that would let a person know if they lacked a specific HIV gene receptor ( CCR5-Δ32 mutation). 
Most who lack the HIV receptor gene were Northern European, however, some were not.
A friend and I hunted for various articles written about the lacking receptor gene.  We also hunted for a lab that administered the test to see if we lacked the HIV gene receptor.   You can find labs on the internet that administer this test.  Some labs require a doctor's prescription while some do not.  
Happily, my friend and I found a lab and took the test.  It was determined that we lack the HIV receptor.   
Needless to say, we were pleased that we could never become infected with HIV. 
We are not completely Northern Europeans.  We are a mixture of Northern European and a bit of Southern Europe.   
If you are concerned about being infected with HIV, you might consider taking that test to see if you lack the receptor.  
For convenience, next is a copy of a response that I got from the internet about the receptor.   
Yes, a small but significant number of people lack a specific gene mutation, the CCR5-Δ32 mutationCCR5-Δ32 mutation mutation, which prevents HIV from infecting their cells, making them naturally resistant to the virus. This genetic variation, more common in Northern European populations, results in the absence of the CCR5 co-receptor that HIV uses to enter CD4+ T cells. Individuals with this mutation, even when exposed to HIV, cannot become infected with the virus. 
AND
 
CCR5 Δ32 Mutation The CCR5 Δ32 mutation is a deletion of 32 base pairs in the CCR5 gene, which encodes a protein called the chemokine receptor 5. This mutation is found primarily in people of European descent.    Function and Significance: HIV Resistance: The CCR5 protein is used by HIV to enter cells. The Δ32 mutation prevents HIV from binding to and entering cells, making individuals homozygous for this mutation (carrying two copies of the mutated gene) resistant to HIV infection.   

That was last week, which was still 2024. As mentioned above (and also as displayed above in a photo), the price increases at 117 began January 2, 2025. 

I still prefer SP.... I'm a city guy not much for beach towns, except Bali.

Yes, always reject the ATM's proposed awful conversion rate!
Yes, always get a credit card that does not add a surcharge for foreign use -- and ideally refunds all  foreign ATM fees (e.g., Charles Schwab's Visa debit card).
And, yes, avoid Western Union and other money exchange offices. Standard conversions at Brazilian bank ATMs are consistently superior.

I think most of us only carry some cash (USD, EUR or GBP) for emergencies use so hardly uses câmbio for exchange. But it’s good to know.
Withdraw from ATM is easy and the rate and fee is acceptable. Just use your bank card that doesn’t charge extra for overseas withdrawal. I also use travel credit card (eg Wise) for everything else (non GP payment). I am getting excellent rate (near mid market) with Wise. And my main credit card for backup.

Are you there over a Brazilian holiday? That can cause rooms to book up fast and rates to skyrocket.

I usually pay around 500 per hour

as always there are 2 choices, floor in terminal and hotel
likely that 500 would become 300 if not 200 if  you deduct cost of hotel and taxi but 200 thus saved will buy you nice encounter with boy or two or lifetime of Bolt trips from Tarntawan to soi 4 by taxi.