Heading for Rio - September 27>October 6. 2025

[Zackbr1952]

Nice you visited Barraca Miriam, the best barraca on the beach. I have been using Miriam for 18 years, run by Gracie (Miriam has been gone for many years). Last few years it has been the meeting place for the bear crowd, some very rotund boys. Gracie runs a very reputable place and , for any new gringo visitors, you will not be ripped off. 

[Mavica]

DAY 9 IN RIO – THE END

I am still dealing with the cold or whatever and trouble sleeping.  It being a Sunday I headed to Feira da Glória, wandered about, ventured over to Lapa then in the other direction through Glória, Catete and to Flamengo, and back to the apartment at Glória.  At the apartment I packed for the trip home, slept a little and waited for 10:30 p.m. to summon an Uber for the ride to the airport.

The airport was relatively quiet, no wait in line at the COPA ticket counter to check-in, moved to security and Immigration control, the long walk to the departure gate and the airplane left on time at 1:30 a.m.

First flight segment of return home stopped at Panama City.  Seemingly the entire passenger load was sneezing, coughing, etc. for 7+ hours.  It was awful.  I had a mask on, not knowing what good it was doing. Connection time in Panama City was about 3.5 hours.  Tighter bag and document check and sequester pre-flight to Tampa.  Flight left on time and arrived in Tampa 20 minutes early.  Hardly a cough on the flight to Tampa.  Remarkable difference.  Aircraft was reasonably comfortable, but narrow seats.  Legroom was sufficient.  A friend met me at the airport and drove me home.

Overall, it was a good trip.  Not the trip I had planned, but it is essential to travel with back-up plans and I made the best of the situation.  Not much more I could have done.  No regrets.

Thank you for reading the reports!

[Xclay]

Thanks for the posts, Mavica, and for the great photos as well. Sorry you were under the weather.

I always consider it a miracle if I don't get a bug after doing lots of kissing day after day with GPs who go mouth to mouth with lots of other clients who are also smooching other GPs... and so on ad infinitum!  

I forget which veteran poster here makes the hilarious wisecrack that he doesn't kiss because it's too gay! 🤣  But for me, with many of my GPs it's so fantastic that I accept the GI and respiratory risks. 😘

[floridarob]

6 hours ago, Xclay said:

I always consider it a miracle if I don't get a bug after doing lots of kissing day after day with GPs

I attribute a lot of these illnesses to the long travel in the airplane and airports, happens with quite a lot of posters that go to Asia, especially Thailand.

 

 

6 hours ago, Xclay said:

he doesn't kiss because it's too gay! 🤣 

Me....kissing is so gay, lol

[iendo]

On 9/8/2025 at 12:22 AM, floridarob said:

The more common scam (which some saunas used to do sometimes, apparently) is to scan your card on one reader and then “it doesn’t go through” — and they use a second reader which somehow always works. But they have your number on the first reader, and they can either sell that number or make a charge later.

All my German cards can be locked. It takes me a few seconds to lock and unlock the card via the bank app. Then I have multiple cards linked to one account so I can bring 1 card and only put the money that I am planning to spend for the day.

Each card is 10 Euros, but it gives peace of mind to discard cards, especially in situations that you mentioned. 

Is that not a US thing?

An example of what I see in my app: It gives 4 options you can turn on/off or change. Cash withdrawal, pay in shops, pay online or pin. 

 

[Axiom2020]

15 hours ago, Xclay said:

Thanks for the posts, Mavica, and for the great photos as well. Sorry you were under the weather.

I always consider it a miracle if I don't get a bug after doing lots of kissing day after day with GPs who go mouth to mouth with lots of other clients who are also smooching other GPs... and so on ad infinitum!  

I forget which veteran poster here makes the hilarious wisecrack that he doesn't kiss because it's too gay! 🤣  But for me, with many of my GPs it's so fantastic that I accept the GI and respiratory risks. 😘

I, too, wish to post my utmost thanks to you for the recounting of your most recent sojourn to Rio de Janeiro, my favorite of the cities in "Mother Brasil."  

Your short sagas accompanied by photos did resurrect some of my times and experiences that I had and continue until this day to recount and bask in the afterglows.

...liked your writing style and depictions, too!

MUITO OBRIGADO

[Xclay]

 

7 hours ago, iendo said:

All my German cards can be locked. It takes me a few seconds to lock and unlock... 

I read about this credit card scam over a decade ago on this website. Since then, I've only paid in cash at the saunas. No problem. 

[floridarob]

1 hour ago, Xclay said:

, I've only paid in cash at the saunas. No problem. 

At point and Lagoa, act like your going to use a card... then ask how much with cash, generally you'll save about 10%.... doesn't work with the gp's though, lol

117 charges different entry fees based on card or cash, it's posted at the check in/out counter.

[Mavica]

On 10/12/2025 at 1:03 AM, floridarob said:

117 charges different entry fees based on card or cash, it's posted at the check in/out counter.