In Rio 15-30 Jan 2026, more or less Say hello

[Mavica]

On 1/23/2026 at 2:38 PM, travguy said:

I am not trying to be evil. 

You intended to be evil, and you were/are.  What an arrogant POS.

[Riobard]

7 hours ago, Mavica said:

You intended to be evil, and you were/are.  What an arrogant POS.

Easy. Down boy … 

… after castigating others for fighting age with artifice … maybe they were cock-blocking? … getting a few one-hand claps for his one-man stand-up roast, followed by overdoing it at the churrascaria his own body responds by staging a protest so convincing it triggers a full expensive cardiac work up handled by good samaritans. The universe post big bang seems to prefer direct digestive feedback. Now that’s biblical. Meanwhile I must try to find my eyebrow shaping and enhancement kit.

[SolaceSoul]

8 hours ago, Mavica said:

You intended to be evil, and you were/are.  What an arrogant POS.

Found the zombie! 

[travguy]

Saturday 31 January 2026

Some quick questions for the group. Went near Chupps in Lapa last night around 0100 hours. Seemed like it had 2 jacketed guys in front of the door, of the type you find like at the entrance to a nice restaurant or bar. Did not see anyone going in or out and no one was hanging out on the street. Was this the Chupps that is a sex club? Has anyone been there recently? Should I consider going tonight, Saturday night or going to Taurus like last week or The Home for dancing?

Jackie's Bar Club on Mem de Sa is still there but seemed utterly devoid of anything going on around 0000-0100 hours. Perhaps too early. But the nearby gay bars and clubs from 13 months ago looked as if they closed.

I went to gay bar with busy street life at rua do Rezende just off and beyond (away from Arcos de Lapa) r Mem de Sa around 0030 hours. Nothing going on inside. But almost next door there was another bar or club with a neon sign but seemingly nothing to see. However, there was a sign for an event night, but could not tell if the event was for Friday night or some other time. Possibly in association with the Scruff pick up app. Anyone have any information about these places?  

As for other things, I took the bus back from Lapa to Ipanema, only 5 R$. Quite safe and very much an eye opener into Rio nightlife. Lots going on in Gloria, Lago do Machado seemed dead, and the Pink Flamingo (which might be in the same location as the old Le Boy) seemed to be busy in its alley area around 0215 hours. 

[travguy]

Has anyone here been to Angra dos Reis or Ilha Grande? Brazilian folks I have met like them both, but not sure if I will go this trip as Carnaval events have already started and cold snap is mostly over now in N America.

[travguy]

Update Tuesday 3 February 2026

 

Friday 30 January 2026

Went shopping in and around Uruguaiana M in Centro area. Took hours. It was quite hot and there was some rain too. Simply too sweaty, tired and full with bought items to play. Went to Lapa Friday night and enjoyed it as noted in a prior reply on this thread.

 

Saturday 31 January 2026

Ipanema beach surf too rough and high so after 30 min 1337-1407 or so hours walk to Arpoador Ipanema side by rocks and kiddie area and hang for 30 min after getting pics with Tom Jobim statue – which is now painted. Minnows in the beach water rocks area, lots of them (Ipanema side of Arpoador rocks). Then walked to near Fairmont in Copa. Water was very calm, for another 20 min or so in the water. Saturday night I went to The Home just north of centro. Look for their Instagram, not Facebook page. 60 RS cash for entry, paid when I left The Home, 0035-0230 ish hours. My ears could not take it anymore, too loud and no quiet spaces. Never needed to see my ID, used fingerprint at entry and I guess they found me from 2024. They give you like a hotel key card for drinks etc and asked only my name when I left. No real ghetto searches in or out this time and no phone check either. Only a few entered when I did No one left when I left – likely I left way too early, but as I said, my ears could not take the loudness anymore and I did not like the 2^nd DJ. The street was not as busy as 13 months or so ago. Met no one but so many gym bunny hot boys !! 1st DJ until 1am was good. 2nd was not. If there was a 0300 show, I missed it. Busy at 0100 and pretty packed dance floor at 0230. Never saw the night bus SN415 bus and another never bothered to stop for me around 0245 hours. By 0305 I was looking for a 100- Uber, but they had 70- taxi. Found the let out of a technical practice for Carnaval for Portella at Sambadromo. Very busy at 0320 hrs. Also very busy was what I think it the downtown bus depot area just E of Sambadromo and W of Saara / Vargas M stop. If I had taken the bus, I would have missed all of this. Maybe try to see another Carnaval crew practice another night if I can find any information. Back at BnB and in bed by 0400 hrs. Did not sleep well as I was getting eaten alive at the BnB – invisible mosquitoes, hungry ones too.

 

Sunday 1 February 2026

Having no luck on the hook up apps this trip. Several conversations that went nowhere. Ipanema G Osorio Hippie market. There was another market 1 big block due west at same time, LOL Bandas at G osorio today as it preps for Carnaval. Wave action to great at gay beach again. 1230 ish to 1500 hours ish including Arpoador area which was kiddie beach and calmer. Did not see as many minnows today.

Back at BnB by 1600 or so and got cleaned up, then super late 1715 ish start for Bangu. But ended up on Metro as fares were 150 RS +. Very high, but was some light rain by this point around Rio. Got off M at Coelho Neto. Ate some fries before uUber arrived. Another expensive ride due to rain. Maybe 65 RS cost for Uber to Boate Casa Grande arriving around 1835 and another Uber terrible driver. No idea where he was going and asked me for directions.60 RS entry to club w locker - went up 10-15 from last week and NO towel. Interesting that despite showing I was going to pay cash and the guy at the entry area had lots of cash, he kept asking me if I wanted to use Pix. Seems also true for food vendors on the street too. Had fun with a GP from a week ago. After he kept asking, I gave him my Whatsapp number but never heard back. Wants to sleep with me LOL

Pouring rain and heavy roof leaks during and after playtime. Then tried Grindr ing and chatted with some guys so missed some lower high price Ubers around 2030. Then maybe a guy blocked me LOL Could not get an Uber until 2130 at 100- ish for a 25+ trip to C Neto M LOL. Uber to Ipanema was 150-200+ likely due to heavy rain. No rain upon return. Drag Queen for bingo for maybe just after I left Bangu brothel and they still had many folks there despite the weather. Lots of folks in subway with some glitter, especially guys. Even at the beach earlier in the day, saw many folks preparing and costumed up a bit for Carnaval. I think many of the lightly glittered guys with fans were "family". Mostly twinks, but some hot muscle guys too.

 

Monday 2 February 2026

Overall, a quieter day. 28 RS to enter porn theatre near to Sexy Rose in Cinelandia. Did not stay long, about 1400-1430, but 2 awesome BJs and some ass. Thankfully it was dark as most guys there could have been 70+ yo. Ate lunch nearby and went to Sexy Rose which had 2 very hot guys that I could not even get close to. Still had fun until 1730. I was hungry and tired, so went back to new BnB in Copa. On a high floor and no bugs seen.

 

Tuesday 3 February 2026

Very late start today. Too many things to catch up on. Will plan on the beach for a while and the 117 to follow. Hard to sort out itching from bug bites from the most mild sunburn in a few spots. Taking bilastine for the itching.

 

Some quick notes: unlike Commonwealth countries, folks here do not seem to fully understand queuing. Perhaps we are the exceptions, LOL.

At the supermarket, there was a young couple in front of me in the Preferencia line. No clue to unloading their cart of maybe 8 items while the person in front of them checked out. As so often seems to happen in Rio, no clue as to how they will pay. (At another supermarket, the checkout guy seemed upset with me when an older lady tried to split off some items due to lack of dinheiros and then had to wait for a supervisor to void items. Then the whole thing went south and seemingly nothing worked at that cashier, then that cashier got upset with me, for getting upset about keeping folks waiting. Then I was told I would have to wait at the back of a very long queue to follow. Lessons in how not to do business on all sides.) To make matters even better, LOL, the checkout guy refused to enter my CPF and insisted on manually typing each barcode number for all items I was buying. At least I got my discounts. Again, sheer misery for nothing accomplished and a shining example of how not to do business.

 

Meds: Pharmacy prices for various (seemingly always generic) meds do vary quite a bit. Boxes look quite similar too. So, you need to shop / ask around before buying. I have a CPF and some places don’t even need or want it, while others require it for a discount. I was looking for aspirin, the 81 mg ones. 500 mg tablets are a bit expensive and have been told it is a major problem for the NHS in the UK due to lack of suppliers. They do not have 81 mg. They do have aspirina prevent 100 mg aspirins, 30 for about 19 RS. Tadalafil 5 mg are 30 for about 10 RS. Antibiotics seem to require a BR receita or Rx from a BR doctor. PREP meds are available, but I think only at public or private health clinics, not street pharmacies. In general, Rx prices are quite low vs US, Canada or Europe, but they might not accept your non BR Rx script or empty vial, even with recent date. To get some idea of prices, which might be less in person, you can search for the various pharmacy companies and use their website tools like for https://www.drogaraia.com.br.