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GuyFromIpanema

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Posts posted by GuyFromIpanema

  1. The "go, just be careful" advice  I gave for Rio applies to many places, but is not absolutely universal.

     

    A rather ambitious friend was planning a trip to Honduras around ten years ago

    and I sought the advice of another friend who had actually contributed to travel guides to much of Latin American (and is himself Colombian).

     

    His advice was not to go.

    "Do you mean that, or do you mean it's ok to go if you avoid certain places and are very careful?" I asked.

    His expert advice was 

    "No. Really do NOT go. Even people who are from Honduras and have relatives there mostly don't go. Do not go, period". (this was around 2011)

     

    So places can get too dangerous to visit. But Rio is not such a place, nor was it at any point in recent memory.

  2. On 9/30/2021 at 12:40 AM, Caliboy95 said:

    Hello. I’m thinking of a travel to either of these cities in January or February 2022. I this is my first time traveling to Brazil so I’ll like some inside in which city is more gay friendly and I’d have a better time in. What are some hotel recommendations and places to see and do. 

    Too late for your trip but as general advice: if it's your first time and your trip is longer that about a week (long enough to include two weekends, say), visit both. Flights between the cities are short, frequent, and extremely easy if you use the smaller central airports (CGH <-> SDU). You will enjoy the contrast between them.

  3. On 10/15/2021 at 12:50 AM, lonely_john said:

    if you are inexperienced or first-timer, it's VERY important to stick to safe touristic areas, never carry valuables with you, and always stay in company of a trustworthy local when outside the hotel.

     

    One of those three things should be sufficient, frankly. Any one. 

    I agree that breaking all three rules at once would be unwise when you're new to Rio,

  4. On 10/15/2021 at 12:50 AM, lonely_john said:

    Despite its beauty and massive attractive for tourists, Rio is one of the most dangerous cities in the world. We North Americans are frequent targets so, if you are inexperienced or first-timer, it's VERY important to stick to safe touristic areas, never carry valuables with you, and always stay in company of a trustworthy local when outside the hotel.

    spacer.png

     

    Cities 11-18 seem to have been added to that list in spite of not meeting the murder rate criterion, and US cities which do meet it have been left off. 

     

    The city of Rio de Janeiro has roughly the same murder rate as Chicago, well below that of some US cities like New Orleans and Detroit. (The state of RJ is significantly lower still).

    Sao Paulo's murder rate in turn is much lower, around that of LA and far lower than many US cities. The state of Sao Paulo has roughly the same murder rate as the United States as a whole.

     

    Frankly that chart smacks of ridiculous xenophobia.  I wonder if those who created it even own passports.

     

    Yes, you need to take care. Others have given advice on that. Walking aimlessly around Copacabana at 3am wearing a Rolex is asking for trouble. Walking purposefully in little more than shorts and Havaianas is going to be fine.

    Use common sense. Watch how others behave. Err on the side of caution when you're someplace new. But this is not any reason to avoid going to either Rio or Sao Paulo.

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