BSR

Hmm, people usually take either a budget flight or the overnight train from Lisbon to Madrid. If you book it right, flights can be very inexpensive. If you can't get a cheap flight, the overnight train is pretty reasonable, and you save a night of hotel costs.
 
If you're staying in Madrid, then a car might be more trouble than it's worth. Like most cities, Madrid has tons of traffic and parking can be difficult. I guess a car would be useful if you're planning on day trips from Madrid to nearby spots like Toledo, Segovia, or El Escorial. But even without a car, trains to those places are quick & convenient.
 
As a foreigner, I'd be scared to death to drive in Spain. I knew far too many Spaniards who were in very serious accidents, where someone in the car either died or suffered a permanent injury. In case you're thinking "small sample size!", I looked it up online, and Spain does have an inordinately high number of auto fatalities compared to other countries.

Who exactly would consider you greedy and guilty of a big ego? I certainly wouldn't. My reaction to any escort who charges $1K/hr is "wow, good for him." Hey, if the market will bear that rate, then he's not overcharging or "being greedy."
 
Hey, we gays are getting a bargain because female escorts are a lot more expensive. "Top tier" working girls get $5000 for an evening date, ~5 hours but no clock watching. Apparently $5/K girls never do hour-long appointments because that cheapens the brand.
 
Now, if there are any working guys out there who charge $5000/evening, I sure as hell want to meet them. How much do you think they'd charge me for a couple of minutes of staring with my eyes as big as saucers?

But will Matt be able to get a full nude/full bar license? I thought such licenses were limited in Atlanta. If Matt's Atlanta endeavor is a go-go bar where the dancers perform in thongs, then I'm not interested. I can see plenty of guys in swimwear at the beach or pool.

Not quite the same but . . .
Had bad car accident with back injury at age 28. Dealt with increasing pain and degenerative arthritis in my spine for years and finally, when the pain was unbearable despite opioids of all ilk, I had surgery for fusion. Surgery worked great expect I was in such bad shape it took me over a year to be functional. I then tore a disc, had a discectomy, reached a point with the degenerative issues that 2 days prior to my 50th I sold my practice (21 years ago.)
THEN I went to work to rehab my body. At that point if I bent over a nurse had to straighten me back up.
I spent 3 days a week with a rehab trainer at Gold's Gym (the original in Venice) for a solid 2 years, never missed a day, and I was finally human again, able to participate in activities I hadn't in years. Still in pain, variable degrees, on meds as necessary, use self hypnosis when needed.
Bottom line - perseverance is what got me thru. Dont give up, push push push. Eventually you look back and say wow.

First, thank you for your reviews & advice on chaperos (that's Spanish slang for "escorts," probably different in Argentina). A long trip to Buenos Aires, like a month if I can swing it, is on my bucket list, and reading your posts & reviews is so informative.
 
Can I ask a couple of general questions about hiring in BA? You mention that calling from a local number is helpful because contact via Whatsapp with a foreign number automatically results in a much higher fee. Do you think that speaking Spanish with a foreign accent would spark the same "surcharge"? Even if I called from a local number, my accent would give me away as a foreigner in <5 seconds. Obviously, you can pass as a local, but any advice for those of us accent-afflicted yanquis?

I read once that in the US some hitmen are contracted for as little as $100. Desperate meth addicts don't need much convincing apparently. In contrast, eight grand in the DR is a king's ransom.
 
It sounds like Big Papi will make a full recovery. I am so happy to see the Red Sox reach out the way they did. As a die-hard Red Sox fan, I will always love David Ortiz.

At even the lowest "tier" of American health care, the doctors all have their own stethoscopes and can dispense basic meds like aspirin & penicillin. Cuban doctors, not so much.

I'm not so sure about the quality of health care for Cubans. Cuba has a two-tier health care system: a first-rate one for foreigners with money (and the well-connected communists, no doubt) and a very different one for everyday Cubans. Yes, doctors in Cuba are very well trained, but they lack technology, medicines, and even basic equipment. In conversations I had with two women who visit family in Cuba regularly, health care for ordinary Cubans sounds awfully sub-standard. X-rays are hard to come by, drugs are scarce, and some doctors don't even have their own stethoscope. Need an MRI? Pffft

The listing you posted is a co-op. I believe the maintenance fee for a NYC co-op unit differs from the HOA fee associated with condos. Condos in NYC list a condo fee (what the rest of the country more commonly calls the HOA) and monthly property tax separately. The monthly maintenance fee a co-op owner pays includes the property taxes owed by the cooperative.
 
When you consider the sky-high property taxes in NYC (the city gets ~60% of its revenue from property taxes) then add the monthly building costs, $4000 doesn't seem that high to me.
 
As many others in this thread have pointed out, a big old building in NYC (with its sky-high labor costs) has so many expenses that would never occur to you. My dad lived in NYC for 11 years. The doorman mentioned how much it cost to repair the two elevators that recently broken down. I forget the exact amount, but my dad said it almost gave him a heart attack. When his condo fee bumped up later that year, at least it was easy to understand why.

The listing you posted is a co-op. I believe the maintenance fee for a NYC co-op unit differs from the HOA fee associated with condos. Condos in NYC list a condo fee (what the rest of the country more commonly calls the HOA) and monthly property tax separately. The monthly maintenance fee a co-op owner pays includes the property taxes owed by the cooperative.
 
When you consider the sky-high property taxes in NYC (the city gets ~60% of its revenue from property taxes) then add the monthly building costs, $4000 doesn't seem that high to me.
 
As many others in this thread have pointed out, a big old building in NYC (with its sky-high labor costs) has so many expenses that would never occur to you. My dad lived in NYC for 11 years. The doorman mentioned how much it cost to repair the two elevators that recently broken down. I forget the exact amount, but my dad said it almost gave him a heart attack. When his condo fee bumped up later that year, at least it was easy to understand why.

First, you have no idea how much I envy your trip to La Habana. It's been 11 years since my trip, and I've been dying to go back ever since. There was so much that I enjoyed, but the one thing that stands out the most after all this time was learning about the day to day lives of Cubans. Life under communism is so different that it's impossible to sum up in a few sentences. My Spanish is fluent, so I was able to talk to Cubans everywhere. The hardship they endure, and their amazing ability to somehow find happiness despite that hardship, still make my eyes pop whenever I think of it. Even if you don't speak Spanish, you can find a few Cubans with decent English.
 
If your suitcases allow, pack bars of soap, powdered laundry detergent, and packages of socks & underwear. You'll find no shortage of people who will be profoundly grateful. Don't give money away, but tip everyone who helps you. A convertible peso or two is a godsend to maids, cab drivers, servers, bartenders, tour guides, etc. The official restaurants are awful (what do you expect? they're run by communists), but the private restaurants (paladares) are amazing. Treat a handsome cubano lad to dinner at a paladar & you'll have a great meal with a very appreciative companion. Just remember that the service fee at paladares is not a tip; it's a fee to pay for the staggering monthly tax on paladares.
 
A baseball is worth its weight in gold in Cuba, and an authentic MLB ball twice that. They play pickup baseball on every street corner, usually making do with a rock & scrap lumber. And a new pair of American sneakers is the Cuban equivalent of a Louis Vuitton bag, except way better. If you're feeling really generous, buy a standard size of Nikes or New Balance (10D?) and just give them to your handsome cubano after dinner (or whatever other evening activity). He might just break down & cry.

I don't see how dancers are employees since they can work six nights a week or zero, stay from open to close or just an hour. Is there a single employee in America who can just tell his boss, "Nah, I don't feel like working this week"? Only independent contractors have that kind of flexibility. Then again, my opinion doesn't count for sh*t, and the courts have made their ruling.
 
It sounds like some ex-dancers, perhaps with an ax to grind, saw a chance to make some easy money. Crapfest! Ah well, hopefully SR survives the setback & forges on.

Great topic! In general, I think that you are going to find the most variety in megalopolises like NYC, London, Rio, etc. But, I have found so many "hidden gems" in medium-sized cities like Indy, Charlotte, Nashville, Columbus, Pittsburgh, to be much more exciting, cooperative, affordable, and kinky (in a good way), than many (most?) big cities.

A job trip to New York recently gave me a chance to check out some of NYC's entertainments. In the past, my schedule and the BuffDaddys events have not coordinated, but this trip I was able to get out to the "burbs on a Sunday night. Located in the World II private sex club, in an industrial area just north of the Southern State Parkway in Babylon, the club is Sunday nights- John, the proprietor, has other shows at various clubs in the city some weeknights. Because I was already out on the Island, it wasn't a long trip- about an hour or so from Manhattan by car, about the same by train. The VIP room at the club is quite upscale- nice carpeting, comfy couches, generally an improvement compared to most places. The night I attended, John had refreshments and snacks on hand, a nice touch.
 
This night, there were six performers. a nice mix of big muscle guys, young thin dudes, black,Latino and white. Had a great time with several of the guys in the private rooms- $10 entry, $20 per song. The private rooms are fully enclosed, very nice. The main room is set up with a stage area and a video display. Each guy had a set of dances on the stage area, and due to the room size, you can't help but have a front row seat.
 
I got the impression that there are different guys each weekend, depending on who makes the trip or who is available locally that night. I was not disappointed with the talent in house during my visit. Customers came and went while I was there- because I was already nearby, I stayed for most of the evening, while the other customers came and went. Talking with John, he gave the impression that the locals see this as their neighborhood stop-off spot, so the turnover wasn't unusual. All in all, it was a fun evening, and I did appreciate the earlier business hours (8PM to Midnight). If you have the opportunity, check out BuffDaddys,either here or at one of the Manhattan events. You won't be disappointed!

At my old tennis club, there was a group of women who played during the day while the kids were at school. I called them the "wealthy housewives set" because it was a rather posh club, and I noticed what cars they drove. BTW, I only wished I were a wealthy housewife; alas, I was a semi-poor grunt who worked nights.
 
Anyway, I had a discussion recently with a friend who doesn't think Mrs. Bezos should get anything but whatever Jeff Bezos gave her during the marriage because if feminists believe in true equality, then husbands shouldn't fork over half the assets (which he alone earned) or alimony. I brought up the wealthy housewives set and that none of them would have agreed to give up her own career if her 50-something husband could just skip off with a half-his-age mistress at any given moment with financial impunity.
 
On one hand, it does seem a bit excessive for MacKenzie Bezos to get $75 billion out of the divorce. On the other hand, it seems outrageous that any wealthy man experiencing a mid-life crisis can leave his wife with nothing, after she gave up her own career, supported his career, took care of the home front, and raised his children. While it's far from a black & white issue, if I had to favor one position over another, I'd say she deserves half of everything.

At my old tennis club, there was a group of women who played during the day while the kids were at school. I called them the "wealthy housewives set" because it was a rather posh club, and I noticed what cars they drove. BTW, I only wished I were a wealthy housewife; alas, I was a semi-poor grunt who worked nights.
 
Anyway, I had a discussion recently with a friend who doesn't think Mrs. Bezos should get anything but whatever Jeff Bezos gave her during the marriage because if feminists believe in true equality, then husbands shouldn't fork over half the assets (which he alone earned) or alimony. I brought up the wealthy housewives set and that none of them would have agreed to give up her own career if her 50-something husband could just skip off with a half-his-age mistress at any given moment with financial impunity.
 
On one hand, it does seem a bit excessive for MacKenzie Bezos to get $75 billion out of the divorce. On the other hand, it seems outrageous that any wealthy man experiencing a mid-life crisis can leave his wife with nothing, after she gave up her own career, supported his career, took care of the home front, and raised his children. While it's far from a black & white issue, if I had to favor one position over another, I'd say she deserves half of everything.

Since I have a wicked sweet tooth, it's been a decades-long battle to resist sugar. One thing I have managed to avoid is soda because it is the junkiest of junk food, all sugar yet zero nutrition. I used to drink diet soda until I read somewhere that despite the calorie difference diet soda is useless for weight loss. I also just had a feeling that diet soda had to be really bad for you. The science has since confirmed my instincts.
 
I also avoid fruit juices as much as soda. While OJ & other juices might have some nutritional value, their sugar content rivals or even surpasses sugar-packed soda. I even avoid fruit because the fructose sparks my cravings for more sugar (ice cream is my kryptonite). I figure I get plenty of vitamins & antioxidants from veggies.
 
Besides just watching out for sugar, one should also pay attention to the glycemic index of what you eat because a lot of food is surprisingly high-glycemic. Corn chips have a glycemic index rating of 105(!), Stoned Wheat Thins 96, and a marketed-as-healthy Nutri-Grain bar 94. Compare those ratings to jelly beans at 80. Who would've guessed?

Since I have a wicked sweet tooth, it's been a decades-long battle to resist sugar. One thing I have managed to avoid is soda because it is the junkiest of junk food, all sugar yet zero nutrition. I used to drink diet soda until I read somewhere that despite the calorie difference diet soda is useless for weight loss. I also just had a feeling that diet soda had to be really bad for you. The science has since confirmed my instincts.
 
I also avoid fruit juices as much as soda. While OJ & other juices might have some nutritional value, their sugar content rivals or even surpasses sugar-packed soda. I even avoid fruit because the fructose sparks my cravings for more sugar (ice cream is my kryptonite). I figure I get plenty of vitamins & antioxidants from veggies.
 
Besides just watching out for sugar, one should also pay attention to the glycemic index of what you eat because a lot of food is surprisingly high-glycemic. Corn chips have a glycemic index rating of 105(!), Stoned Wheat Thins 96, and a marketed-as-healthy Nutri-Grain bar 94. Compare those ratings to jelly beans at 80. Who would've guessed?

Since I have a wicked sweet tooth, it's been a decades-long battle to resist sugar. One thing I have managed to avoid is soda because it is the junkiest of junk food, all sugar yet zero nutrition. I used to drink diet soda until I read somewhere that despite the calorie difference diet soda is useless for weight loss. I also just had a feeling that diet soda had to be really bad for you. The science has since confirmed my instincts.
 
I also avoid fruit juices as much as soda. While OJ & other juices might have some nutritional value, their sugar content rivals or even surpasses sugar-packed soda. I even avoid fruit because the fructose sparks my cravings for more sugar (ice cream is my kryptonite). I figure I get plenty of vitamins & antioxidants from veggies.
 
Besides just watching out for sugar, one should also pay attention to the glycemic index of what you eat because a lot of food is surprisingly high-glycemic. Corn chips have a glycemic index rating of 105(!), Stoned Wheat Thins 96, and a marketed-as-healthy Nutri-Grain bar 94. Compare those ratings to jelly beans at 80. Who would've guessed?

There are two exceptionally giddy divorce lawyers today.

No skin, not even a kiss, but this has to be my all-time favorite gay short. Click on the top right corner to get English subtitles.
 

No skin, not even a kiss, but this has to be my all-time favorite gay short. Click on the top right corner to get English subtitles.
 

Many aspects of English make it difficult to learn, but I would think one of the toughest is which syllable in a word to emphasize. French is super easy, the last syllable (any exceptions, French speakers?). Spanish is pretty easy. There is a set of rules for emphasis that you learn as a beginner and are easy to master. All exceptions to the rule will simply have an accent over the vowel of the syllable to be emphasized (like énfasis). But English words, no rhyme or reason, as if every word had its own unique rule of pronunciation.

I clicked on this thread thinking it was the first line of a joke. So, three straight guys come to San Francisco. The first one sees ...
 
But no joke, just a warning. And as others mentioned, links to three guys who don't look particularly straight