b2bf

Glad you’re back.  Thanks for your hard work in keeping this valuable forum alive!

Greetings folks...
As you might have noticed, this site has been offline since around mid-day Tuesday.   Our prior hosting provider decided that they are unable to continue hosting our website and had ended service to us.  Unfortunately they did not provide any notification to me about this decision and I was forced to move the site to a new server without any sort of heads up.  This includes arranging for the new hosting company, configuring the new server to meet the technical requirements, getting a copy of our current data, restoring that data (over 300GB of files), recovering the database (over 18.5 million records in that database taking up 11GB of space for the DB alone), and reconfiguring the software itself to run in the new environment.  
While migrating there was also some technical issues that I ran into that required me to coordinate with Invision's technical support team.  So that back and forth added additional time to the mix as well.  
And to pile on further… all of this occurred while I'm traveling for my day job. So I've been doing this while in a hotel in between doing my day job on the road.  
There are most likely several other things that will need to be fixed still and I'm working through them.  For example, email may only be partially working.  I still need to setup things like SPF and DKIM for the new server so our emails don't flag as spam.  There are other settings that might need to be redone to work in the new server as well that I'm not thinking about yet.  (As you might have imagined, I've not had much sleep during this whole process.)
But anyway... you get the idea.  No... we're not going anywhere!  This was a minor setback but we'll continue to move forward.  Thank you all for your understanding and support!
Rob

Nothing current. I hired him about five years ago. He was very sweet, knew what he was doing and gave me a full hour's work over (pretty unusual actually). The pictures are very accurate to that time. I think he dropped out of the porn business around then. He takes himself on and off the market periodically.

- This is long so I’ve added headings to let you skip the parts that are boring.
Aknowledgments
I hope this is helpful for someone contemplating their first trip to Brazil. This is my way of giving back to the many people on here who helped me with their generous advice in the various postings. Thanks.
Please forgive the ramblings and injudicious assumptions of a neophyte and be kind in your comments.
Context
After 41 years I’m a widower trying to distract myself from the realities of living alone. I’m also a bit of a sex fiend so … what better distraction. I’m still in good shape for my age. About the same weight as when I was 25. Yes this was a trip to see the largest Pride Parade in the world but it was really a sex vacation - and I had a lot of it - in just five days!
The Trip
This was fast. I have two kids (cats) that I can’t leave for more than a week, so that limits my vacation. I like it short and intense anyway. 10h direct Toronto to SP overnight. Four days in SP. Morning flight to Rio. 24 hrs in Rio. Afternoon flight back to SP, change airports and overnight back to Toronto.
The Pride Parade
Yes it was spectacular. Worth seeing once. I’m glad I chose to stay where I did. Probably the only hotel with rooms overlooking Paulista. I could see the crowd without having to be in it. The room was overpriced but as a first timer it was safe, gringo friendly and couldn’t be better located. Next time there are really nice upscale (but cheap) AirBNBs in Consolação.
Safety
This issue has been done to death so I just add my brief experience. I have some tolerance for sketchy neighbourhoods but I’m fairly prudent (Toronto: the gay neighbourhood can be rough at night. Our homeless are often severely drug damaged and wild. LA: my introduction to the city in 1989 was driving in from LAX and meeting a fully armed take down in front of the old Spagos’ in West Hollywood. I was maintaining  a fibreoptic-switch at USC during the Rodney King riots. Amsterdam: in the 90’s I’d regularly cross Vondel park in the early hours). SP: I kept to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista, and a little Jardim. Mostly during the day although I often walked back from Lagoa in the evening. I didn’t have any safety concerns at all. Once (because I got my directions wrong) I ended up looking for an address in Republica in a very sketchy neighbourhood. NOT advised. I was in a more upscale part of Republica later (Aurora) but … if you must Uber in and out. Chili Pepper - just Uber in and out (hide your phone - it’s not difficult - I’d never go anywhere without it).
Rio: I think in planning I swapped hotels four times looking for a place for just one night - mostly over safety concerns. In the end I was right next to Copacabana Palace ( a place I would never stay at). The place I stayed was already to gringo overlord infested for my liking but as a first visit… I Ubered to Club 117 on the Tuesday night and on the Wednesday morning I walked the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches walking back one street in. At that time in the morning, if prudent, it appeared reasonably safe. There’s a lot more homeless here than in SP. Ipanema is quiet - very residential. Copacabana is all hotels, tourists and tourist hustle.
São Paulo: Espaço Lagoa
Wow! Kid in a candy store! And I was popping them like candies (or they were popping me). The numbers, the size, the girth - just amazing. The thing was, it wasn’t just their physical attributes, their beauty (omg Brazilian men are stunning) or the number of them but also their smiles and friendliness. I know it’s a business and they’re good at their jobs but I felt these guys were especially good at the “customer relations” side. They wanted you back; they wanted to build a relationship. I came back every day for four days and they were there hugging me. And part of that of course is that I’m a generous tipper. This is a very tough life and I can’t help it. I’m sure the news travelled (every day their price went up). The last day I only had time for three. They were all fabulous. They were beautiful and beautifully endowed. They performed with real passion, energy and aggression - really draining themselves. They may be good actors but they made it seem like the real thing to me. It was fun.
São Paulo: Chili Pepper
This was on the Sunday just after the Pride Parade. I probably got there too early although it was quite busy. Probably one of the nicest and largest saunas I’ve ever been in (maybe Hollywood Spa in LA or Thermos in Amsterdam). The layout sucks. All the rooms are at the back with next to zero traffic. Almost everyone (a predominantly Millennial and younger crowd) were concentrated in the 2nd floor dark area humping like rabbits. I scored two reasonable hits. In the end I’m not sure it’s a place for me.
Rio: Club 117
I went on a Tuesday, too early because I had a later appointment. Rooms were free. I really didn’t see enough to pass judgement. The sex I had was very good. Physically, technically excellent. It was however a bit robotic. There was a sense of trying to always encourage the extra fee, to maximize the revenue now without any interest that we might meet again. This is what I call the “tourist hustle” and It’s what Rio is all about. There’s little “client relationship” and it’s all about making as much now as possible. Maybe I’m being too harsh. I’ll see next time. 
RM & Garotocomlocal
There’s little of what’s available in Brazil on RM. A few of the upscale creators with northern links (Timtales) Good luck in trying to get a response from them. For most providers I think the subscription fees would be a killer. Grorocomlocal.com.br has 1028 providers listed for São Paulo and 458 for Rio de Janeiro. There is some form of certification and subscription but I’m not sure how much or how good it is. I don’t trust it that much - it’s a step up from BackPages but maybe not that much. I when to Brazil with the intent of hiring just like RM since I had no experience of places like Lagoa. I had a Brasilian number and communicated in Portuguese through WhatsApp. I put out requests to twelve providers. Seven never responded. Two asked for pictures (I sent my RM link). They ghosted me. I hired the remaining 3 with one ripping me off. In the end Lagoa is better and safer.
São Paulo vs Rio
- Caveat: I don’t go out walking at night so judge accordingly
So … I like big cities. I live in Canada’s mini-manhattan (haha). And SP is Manhattan writ large. I stuck to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista and a little bit of Jardim. All very walkable - provided you don’t mind hills. That took me by surprise. I knew the areas quite well from studying the maps except I didn’t understand there were so many damn hills! It’s like San Francisco. In fact there’s a real feel of that in Jardim. Other parts feel like LA. There’s a funkiness about the restaurants and bars in Consolação (the gayborhood) that isn’t either. The people are friendly but don’t expect a lot of English. Yes there are probably a lot of tourists there but it’s so damn big it doesn’t influence the city at all. Security is everywhere. It must be the biggest industry in Brasil. Even the smallest retailer ha a security guard. Military Police cars are cruising along Paulista every two minutes. Not so much beyond, however.
Rio is tourists. Copacabana is wall to wall hotels on one side and tourists stalls on the other. As a result English is more common although not really anymore common among the gorotos. Ipanema is much more residential with only  a few hotels. The condos are immaculately kept and all hermetically sealed behind secure walls and cameras. Being there, close to boteco Belmonte, would be ideal. I left feeling like I should have stayed longer and seen more. I still feel that way but I feel like it’s likely to be one and done. I don’t see it as a regular destination. I’m intrigued by Salvador. As my old friend Nelson Freire used to say “o tempo dirá” - time will tell.

Things To Look Out For
* Be careful as a pedestrian in SP and Rio. The crossings aren’t well indicated and where they are just because you have a green light doesn’t mean the cars will give you right of way. Stay alert!
* ATMs appeared to be more aggressively scalping you than I remember in Europe. Their exchange rate is ridiculously low and they tack on a hefty fee if you refuse and use your bank’s. Try and take cash with you. (I did but I got greedy and needed more. In some situations, however, greed was good).
* I didn’t get to explore much in Rio but I never came across an ATM or a bank (security?). Thankfully there was an ATM in my hotel. In SP (of course I was staying on Paulista) they were everywhere.
* Generally food is not spectacular. It’s like one big Denny’s. It’s serviceable. There are plenty of Michelin starred restaurants to try but I’m not good at eating alone in a restaurant and without the language …
* Carry a power bank! The last thing you want is to be stuck with a phone running out of charge. It’s your life line (Uber is your friend).
* They were starting to install contactless bank payment at the metro Consolação. Soon all major cities will have this so no need for specific metro passes.
Things I Would Change
* Spend more time in Rio. The place is magical and despite the limitations (see above) there’s a lot of good sex to be had. You can be prudent without being paranoid.
* Never try to change airports in SP in one day. Leave yourself room if you have to do it. It’s too nerve racking.
* Learn at least rudimentary Portuguese. I had tried but .. Google Translate only takes you so far. It’s tough to use when you get a WhatsApp from one provider while getting fucked by another.
 

200 EUR which I thought was pretty decent for Barcelona at the time.

great report....thanks @b2bf.... 
for fun, just checked the US/Brazil exchange rate after several months......wow, very favorable for Yanks (and others??)......only 18 cents for a real (was 16 cents a few months ago - lowest I've seen)........I see some hand-wringing over at gayguides ("the other site") about garoto/sauna rates and fees/haggling.......quibbling over five dollars or similar!!.......not all gringos are that way, but I gotta wonder what the garotos are thinking when the haggling begins

- This is long so I’ve added headings to let you skip the parts that are boring.
Aknowledgments
I hope this is helpful for someone contemplating their first trip to Brazil. This is my way of giving back to the many people on here who helped me with their generous advice in the various postings. Thanks.
Please forgive the ramblings and injudicious assumptions of a neophyte and be kind in your comments.
Context
After 41 years I’m a widower trying to distract myself from the realities of living alone. I’m also a bit of a sex fiend so … what better distraction. I’m still in good shape for my age. About the same weight as when I was 25. Yes this was a trip to see the largest Pride Parade in the world but it was really a sex vacation - and I had a lot of it - in just five days!
The Trip
This was fast. I have two kids (cats) that I can’t leave for more than a week, so that limits my vacation. I like it short and intense anyway. 10h direct Toronto to SP overnight. Four days in SP. Morning flight to Rio. 24 hrs in Rio. Afternoon flight back to SP, change airports and overnight back to Toronto.
The Pride Parade
Yes it was spectacular. Worth seeing once. I’m glad I chose to stay where I did. Probably the only hotel with rooms overlooking Paulista. I could see the crowd without having to be in it. The room was overpriced but as a first timer it was safe, gringo friendly and couldn’t be better located. Next time there are really nice upscale (but cheap) AirBNBs in Consolação.
Safety
This issue has been done to death so I just add my brief experience. I have some tolerance for sketchy neighbourhoods but I’m fairly prudent (Toronto: the gay neighbourhood can be rough at night. Our homeless are often severely drug damaged and wild. LA: my introduction to the city in 1989 was driving in from LAX and meeting a fully armed take down in front of the old Spagos’ in West Hollywood. I was maintaining  a fibreoptic-switch at USC during the Rodney King riots. Amsterdam: in the 90’s I’d regularly cross Vondel park in the early hours). SP: I kept to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista, and a little Jardim. Mostly during the day although I often walked back from Lagoa in the evening. I didn’t have any safety concerns at all. Once (because I got my directions wrong) I ended up looking for an address in Republica in a very sketchy neighbourhood. NOT advised. I was in a more upscale part of Republica later (Aurora) but … if you must Uber in and out. Chili Pepper - just Uber in and out (hide your phone - it’s not difficult - I’d never go anywhere without it).
Rio: I think in planning I swapped hotels four times looking for a place for just one night - mostly over safety concerns. In the end I was right next to Copacabana Palace ( a place I would never stay at). The place I stayed was already to gringo overlord infested for my liking but as a first visit… I Ubered to Club 117 on the Tuesday night and on the Wednesday morning I walked the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches walking back one street in. At that time in the morning, if prudent, it appeared reasonably safe. There’s a lot more homeless here than in SP. Ipanema is quiet - very residential. Copacabana is all hotels, tourists and tourist hustle.
São Paulo: Espaço Lagoa
Wow! Kid in a candy store! And I was popping them like candies (or they were popping me). The numbers, the size, the girth - just amazing. The thing was, it wasn’t just their physical attributes, their beauty (omg Brazilian men are stunning) or the number of them but also their smiles and friendliness. I know it’s a business and they’re good at their jobs but I felt these guys were especially good at the “customer relations” side. They wanted you back; they wanted to build a relationship. I came back every day for four days and they were there hugging me. And part of that of course is that I’m a generous tipper. This is a very tough life and I can’t help it. I’m sure the news travelled (every day their price went up). The last day I only had time for three. They were all fabulous. They were beautiful and beautifully endowed. They performed with real passion, energy and aggression - really draining themselves. They may be good actors but they made it seem like the real thing to me. It was fun.
São Paulo: Chili Pepper
This was on the Sunday just after the Pride Parade. I probably got there too early although it was quite busy. Probably one of the nicest and largest saunas I’ve ever been in (maybe Hollywood Spa in LA or Thermos in Amsterdam). The layout sucks. All the rooms are at the back with next to zero traffic. Almost everyone (a predominantly Millennial and younger crowd) were concentrated in the 2nd floor dark area humping like rabbits. I scored two reasonable hits. In the end I’m not sure it’s a place for me.
Rio: Club 117
I went on a Tuesday, too early because I had a later appointment. Rooms were free. I really didn’t see enough to pass judgement. The sex I had was very good. Physically, technically excellent. It was however a bit robotic. There was a sense of trying to always encourage the extra fee, to maximize the revenue now without any interest that we might meet again. This is what I call the “tourist hustle” and It’s what Rio is all about. There’s little “client relationship” and it’s all about making as much now as possible. Maybe I’m being too harsh. I’ll see next time. 
RM & Garotocomlocal
There’s little of what’s available in Brazil on RM. A few of the upscale creators with northern links (Timtales) Good luck in trying to get a response from them. For most providers I think the subscription fees would be a killer. Grorocomlocal.com.br has 1028 providers listed for São Paulo and 458 for Rio de Janeiro. There is some form of certification and subscription but I’m not sure how much or how good it is. I don’t trust it that much - it’s a step up from BackPages but maybe not that much. I when to Brazil with the intent of hiring just like RM since I had no experience of places like Lagoa. I had a Brasilian number and communicated in Portuguese through WhatsApp. I put out requests to twelve providers. Seven never responded. Two asked for pictures (I sent my RM link). They ghosted me. I hired the remaining 3 with one ripping me off. In the end Lagoa is better and safer.
São Paulo vs Rio
- Caveat: I don’t go out walking at night so judge accordingly
So … I like big cities. I live in Canada’s mini-manhattan (haha). And SP is Manhattan writ large. I stuck to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista and a little bit of Jardim. All very walkable - provided you don’t mind hills. That took me by surprise. I knew the areas quite well from studying the maps except I didn’t understand there were so many damn hills! It’s like San Francisco. In fact there’s a real feel of that in Jardim. Other parts feel like LA. There’s a funkiness about the restaurants and bars in Consolação (the gayborhood) that isn’t either. The people are friendly but don’t expect a lot of English. Yes there are probably a lot of tourists there but it’s so damn big it doesn’t influence the city at all. Security is everywhere. It must be the biggest industry in Brasil. Even the smallest retailer ha a security guard. Military Police cars are cruising along Paulista every two minutes. Not so much beyond, however.
Rio is tourists. Copacabana is wall to wall hotels on one side and tourists stalls on the other. As a result English is more common although not really anymore common among the gorotos. Ipanema is much more residential with only  a few hotels. The condos are immaculately kept and all hermetically sealed behind secure walls and cameras. Being there, close to boteco Belmonte, would be ideal. I left feeling like I should have stayed longer and seen more. I still feel that way but I feel like it’s likely to be one and done. I don’t see it as a regular destination. I’m intrigued by Salvador. As my old friend Nelson Freire used to say “o tempo dirá” - time will tell.

Things To Look Out For
* Be careful as a pedestrian in SP and Rio. The crossings aren’t well indicated and where they are just because you have a green light doesn’t mean the cars will give you right of way. Stay alert!
* ATMs appeared to be more aggressively scalping you than I remember in Europe. Their exchange rate is ridiculously low and they tack on a hefty fee if you refuse and use your bank’s. Try and take cash with you. (I did but I got greedy and needed more. In some situations, however, greed was good).
* I didn’t get to explore much in Rio but I never came across an ATM or a bank (security?). Thankfully there was an ATM in my hotel. In SP (of course I was staying on Paulista) they were everywhere.
* Generally food is not spectacular. It’s like one big Denny’s. It’s serviceable. There are plenty of Michelin starred restaurants to try but I’m not good at eating alone in a restaurant and without the language …
* Carry a power bank! The last thing you want is to be stuck with a phone running out of charge. It’s your life line (Uber is your friend).
* They were starting to install contactless bank payment at the metro Consolação. Soon all major cities will have this so no need for specific metro passes.
Things I Would Change
* Spend more time in Rio. The place is magical and despite the limitations (see above) there’s a lot of good sex to be had. You can be prudent without being paranoid.
* Never try to change airports in SP in one day. Leave yourself room if you have to do it. It’s too nerve racking.
* Learn at least rudimentary Portuguese. I had tried but .. Google Translate only takes you so far. It’s tough to use when you get a WhatsApp from one provider while getting fucked by another.
 

I will. I often have to boost my browser's font size, especially in the morning.

I will. I often have to boost my browser's font size, especially in the morning.

I really shouldn't be responding to this topic. I'm a 100% bottom so not really in the running.
The most I've paid is £500+tip but that was arguably someone more famous than Michael Boston.
However, it's really a matter of taste. Michael Boston doesn't really do anything for me.
Now this guy I find very hot as a bottom. Nacho is quite popular on the content creator circuit and he's very sexy in action. Notice he's only 200 Euros. 

To each his own.
HUNQZ | Gay, Bi and Trans Escorts
WWW.HUNQZ.COM HUNQZ - The top site for Gay, Bi and Trans Escorts, for rent or hire, massage, companionship, or stripping.  

- This is long so I’ve added headings to let you skip the parts that are boring.
Aknowledgments
I hope this is helpful for someone contemplating their first trip to Brazil. This is my way of giving back to the many people on here who helped me with their generous advice in the various postings. Thanks.
Please forgive the ramblings and injudicious assumptions of a neophyte and be kind in your comments.
Context
After 41 years I’m a widower trying to distract myself from the realities of living alone. I’m also a bit of a sex fiend so … what better distraction. I’m still in good shape for my age. About the same weight as when I was 25. Yes this was a trip to see the largest Pride Parade in the world but it was really a sex vacation - and I had a lot of it - in just five days!
The Trip
This was fast. I have two kids (cats) that I can’t leave for more than a week, so that limits my vacation. I like it short and intense anyway. 10h direct Toronto to SP overnight. Four days in SP. Morning flight to Rio. 24 hrs in Rio. Afternoon flight back to SP, change airports and overnight back to Toronto.
The Pride Parade
Yes it was spectacular. Worth seeing once. I’m glad I chose to stay where I did. Probably the only hotel with rooms overlooking Paulista. I could see the crowd without having to be in it. The room was overpriced but as a first timer it was safe, gringo friendly and couldn’t be better located. Next time there are really nice upscale (but cheap) AirBNBs in Consolação.
Safety
This issue has been done to death so I just add my brief experience. I have some tolerance for sketchy neighbourhoods but I’m fairly prudent (Toronto: the gay neighbourhood can be rough at night. Our homeless are often severely drug damaged and wild. LA: my introduction to the city in 1989 was driving in from LAX and meeting a fully armed take down in front of the old Spagos’ in West Hollywood. I was maintaining  a fibreoptic-switch at USC during the Rodney King riots. Amsterdam: in the 90’s I’d regularly cross Vondel park in the early hours). SP: I kept to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista, and a little Jardim. Mostly during the day although I often walked back from Lagoa in the evening. I didn’t have any safety concerns at all. Once (because I got my directions wrong) I ended up looking for an address in Republica in a very sketchy neighbourhood. NOT advised. I was in a more upscale part of Republica later (Aurora) but … if you must Uber in and out. Chili Pepper - just Uber in and out (hide your phone - it’s not difficult - I’d never go anywhere without it).
Rio: I think in planning I swapped hotels four times looking for a place for just one night - mostly over safety concerns. In the end I was right next to Copacabana Palace ( a place I would never stay at). The place I stayed was already to gringo overlord infested for my liking but as a first visit… I Ubered to Club 117 on the Tuesday night and on the Wednesday morning I walked the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches walking back one street in. At that time in the morning, if prudent, it appeared reasonably safe. There’s a lot more homeless here than in SP. Ipanema is quiet - very residential. Copacabana is all hotels, tourists and tourist hustle.
São Paulo: Espaço Lagoa
Wow! Kid in a candy store! And I was popping them like candies (or they were popping me). The numbers, the size, the girth - just amazing. The thing was, it wasn’t just their physical attributes, their beauty (omg Brazilian men are stunning) or the number of them but also their smiles and friendliness. I know it’s a business and they’re good at their jobs but I felt these guys were especially good at the “customer relations” side. They wanted you back; they wanted to build a relationship. I came back every day for four days and they were there hugging me. And part of that of course is that I’m a generous tipper. This is a very tough life and I can’t help it. I’m sure the news travelled (every day their price went up). The last day I only had time for three. They were all fabulous. They were beautiful and beautifully endowed. They performed with real passion, energy and aggression - really draining themselves. They may be good actors but they made it seem like the real thing to me. It was fun.
São Paulo: Chili Pepper
This was on the Sunday just after the Pride Parade. I probably got there too early although it was quite busy. Probably one of the nicest and largest saunas I’ve ever been in (maybe Hollywood Spa in LA or Thermos in Amsterdam). The layout sucks. All the rooms are at the back with next to zero traffic. Almost everyone (a predominantly Millennial and younger crowd) were concentrated in the 2nd floor dark area humping like rabbits. I scored two reasonable hits. In the end I’m not sure it’s a place for me.
Rio: Club 117
I went on a Tuesday, too early because I had a later appointment. Rooms were free. I really didn’t see enough to pass judgement. The sex I had was very good. Physically, technically excellent. It was however a bit robotic. There was a sense of trying to always encourage the extra fee, to maximize the revenue now without any interest that we might meet again. This is what I call the “tourist hustle” and It’s what Rio is all about. There’s little “client relationship” and it’s all about making as much now as possible. Maybe I’m being too harsh. I’ll see next time. 
RM & Garotocomlocal
There’s little of what’s available in Brazil on RM. A few of the upscale creators with northern links (Timtales) Good luck in trying to get a response from them. For most providers I think the subscription fees would be a killer. Grorocomlocal.com.br has 1028 providers listed for São Paulo and 458 for Rio de Janeiro. There is some form of certification and subscription but I’m not sure how much or how good it is. I don’t trust it that much - it’s a step up from BackPages but maybe not that much. I when to Brazil with the intent of hiring just like RM since I had no experience of places like Lagoa. I had a Brasilian number and communicated in Portuguese through WhatsApp. I put out requests to twelve providers. Seven never responded. Two asked for pictures (I sent my RM link). They ghosted me. I hired the remaining 3 with one ripping me off. In the end Lagoa is better and safer.
São Paulo vs Rio
- Caveat: I don’t go out walking at night so judge accordingly
So … I like big cities. I live in Canada’s mini-manhattan (haha). And SP is Manhattan writ large. I stuck to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista and a little bit of Jardim. All very walkable - provided you don’t mind hills. That took me by surprise. I knew the areas quite well from studying the maps except I didn’t understand there were so many damn hills! It’s like San Francisco. In fact there’s a real feel of that in Jardim. Other parts feel like LA. There’s a funkiness about the restaurants and bars in Consolação (the gayborhood) that isn’t either. The people are friendly but don’t expect a lot of English. Yes there are probably a lot of tourists there but it’s so damn big it doesn’t influence the city at all. Security is everywhere. It must be the biggest industry in Brasil. Even the smallest retailer ha a security guard. Military Police cars are cruising along Paulista every two minutes. Not so much beyond, however.
Rio is tourists. Copacabana is wall to wall hotels on one side and tourists stalls on the other. As a result English is more common although not really anymore common among the gorotos. Ipanema is much more residential with only  a few hotels. The condos are immaculately kept and all hermetically sealed behind secure walls and cameras. Being there, close to boteco Belmonte, would be ideal. I left feeling like I should have stayed longer and seen more. I still feel that way but I feel like it’s likely to be one and done. I don’t see it as a regular destination. I’m intrigued by Salvador. As my old friend Nelson Freire used to say “o tempo dirá” - time will tell.

Things To Look Out For
* Be careful as a pedestrian in SP and Rio. The crossings aren’t well indicated and where they are just because you have a green light doesn’t mean the cars will give you right of way. Stay alert!
* ATMs appeared to be more aggressively scalping you than I remember in Europe. Their exchange rate is ridiculously low and they tack on a hefty fee if you refuse and use your bank’s. Try and take cash with you. (I did but I got greedy and needed more. In some situations, however, greed was good).
* I didn’t get to explore much in Rio but I never came across an ATM or a bank (security?). Thankfully there was an ATM in my hotel. In SP (of course I was staying on Paulista) they were everywhere.
* Generally food is not spectacular. It’s like one big Denny’s. It’s serviceable. There are plenty of Michelin starred restaurants to try but I’m not good at eating alone in a restaurant and without the language …
* Carry a power bank! The last thing you want is to be stuck with a phone running out of charge. It’s your life line (Uber is your friend).
* They were starting to install contactless bank payment at the metro Consolação. Soon all major cities will have this so no need for specific metro passes.
Things I Would Change
* Spend more time in Rio. The place is magical and despite the limitations (see above) there’s a lot of good sex to be had. You can be prudent without being paranoid.
* Never try to change airports in SP in one day. Leave yourself room if you have to do it. It’s too nerve racking.
* Learn at least rudimentary Portuguese. I had tried but .. Google Translate only takes you so far. It’s tough to use when you get a WhatsApp from one provider while getting fucked by another.
 

Getting back to your report... It's excellent and thank you for taking the time to articulate your thoughts like you did. I'm pleased you experienced all that you did too.
I know it will be helpful for other new visitors to Brasil! 

Thanks for connecting the dots. 
And ... Apart from being incredibly sweet and polite I didn't find him at all effeminate. I have no spanish but his english was good enough that we had no problem communicating. (yes, it is certainly thick but not unapproachable 

Thanks for connecting the dots. 
And ... Apart from being incredibly sweet and polite I didn't find him at all effeminate. I have no spanish but his english was good enough that we had no problem communicating. (yes, it is certainly thick but not unapproachable 

More glowing reviews here: 
 
 

I was in BCN last spring and had an enjoyable encounter with Filipe. Attractive, hung, and a sweet guy. 

200 EUR which I thought was pretty decent for Barcelona at the time.

Also if you are booking using Aeroplan miles, sometimes adding the SP <> Rio domestic flight on GOL actually brings the miles price down.  It almost always does if you are flying EWR-GRU on United business booked through Aeroplan.  

I just thought I should give a shout out to this guy. Currently in Madrid, I met him in Barcelona. He's a model of course. I don't think his pictures do him justice. The body looks like something Michelangelo would have created. And his smile. It is so genuine. His beauty is actually intimidating. He is also the sweetest man you are ever likely to meet (and when I saw him a few months ago underpriced). He deserves every one of his 55 five star reviews.
FelipelypeXXL - Male Escort, Gay massage - Barcelona | Rent.Men
RENT.MEN FelipelypeXXL Gay Escort in Barcelona, Spain, available for Gay Escorting,Modeling,Erotic Massage. | Find all the best Male Escorts at Rent.Men  

I just thought I should give a shout out to this guy. Currently in Madrid, I met him in Barcelona. He's a model of course. I don't think his pictures do him justice. The body looks like something Michelangelo would have created. And his smile. It is so genuine. His beauty is actually intimidating. He is also the sweetest man you are ever likely to meet (and when I saw him a few months ago underpriced). He deserves every one of his 55 five star reviews.
FelipelypeXXL - Male Escort, Gay massage - Barcelona | Rent.Men
RENT.MEN FelipelypeXXL Gay Escort in Barcelona, Spain, available for Gay Escorting,Modeling,Erotic Massage. | Find all the best Male Escorts at Rent.Men  

Today was the first time I have ever been rejected by a provider in person due to my appearance (at least I assume that was the reason)… it was frankly quite humiliating and I would have rather been screened out in advance.

Perhaps it depends on whether it's a masseur or an escort that's doing the asking. I feel that ghosting someone is rude, but it's so fucking commonplace with communication, perhaps I need to start excommunicating someone when I'm asked to send a picture, instead of complying, then getting rejected.
I'm not at all attractive, which is why I'm doing the donating! I'm not implying that every single solitary time I send a picture, a meet-up doesn't transpire, but it is getting more and more common for me to send a photo of myself when I'm asked, and not get a reply back at all, which is what happened to me today. I saw a guy advertising who rocked my world, and had similar sexual interests. Communication was fine, up until I sent a photo, and then, nothing. I reached out a couple of hours later, and now I must chalk it up that he has a visual scale that I fail, so better to be rejected ahead of time then on the day of. 

- This is long so I’ve added headings to let you skip the parts that are boring.
Aknowledgments
I hope this is helpful for someone contemplating their first trip to Brazil. This is my way of giving back to the many people on here who helped me with their generous advice in the various postings. Thanks.
Please forgive the ramblings and injudicious assumptions of a neophyte and be kind in your comments.
Context
After 41 years I’m a widower trying to distract myself from the realities of living alone. I’m also a bit of a sex fiend so … what better distraction. I’m still in good shape for my age. About the same weight as when I was 25. Yes this was a trip to see the largest Pride Parade in the world but it was really a sex vacation - and I had a lot of it - in just five days!
The Trip
This was fast. I have two kids (cats) that I can’t leave for more than a week, so that limits my vacation. I like it short and intense anyway. 10h direct Toronto to SP overnight. Four days in SP. Morning flight to Rio. 24 hrs in Rio. Afternoon flight back to SP, change airports and overnight back to Toronto.
The Pride Parade
Yes it was spectacular. Worth seeing once. I’m glad I chose to stay where I did. Probably the only hotel with rooms overlooking Paulista. I could see the crowd without having to be in it. The room was overpriced but as a first timer it was safe, gringo friendly and couldn’t be better located. Next time there are really nice upscale (but cheap) AirBNBs in Consolação.
Safety
This issue has been done to death so I just add my brief experience. I have some tolerance for sketchy neighbourhoods but I’m fairly prudent (Toronto: the gay neighbourhood can be rough at night. Our homeless are often severely drug damaged and wild. LA: my introduction to the city in 1989 was driving in from LAX and meeting a fully armed take down in front of the old Spagos’ in West Hollywood. I was maintaining  a fibreoptic-switch at USC during the Rodney King riots. Amsterdam: in the 90’s I’d regularly cross Vondel park in the early hours). SP: I kept to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista, and a little Jardim. Mostly during the day although I often walked back from Lagoa in the evening. I didn’t have any safety concerns at all. Once (because I got my directions wrong) I ended up looking for an address in Republica in a very sketchy neighbourhood. NOT advised. I was in a more upscale part of Republica later (Aurora) but … if you must Uber in and out. Chili Pepper - just Uber in and out (hide your phone - it’s not difficult - I’d never go anywhere without it).
Rio: I think in planning I swapped hotels four times looking for a place for just one night - mostly over safety concerns. In the end I was right next to Copacabana Palace ( a place I would never stay at). The place I stayed was already to gringo overlord infested for my liking but as a first visit… I Ubered to Club 117 on the Tuesday night and on the Wednesday morning I walked the Copacabana and Ipanema beaches walking back one street in. At that time in the morning, if prudent, it appeared reasonably safe. There’s a lot more homeless here than in SP. Ipanema is quiet - very residential. Copacabana is all hotels, tourists and tourist hustle.
São Paulo: Espaço Lagoa
Wow! Kid in a candy store! And I was popping them like candies (or they were popping me). The numbers, the size, the girth - just amazing. The thing was, it wasn’t just their physical attributes, their beauty (omg Brazilian men are stunning) or the number of them but also their smiles and friendliness. I know it’s a business and they’re good at their jobs but I felt these guys were especially good at the “customer relations” side. They wanted you back; they wanted to build a relationship. I came back every day for four days and they were there hugging me. And part of that of course is that I’m a generous tipper. This is a very tough life and I can’t help it. I’m sure the news travelled (every day their price went up). The last day I only had time for three. They were all fabulous. They were beautiful and beautifully endowed. They performed with real passion, energy and aggression - really draining themselves. They may be good actors but they made it seem like the real thing to me. It was fun.
São Paulo: Chili Pepper
This was on the Sunday just after the Pride Parade. I probably got there too early although it was quite busy. Probably one of the nicest and largest saunas I’ve ever been in (maybe Hollywood Spa in LA or Thermos in Amsterdam). The layout sucks. All the rooms are at the back with next to zero traffic. Almost everyone (a predominantly Millennial and younger crowd) were concentrated in the 2nd floor dark area humping like rabbits. I scored two reasonable hits. In the end I’m not sure it’s a place for me.
Rio: Club 117
I went on a Tuesday, too early because I had a later appointment. Rooms were free. I really didn’t see enough to pass judgement. The sex I had was very good. Physically, technically excellent. It was however a bit robotic. There was a sense of trying to always encourage the extra fee, to maximize the revenue now without any interest that we might meet again. This is what I call the “tourist hustle” and It’s what Rio is all about. There’s little “client relationship” and it’s all about making as much now as possible. Maybe I’m being too harsh. I’ll see next time. 
RM & Garotocomlocal
There’s little of what’s available in Brazil on RM. A few of the upscale creators with northern links (Timtales) Good luck in trying to get a response from them. For most providers I think the subscription fees would be a killer. Grorocomlocal.com.br has 1028 providers listed for São Paulo and 458 for Rio de Janeiro. There is some form of certification and subscription but I’m not sure how much or how good it is. I don’t trust it that much - it’s a step up from BackPages but maybe not that much. I when to Brazil with the intent of hiring just like RM since I had no experience of places like Lagoa. I had a Brasilian number and communicated in Portuguese through WhatsApp. I put out requests to twelve providers. Seven never responded. Two asked for pictures (I sent my RM link). They ghosted me. I hired the remaining 3 with one ripping me off. In the end Lagoa is better and safer.
São Paulo vs Rio
- Caveat: I don’t go out walking at night so judge accordingly
So … I like big cities. I live in Canada’s mini-manhattan (haha). And SP is Manhattan writ large. I stuck to Paulista, Consolação, Bella Vista and a little bit of Jardim. All very walkable - provided you don’t mind hills. That took me by surprise. I knew the areas quite well from studying the maps except I didn’t understand there were so many damn hills! It’s like San Francisco. In fact there’s a real feel of that in Jardim. Other parts feel like LA. There’s a funkiness about the restaurants and bars in Consolação (the gayborhood) that isn’t either. The people are friendly but don’t expect a lot of English. Yes there are probably a lot of tourists there but it’s so damn big it doesn’t influence the city at all. Security is everywhere. It must be the biggest industry in Brasil. Even the smallest retailer ha a security guard. Military Police cars are cruising along Paulista every two minutes. Not so much beyond, however.
Rio is tourists. Copacabana is wall to wall hotels on one side and tourists stalls on the other. As a result English is more common although not really anymore common among the gorotos. Ipanema is much more residential with only  a few hotels. The condos are immaculately kept and all hermetically sealed behind secure walls and cameras. Being there, close to boteco Belmonte, would be ideal. I left feeling like I should have stayed longer and seen more. I still feel that way but I feel like it’s likely to be one and done. I don’t see it as a regular destination. I’m intrigued by Salvador. As my old friend Nelson Freire used to say “o tempo dirá” - time will tell.

Things To Look Out For
* Be careful as a pedestrian in SP and Rio. The crossings aren’t well indicated and where they are just because you have a green light doesn’t mean the cars will give you right of way. Stay alert!
* ATMs appeared to be more aggressively scalping you than I remember in Europe. Their exchange rate is ridiculously low and they tack on a hefty fee if you refuse and use your bank’s. Try and take cash with you. (I did but I got greedy and needed more. In some situations, however, greed was good).
* I didn’t get to explore much in Rio but I never came across an ATM or a bank (security?). Thankfully there was an ATM in my hotel. In SP (of course I was staying on Paulista) they were everywhere.
* Generally food is not spectacular. It’s like one big Denny’s. It’s serviceable. There are plenty of Michelin starred restaurants to try but I’m not good at eating alone in a restaurant and without the language …
* Carry a power bank! The last thing you want is to be stuck with a phone running out of charge. It’s your life line (Uber is your friend).
* They were starting to install contactless bank payment at the metro Consolação. Soon all major cities will have this so no need for specific metro passes.
Things I Would Change
* Spend more time in Rio. The place is magical and despite the limitations (see above) there’s a lot of good sex to be had. You can be prudent without being paranoid.
* Never try to change airports in SP in one day. Leave yourself room if you have to do it. It’s too nerve racking.
* Learn at least rudimentary Portuguese. I had tried but .. Google Translate only takes you so far. It’s tough to use when you get a WhatsApp from one provider while getting fucked by another.
 

Thanks for the advice. Nice to know about the metro. The airport mixup was entirely my ignorance when booking it. It was compounded by the fact by flight back from SDU to CGH was delayed 2 hours which put me in the worst possible traffic situation. Rookie mistakes. Next time ... In fact as of December 4th Air Canada has direct flights to Rio.

Glad you had fun. 
By the way if you’re 65 or older you ride free on both Rio and Sampa Metro. Locals age 60+ can also ride free with a special card issued by the transport entity. I carry a copy of my passport and leave the passport secure in my lodgings but the turnstile agent or the uniformed guard I hail always accepts looking at my d.o.b. on my province’s health card. Learn how to vocalize your birth year (ano de nascimento) while pointing to it … dezenove etc. 
I don’t quite know how you mix-and-matched the two respective cities’ two airports each but I have always managed to fly to Santos Dumont in downtown Rio (near 117 in fact) from Guarulhos, and vice versa, so not needing to transfer from Congonhas to Guarulhos to fly back home, and bypassing the haul between central Rio and Galeão. All Brazil ground transfers by rail at no cost. To get through to Rio right away after overnighting on Air Canada I ticket from Canada to Santos Dumont and from Santos Dumont to Canada at visit end, each way just a terminal transfer at Guarulhos. Usually Azul Airline and no domestic flight $$ add-on. I realize you stayed in São Paulo to start, perhaps separate ticketing, and that may account for the some of the complexity and rush you described.