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Poppers, or amyl nitrite, are categorized as a controlled substance in Brazil, and are illegal to transport, import, possess, buy or sell without a prescription. It’s possible that you could be busted at Brazilian customs at the airport if a bottle is found in your luggage, but the risk you want to take is up to you. There are also sellers on Grindr but reportedly the quality / purity / veracity is very unreliable. Again, AYOR. Last year, there was a well-publicized case of a Brazilian man who ordered poppers from an Amazon / eBay-type website and was arrested by Brazilian Federal Police upon their delivery. The charge was 3 to 5 years in prison, but I’m not sure of that case’s outcome.

If you’re referring to the saunas in Rio with pay boys, you will almost never have a problem telling the difference between a working guy (“garoto de programa” or the more familiar “boy”) and a client. First of all, at saunas with garotos, there will almost never be a working guy there who isn’t there to make money, unless he is there exclusively to see one client — and in that case, you’ll either approach him alone and he’ll tell you he’s there for another client only, or you will already see him with that client (in that case, never approach when he is with the client — this is completely disrespectful to the client and could cause you a world of embarrassment… or even hurt). If you’re asking how to physically tell the difference between garotos and clients at saunas, this will never be a problem 99% of the time. In spite of what may be claimed here by some, very few clients except for the unicorns look like they could be garotos de programa in Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo. In 15 years of regular visits, I’ve personally only seen maybe 4-5 clients at the most who in person would be or were mistaken for sauna garotos in real life and in real time. Very few non-GP saunas in Rio or São Paulo even allow working guys there, so it’s safe to assume no one at those saunas wants to be paid for a sexual encounter (unless they disclose this to you upfront). They are closer in operation to a bathhouse in the USA.

This garoto de programa “Kadu Olivier” advertised regularly on Netgay and Garotocomlocal. (translated into English) Call boy arrested after extorting victims on dates By Jackson Silva 04/17/2024 at 08:08 am • Updated 1 day ago His partner and girlfriend were also arrested in the act; crime was registered in RJA prostitute and two other people were arrested on suspicion of robbery and extortion after arranging romantic meetings with victims in a building in Rio de Janeiro. According to police, the man attracted victims through a dating app. Inside the apartment, in Copacabana, people were forced to make transfers via Pix, in addition to suffering extortion and threats. One of the victims paid R$400 to carry out the program. When he arrived at the property, he was threatened and forced to transfer R$3,000. Lucas Roberto Miranda de Oliveira identified himself as “Kadu Olivier” on same-sex dating apps. He had the help of Marcus Neves Queiroz Amorim, who used the nickname “MC Guimê” and surrendered the victims, and Adriana Cristina Silva, Lucas's girlfriend. The three were arrested red-handed following a complaint. The victim who was extorted stated that the criminals threatened his family and that Marcus sent an audio saying he was a member of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a criminal faction in São Paulo. The bandit still demanded another R$10,000. The criminal trio will be charged with criminal association, extortion and possession of drugs for their own use. Lucas, “Kadu Oliver”, is still responsible for trafficking. Garoto de programa é preso após extorquir vítimas em encontros - SBT News SBTNEWS.SBT.COM.BR Comparsa e namorada também foram presos em flagrante; crime foi registrado no RJ

The Brazilian consulate confirms that US, Canadian, and Australian passport holders entering Brazil do NOT need an eVisa, if entering Brazil prior to April 10, 2025. Just 26 minutes before this early morning’s visa expiration deadline (which even by Brazilian bureaucratic standards, is extremely last-minute) the Brazilian Congress and President Lula agreed to a compromise that will extend the visa waiver until April 10, 2025. Source: https://www.gov.br/mre/pt-br/consulado-sydney/visas-vistos

In spite of this and other media articles, the visa requirement has not officially changed. USA, Canada and Australia passport holders will still need the e-visa to enter Brazil as tourists on April 10, 2024. More and more, it looks like last week’s rumor in the travel press was fake news. The EBC (Brazilian Communication Company, the media branch of the government) has confirmed that as of 5 days ago. I doubt they will be changing it again at this late date. Although Brasil HAS been known to make 11th-hour decisions, even this would be remarkable if they waived the visa requirement now, with less than a day to go. On April 10, 2024, at the stroke of midnight, to enter Brazil, you will need a valid tourist visa if your passport is from the USA, Canada or Australia. The visa requirements, if changed, will be published in the Diario Oficial da União (DOU). That’s the one and only source. Until then, all remains the same. If you reading or translating Portuguese from the DOU or the Portarias is a bit of a nightmare for you, then you can always check at the IATA Travel Center. You simulate a trip there, and you’ll get a thorough and reliable list of visa requirements and travel recommendations. Until you get any word from an official Brazilian source, if you’re American, Canadian or Australian. do NOT try to enter Brazil starting on April 10 without the e-visa…. or you'll get your feelings hurt! https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2024-04/brasil-passa-exigir-visto-de-turistas-da-australia-canada-e-dos-eua

FYI: Although the hotel is spectacular, the area around it is notoriously dangerous for visiting gringos.

Just reported on the news in Rio: The alleged killer confesses that the Cuban almost ex-husband offered him $1 million reais (~$200,000 USD) to kill the American art dealer husband.

The ex Daniel does not live in Cuba. He was brought to Brazil about 14 years ago seeking political asylum due to sexual orientation persecution assisted by the dead client Sikkema. He has Brazilian residency as asylee, and a U.S. green card through marriage to Sikkema. He was living back and forth between Brazil and the USA, and trying to live in the USA full time with the 14 year old son born to a surrogate in CA. He is currently in the USA. Due to his political asylum status and previous prison stint in Cuba, as well as his memoir that trashed the Cuban government, returning to Cuba even just to visit family would not be a wise move for him.

The Brazilian press has already implicated this with interviews of the suspect’s family who claim the same thing. This had also been the word on the Rio streets (or rather, the saunas) from the day that it happened. The Cubano ex-jinetero husband isn’t publicly a suspect. Yet. But I bet talks are going on between state departments to make sure that he doesn’t catch any flights!

Suspeito de matar galerista americano no Rio é preso OGLOBO.GLOBO.COM Brent Sikkema, de 75 anos, foi encontrado morto em casa, com perfurações pelo corpo Translated into English from O Globo: Suspect of killing American gallery owner in Rio is arrested Brent Sikkema, 75, was found dead in his home, with stab wounds to his body Per Giulia Ventura - Rio de Janeiro 01/18/2024 08:50 Updated 42 minutes ago This Thursday, the suspect in the murder of American galleristBrent Fay Sikkema, aged 75, was arrested. There was an open temporary arrest warrant against Cuban Alejandro Triana Trevez. The arrest was made by teams from the Capital Homicide Police Station (DHC), with the support of the Federal Highway Police (PRF) on Highway BR-050, in Minas Gerais. — Crime in the South Zone of Rio: Suspect of killing American gallery owner took dollars from the house where the murder took place — According to friends: Gallery owner killed in Rio was going through a million-dollar fight to get a divorce and see his son Police said Trevez took three thousand dollars from Sikkema's home. According to investigations, the suspect was in São Paulo, came to Rio to murder the American and returned to the state after the crime. Afterwards, he went to Minas, where he was trying to escape when he was arrested at a gas station between Uberaba and Uberlândia. According to the police, Trevez is the man who appears in the Gabriel company security camera images , which captured his arrival and departure from the American's house. The suspect stayed at the property for around 15 minutes. Sikkema's body was found inside his house, on Rua Abreu Fialho, in Jardim Botânico, South Zone of Rio, with puncture marks, on the 14th. He was a co-owner of a famous gallery in New York, in the United States . Brent was found by his lawyer and friend, Simone Nunes. Sikkema came to Rio a maximum of three times a year and stayed in the property where he was killed, bought around 10 years ago. The region houses the studios of artists such as Beatriz Milhazes, Adriana Varejão and Gabriela Machado. Simone went to the house because she was surprised by Sikkema's lack of responses over the weekend. According to the police, she had the keys to the property and, upon entering the room, found her friend dead in the bed. The lawyer would meet with the gallery owner last Monday and, after that meeting, he would return to the United States. The trip was scheduled for this Tuesday. Gallery in Chelsea Sikkema was co-owner of Sikkema Jenkins & Co , in Chelsea. The gallerist was defined as “a wonderful person, very kind, generous, defender of social issues” by his friend and lawyer. He left a son. The American barely spoke Portuguese, so he didn't have much contact with his neighbors, who only knew him by sight. When he was in Rio, he usually spent the day away, only returning to sleep. A person who works in the region explained that the street where the house is located is very quiet and that everyone goes home early. On his social media profile, Brent shared moments from some of his trips around the world. He made no secret of his destination preferences being Brazil and Cuba. During trips to the island in Central America, he showed his approximately 1,000 followers everyday scenes, such as the sunset in the capital Havana, a bouquet of white butterfly flowers, a national symbol. The American spoke of the two countries in a publication of a landscape in Zurich, Switzerland, when he wrote: "Zurich tonight. I'm usually a chaotic guy — you know my kind of place — where the fighting is real every day — Cuba and Brazil — but I have to admit that an occasional visit to Switzerland is something of a relief!" Alejandro Triana Trevez is accused of killing American Brent Sikkema — Photo: Reproduction

This is an odd take. Having an apartment in Rio isn’t what got him murdered. Whether he was killed by a stranger or someone he knew, this could have happened at an AirBnB, or even a love motel (as recent events have shown).

From CNN Brasil this AM. The English translation from Brazilian Portuguese: NY art gallery partner found dead in apartment in Rio According to the Fire Department, the American had stab wounds; Civil police will listen to witnesses to try to identify the person responsible for the crime The Capital Homicide Police are investigating the death of the partner of a New York art gallery, in an apartment in Jardim Botânico, in the south zone of Rio de Janeiro. Brent Sikkema, 75 years old, was found dead on Monday night (15), with stab wounds, which could be caused by scissors, a box cutter or a screwdriver, for example. According to the Civil Police, the investigation was carried out in the victim's apartment. The body of the American, who is a partner at Sikkema Jenkins & Co, was removed by firefighters to the Legal Medical Institute (IML), in the center of Rio, for examinations. The American founded the gallery in 1991. At the time, it was called Wooster Gardens, in reference to its original location, on Wooster Street. In 1999, the exhibition space was expanded, moving to its current location on 22nd Street . According to the official website, the venue, which hosts exhibitions of paintings, illustrations, installations, photography and sculptures, has featured names like Kara Walker and Sheila Hicks, as well as up-and-coming photographers including Nikki S. Lee and Deana Lawson. Link: Sócio de galeria de arte de NY é encontrado morto em apartamento no Rio WWW.CNNBRASIL.COM.BR Segundo o Corpo de Bombeiros, o norte-americano tinha perfurações de arma branca; polícia civil vai...

This was the beach at Leme this weekend (Posto 1, right above Copacabana whose first beach starts around Posto 2). The beaches in Rio this weekend were particularly crowded and hot — almost 40 degrees Celsius, even though it was officially the last weekend of winter. Arrastãoes have been becoming increasingly more frequent in Rio. An "arrastão" in Rio de Janeiro refers to a type of criminal activity where a group of individuals, often gang members, thieves or robbers, work together to target and steal from unsuspecting victims, especially on crowded beaches. They typically move in large groups swiftly through the crowds, usually armed, grabbing belongings and creating chaos. Arrastões are a concern for both locals and tourists, so it's advisable to stay vigilant and take precautions when in crowded areas in Rio de Janeiro to avoid becoming a victim of such incidents. Alerta Zona Sul (@alertazonasul) • Instagram reel WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 11K likes, 1,102 comments - alertazonasul on September 24, 2023: "Arrastão na praia do...

Discouraging travel and informing people to be vigilant and aware of danger when traveling are two very different animals.

Six visits, you say? What an expert! Zona Sul Urgente Ⓜ️ (@zonasulurgente) • Instagram reel WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM 199 likes, 25 comments - zonasulurgente on September 22, 2023: "Absurdo! Roubo na Rua...