Trip Report: São Paulo Pride and 24 Hours in Rio

[b2bf]

- 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.

 

[SirBillybob]

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.

Edited July 2 by SirBillybob

[b2bf]

7 hours ago, SirBillybob said:

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.

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.

[SirBillybob]

4 hours ago, b2bf said:

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.

Right, finally. A decade ago Air Canada was flying direct. If you are using Uber at Galeão, as many do, it is now a bit of a walk to a large dedicated outside area of three pickup zones to reduce congestion, but there are no overhead shelter barriers. If it’s raining one of those plastic hooded dollar store ponchos is useful to have on hand. That arrival time is reasonably convenient for check-ins especially hotels, as Airbnb stays may require that you kill a few more hours before access. 

Edited July 2 by SirBillybob

[Colton]

On 7/2/2025 at 4:40 AM, b2bf said:

Air Canada has direct flights to Rio.

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.  

[SirBillybob]

10 hours ago, Colton said:

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.  

Same with cash fare for the transfer. My next Air Canada trip to GRU -> SDU is $907USD return, just by picking my preferred dates, not searching by price. I don’t book with points but I think you can arrange a stopover in São Paulo either way for 5,000 additional Aeroplan Points, up to 45 days(?) I haven’t assessed the stopover options paying cash; a few years ago the allowance was 4 nights. 

[mike carey]

37 minutes ago, SirBillybob said:

Same with cash fare for the transfer. My next Air Canada trip to GRU -> SDU is $907USD return, just by picking my preferred dates, not searching by price. I don’t book with points but I think you can arrange a stopover in São Paulo either way for 5,000 additional Aeroplan Points, up to 45 days(?) I haven’t assessed the stopover options paying cash; a few years ago the allowance was 4 nights. 

Yep to both points, 5,000 extra points, and up to 45 days.

Redeem with Air Canada - Aeroplan

WWW.AIRCANADA.COM

 

[SirBillybob]

A few other practical tips.

When tagged in Canada your checked bag will reflect SDU final destination but you typically need to pick it up in GRU following Immigration clearance and it is wise to go to the carousel to see if it is there in case you don’t receive a phone prompt. For Azul, there is a check-in counter for domestic flights just prior to T3 arrivals street exit where you can deposit that checked bag for the second time rather than personally haul it to T1 via shuttle or taxi and depositing it at the counter there. I’m not sure about GOL and LATAM, but quite likely the same option. 

The bag is transported right through GRU when returning home. 

An Air Canada booking recently had inexplicably dropped my signature class leg from GRU back to Canada and I was glad to have checked the app a few days ahead because I had to resolve it by phoning and waiting in queue for service, with reservation code and ticket number at the ready. 

If all goes well the GRU People Mover linking the terminals and Metro station will open soon. 

Edited July 4 by SirBillybob

[KevinFL]

On 7/1/2025 at 4:49 PM, b2bf said:

- 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! 

[b2bf]

On 7/4/2025 at 10:35 AM, SirBillybob said:

A few other practical tips.

When tagged in Canada your checked bag will reflect SDU final destination but you typically need to pick it up in GRU following Immigration clearance and it is wise to go to the carousel to see if it is there in case you don’t receive a phone prompt. For Azul, there is a check-in counter for domestic flights just prior to T3 arrivals street exit where you can deposit that checked bag for the second time rather than personally haul it to T1 via shuttle or taxi and depositing it at the counter there. I’m not sure about GOL and LATAM, but quite likely the same option. 

The bag is transported right through GRU when returning home. 

An Air Canada booking recently had inexplicably dropped my signature class leg from GRU back to Canada and I was glad to have checked the app a few days ahead because I had to resolve it by phoning and waiting in queue for service, with reservation code and ticket number at the ready. 

If all goes well the GRU People Mover linking the terminals and Metro station will open soon. 

This will be wonderful.

[+ Axiom2001]

Obrigado!  Yes, Brazil and its cities, culture, and yes, its men, are intoxicating indeed.  

I made my visits for almost a decade in the early 2000s after gleaning my invitation and information from the now defunct "Hooboys," currently "Company of Men.com."

 I very much appreciated reading your post but wish you'd used size 16 font, for these aging eyes (even with glasses) had difficulty reading it.  

Today (too much print in newspapers, magazines, and books have begun to be far too small for one's eyes.  It's brought on discouragement to read.  

In the future please consider this request.  It'd be most appreciated.

Axiom,

[b2bf]

57 minutes ago, Axiom2001 said:

In the future please consider this request.

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

[yubiK]

This may not be the right thread but if anyone could guide if it is possible to buy PrEP from a pharmacy in Sao Paulo either over the counter or the pharmacy organizing the prescription.

I tried to use their automated WhatsApp help line but that is not practical even by trying Google translate.

I am aware it is available 'free'  but I don't hVe enough time to through all the tests. (I am HIV negative with intact renal and liver function)

 

[SirBillybob]

Can you provide proof of a recent HIV test and creatinine? If not it is unlikely you can simply obtain tenofovir /emtricitabine directly from the pharmacy. Doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can prescribe PrEP but all follow the above eligibility guidelines.  

Note that dispensing / allocating is translated to English as “withdrawal” and does not mean withdrawal symptoms upon terminating a drug. 

Here is a link to the programs by city district. You can toggle the English translation (bottom left; the rectangle with 2 lines beneath it)

PrEP é a Profilaxia Pré-Exposição ao HIV

CRT.SAUDE.SP.GOV.BR

Edited July 12 by SirBillybob

[yubiK]

Thanks for the detailed information 

Proof I have but providing is another issue as unlikely to work across countries/continents 

[+ azdr0710]

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

[SirBillybob]

8 hours ago, azdr0710 said:

… but I gotta wonder what the garotos are thinking when the haggling begins

That they’re Toto-ly not in Kansas.

Edited July 15 by SirBillybob

[+ José Soplanucas]

9 hours ago, azdr0710 said:

what the garotos are thinking when the haggling begins

Haggling is pretty much standard in most of South America. I dare to say it is standard in most of the world out of Europe and the US/Canada. 

[kingsley88]

Loved your report! I go to Brazil every year and I prefer Rio over SP. 

My experience in SP was similar to your Rio experience. The garotos I met in SP were all upcharging me and they spoke really good English.

I speak a little Portuguese and I love the food there. Very fresh and natural. I hope you go back and explore more of Brazil.

[+ Axiom2001]

3 hours ago, kingsley88 said:

Loved your report! I go to Brazil every year and I prefer Rio over SP. 

My experience in SP was similar to your Rio experience. The garotos I met in SP were all upcharging me and they spoke really good English.

I speak a little Portuguese and I love the food there. Very fresh and natural. I hope you go back and explore more of Brazil.

Si!  Si!  "I, too, hope that you make more travels back to Mother Brazil and explore other parts of this magnificent country.  The culture is varied; the men are gorgeous all over.

 

When I went to the Amazonia portion of Brazil, I stayed in a pousauda (sp) guest hotel and had my own guide for four or five days.  He happened to have been the son of the manager and was a truly gorgeous lad in his early 20s.

On my first evening, he and I sat in the very spacious lobby and talked about an hour plus prior to dinner.  During our conversation he mentioned that he was not gay and had been hit on a few times.  The next day he took me on a solo tour through parts of the Amazon jungle; it was slightly a daunting experience, for I am very fearful of snakes.  Fortunately, we encountered none but knew of that crocs or alligators plagued the river waters.

During Day 3 he and I got inside of a canoe and paddled up the Amazon to the hotel where he formerly worked.  It's the only hotel in the jungle that has been built on huge stilts.  (At this date in time, I have completely forgotten specific names of places and people and things.  (Sorry!). Jhonny was hailed as royalty as his fellow workers greeted and conversed with him.  I just stood and marveled as to what I was seeing.  He gave me a brief tour of the facilities, and at tone point, Jhonny took me inside of a greenhouse and explained its significance.  He, at one point, decided to sit.  Because I was so taken aback by his handsomeness and beauty and my desire "to smother him" with deep, wet kisses and give him one hell of a super mouthwatering tongue bath, I decided to stand and listen.  

We must have stayed inside of this place for almost an hour, for as we departed, it was slightly dark outside.  We returned to the canoe or row boat and were on our way.  As we neared the lodging, the boat abruptly stopped in the water; I was completely freaked out, for I do not know how to swim.  Jhonny did not say anything and got the motor running again.  When he and I reached the lobby, I looked over at him and almost went out of my fucking mind in my looking at his tee shirt that was wet from sweat and his slightly bulging muscles.  We parted company and readied ourselves for dinner.

After a good night sleep in my windowless cabin, I arose, had breakfast, and was invited into Jhonny's small study and join him at his desk .  He'd wanted to give me some discs of the photos that he'd taken since I would be taking off an hour or so later.  While I was at the computer and typing, Jhonny complimented me on my typing skills, for I took one year of typing while in high school and had developed a wonderful, smooth and somewhat rapid speed.  

He gave me the discs; I gave him a very, very nice gratuity and said goodbye to him and his mother.  The other seven or eight guests had left for another day of touring.

A taxi took me to an area where I joined a super-gorgeous driver who drove me to the airport that was in the major city whose name I've forgotten.  For almost an hour, I was very acutely horny for that super-hot, muscular driver.  We, unfortunately, drove in silence, for he could not speak Ingles and I know virtually little Brasilian Portuguese.  We arrived; I thanked him and gave him a good gratuity.  

To date all that I have that remains is a slight memory of my Amazon experience.  It was ALL GOOD!

So to all of you Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo lovers, venture out during your future visits to "Mother Brasil," for you'll meet a variety of folk, flora, fauna, culture, and oh yes: NATURAL BEAUTY from many vantage points.

[domdom81]

Axiom, I loved your hot guide story, although I must admit I hope it would escalate into something more  I'm sure you did too!

When I visited Manaus, back in 2005, I met an insanely hot young guy in one of the saunas. He was a Capoeira teacher and invited me to his school where I got to see him in action and it was amazing. The action in the bedroom was equally impressive. I was sad to leave after almost a week spent together. Many years later I had a friend request from him on Facebook and he was sill very handsome, and turns out he already had children when we met. Hope I get to return to Brazil one day...