Tour Guides in Brazil?

[HardnThick]

Thanks to the enthusiastic posts about fun in Brazil, I'm planning a trip to Rio. I think I understand the comments about the bars and saunas. My question is about guides.

 

I saw only one recommendation for a gay guide to Rio. Do you know any other guys? Someone knowledgeable about the "rest" of Rio, too--not only the gay scene?

 

Since I don't speak Portuguese, his ability with English would be important. But, then, "oral skills" are always important.

 

Thanks.

;-)

[trilingual]

The recent review of Ernani suggests he knows about things other than all the gay hot spots. You can always e-mail him and ask, or inquire if he knows of anyone who can act as a regular tour guide.

 

There are a lot of Brazilian guys with personals on http://www.gaydar.co.uk. Search under the city you're interested in. One who claims to be a tour guide by profession has an e-mail of rrc7@gaydar.co.uk. I can't tell you anything about him other than what's in his personal, but you can try e-mailing him (or anyone else you see) to find out if he'd be available as a tour guide.

 

Some of the guys on the Marco Studios site (found by going first to http://www.netgay.com.br) seem to be available for travel. Not clear how good their English is, but you can always try e-mailing or calling to find out.

[trilingual]

BTW, in case folks haven't noticed, Hoo has created a new board for Escorts South of the U.S., so he'll probably move this thread there, where it really belongs.

 

Hopefully, nobody will be scared away from going to Brazil just because they can't locate a guide. Many places in Brazil are popular tourist destinations, and information about them is available in English. Certainly there will be someone who speaks English at airport information counters, hotel reception desks, etc., who can give you information. Also, unless you're remarkably unlucky, you're most likely to meet some stupendously friendly English-speaking Brazilian(s) who'd love to show you around their home town. Particularly outside of Rio, where American tourists (unlike Europeans) are still somewhat rare specimens. Their English may not be fabulous, but they'll be enthusiastic and often very grateful for a chance to practice on a native speaker.

 

For sightseeing, Rio is an easy city to get around, even if you don't speak Portuguese. Most of the historic sites are either downtown or in a direct line between downtown and Copacabana (remember that much of Rio is squeezed between the mountains and the sea, so it's mainly built along the shoreline). The downtown area streets are on a rough grid pattern, so with a pocket map you should be able to find your way around. Getting places is very easy, especially now that the metro goes has a station in Copacabana. Of course, for scenery and thrills, the buses are more fun (the drivers all think they're in the Grand Prix, especially the ones on express buses marked "via Aterro"). Getting off the metro at Cinelândia station puts you right in front of the opera house and national art museum downtown, a good starting point for exploring. At the Catete station you can visit the Museu da República, a 19th century baronial palace from the days of the Brazilian Empire that later was the presidential mansion before the capital was moved to Brasilia. The Lonely Planet and Footprint guides to Rio are practical and detailed.

 

For other cities, you should also be able to manage sightseeing on your own as long as you have a good guide-book, like the Footprint or Rough Guides to Brazil. São Paulo can seem overwhelming on first impression, but the truth is there isn't that much to see: the Muncipal Theater downtown and the stunning new concert hall in a recycled train station, near downtown; the art museum on the Av. Paulista and the cruisy park across the street (at the MASP - Trianon metro station); and possibly any interesting art exhibits, like the Bienal, at Ibirapuera Park (take a cab to and from the park). Oh, and more exhibits on the history of Brazil and the imperial era at the Ipiranga Museum, another place where you should take a cab. If you stay downtown, which is a bit seedy but centrally located on the subway lines, you'll find that it's easier to get around than you would have imagined.

 

If you know any Spanish at all, you'll be able to read most signs, as written Spanish and Portuguese are more similar than not. Because Portuguese is a Romance language, many words are insantly recognizable as they are also similar or identical to their English equivalents. The spoken languages are another story, of course, but if you speak Spanish, many Brazilians will be able to understand you, particularly in tourist areas which draw many tourists from Spanish-speaking countries. Ditto for Italian, which many Brazilians seem to understand, especially those of Italian descent. So plunge in! Whether or not you speak Portuguese, you'll have a fantastic time!

[trilingual]

For those looking for a guide who isn't necessarily an escort, search the links in the Online Guides to Rio post. Several of those sites have links to Brazilian gay-owned or friendly travel agencies, which should be able to fix you up with tours or guides to local attractions. For first-timers, your hotel can arrange half- or full-day city tours that will show you the highlights and help you get oriented.

 

If anyone has used a particular guide or agency in Brazil, this would be the thread to post that information on!

[Guest Tomcal_]

Hi Guys, Just wanted to add my 2 cents on this topic, i was in Rio in Ocotber, my friend and I do not speak any other language besides English and we had no trouble communicating in the Bars, Suanas, or restaurants(ask for a English menu, every restaurnat we went to had one). At Rogers and club 117, the two saunas we frequented, there were always one or more guys that spoke English and if the buy you selected didn't, would find one that did so they could translate. We asked at the hotel desk and our cab drivers for advise to find a guide and had no trouble coming up with names, we ended up with a taxi driver who showed up at our hotel and would take and drop us off and be there to pick us up(four different stops and pickups) for 3/4 of a day. this cost us, including the taxi fare(all over Rio)translation services and tip $60.00 U.S.

[HardnThick]

Tomcal--

 

Thanks for sharing your experience! Your having fun in Rio without facility in Portuguese encourages me to try it.

 

Do you recommend the hotel you used? Remember any names or contact info for guides?

 

Was it ever awkward in a sauna to ask another guy to translate (like, “I didn’t choose you but would you translate with him?)

 

Of course, I want to have hot time but don’t want to be impolite either.

 

Thanks!

[Guest pshaw]

I did notice from an October post from Trilingual that the Rio escort agency at http://www.queroumencontro.com/agapollus/ also offers to arrange for hotels and gay sightseeing tours (the site is in Portuguese and English).

 

The aforementioned site did raise a question for me - many of the descriptions mention that the escort does "oral with condom." Are condoms typically used for oral in Brazil?

[trilingual]

We're getting slightly off-topic here, but:

 

I've never had a Brazilian escort wear a condom when giving him a blow job. I suppose there are some who will give head if the client wears a condom. These are probably the gay-for-pay types; they need to earn some money and they'll try to accomodate you, but it's really not their thing. I can't imagine it being very enjoyable. I've certainly been with guys at the saunas who were willing to do oral on me. (Not all, but some would.) In these cases it was always without any latex involved.

 

BTW, I've gotten the impression that Brazilian clients themselves tend to be more anally than orally oriented. As a result, I've encountered several escorts at the baths over the year who got terrifically enthusiastic, shall we say, upon learning that I was more interested in oral activities. Evidently they don't get that many chances to drop a load down someone's throat, and it's obvious that at least some of them prefer that to anal action with a condom. . .

 

And, no, I've never caught anything in Brazil! :9

[trilingual]

On getting one of the guys in the baths to translate:

 

Nothing to feel awkward about. Just approach the guy you're interested in (or, more likely, he'll approach you when you give him an interested look). When he figures out you don't speak Portuguese, he'll most likely go find one of his friends who does speak some English to translate. Believe me, it's just amazing how much non-verbal communication goes on, too, and everyone manages just fine! :-)

[HardnThick]

Are there many bottoms in the saunas? I most enjoy getting together with guys who are orally energetic and like being bottoms.

[trilingual]

We're getting a bit off-topic here, but another recent poster said he found about 75% of the guys willing to be bottoms. I'm really the wrong person to ask, because I'm a bottom myself so I haven't really explored the other side with any of the guys. You'll just have to ask and be sure everyone understands what you're looking for before you agree to a "brincadeira" with one of the guys.

[Guest Verde]

There's no problem finding bottom boys in saunas. Just ask if he is "Ativo" or "Passivo" before you finalize the deal. Most are versatile. From my experience, all the boys were kissers (deep tongue play etc.), gave intense oral (sans condom) and some were even fantastic rimmers, you'll be surprised. Try to learn some Portuguese, at least the basic vocabulary and some sexual terminology. Also be very respectful and polite especially when saying NO to someone who's not your type.

[HardnThick]

Thanks for the helpful Portuguese vocabulary ("Ativo" or "Passivo"). Guess I had been making a bigger deal than necessary of the language barrier.

 

Glad to hear that many are good rimmers, too. Do you know the word for that?

 

Your advice to learn a little Portuguese is obviously well founded. In just a month, I won't become an expert, but I'll try to learn what I can. Any suggestions for books/booklets/web sites for language learning tools?

[Guest Verde]

First, know that Brazilian Portuguese is (somewhat) different from European Portuguese. So if you're going to study/buy books make sure it's Brazilian Portuguese. That said, I can recommend "Teach Yourself Brazilian Portuguese - complete course for beginners" or the "Living Language - Brazilian Portuguese course book". Cost around $15-20. Buy the books with the tapes so that you can listen to the pronounciations by native speakers. The spoken language is harder to understand than the written one (especially if you know Spanish). You can also log on to http://www.Sonia-Portuguese.com and learn basic basic Brazilian.

Some naughty vocabulary/phrase you could use (remember that as in any language the locals also use alernative slang words):

to lick/rim - lamber

to suck - chupar

to fuck - fuder

to kiss - beijar

to come - gozar

ass hole - cu

butt - bunda

cock - pau

cum - porra/leite

do you like....? - voce quer...?

i love you - eu amo voce

I shouldn't worry too much about the language barrier. Just speak slowly in English combined with body/sign language and lots of smiles and you'll be understood alright.

[trilingual]

A few additions to Verde's helpful glossary of "Brazilian Portuguese The Tapes Won't Teach You:"

 

to rim: there's really no exact Portuguese equivalent. If they're into it, they'll do it. You can give them an idea by doing it on them yourself. :9

 

to lick - lamber

 

to suck - chupar, mamar

 

to fuck - foder

 

to top - comer (much in use, lately)

 

to bottom, to get fucked - dar (also much in use, lately)

 

cock - pau, cacete, pinto, piroca, caralho (just the most common of a nearly infinite variety of Brazilian slang words for cock.)

 

big cock - pauzão, cacetão, pirocão, jeba, mastro

 

well-hung - pauzudo, pirocudo, cacetudo, graúdo

 

a well-hung guy - jumento, tripé

 

stud - garanhão

 

cum - porra/leite (in the South), gala (in the Northeast)

 

basket (as in a guy's pants) - volume, mala

 

escort - garoto de programa, acompanhante, michê (this one is derogatory)

 

do you like....? - você gosta de..?

 

do you want to. . .? - você quer. . .?

 

I like. . . - Gosto de. . .

 

I really like . . . - Adoro

 

You're very hot - Você é muito gostoso.

 

You're very sexy - Você é um tesão.

 

You're very good-looking - Você é muito bonito.

 

I (really) like you. - Gosto (muito) de você.

 

I love you - Eu amo você (but ONLY use this if you're proposing marriage!)

[Guest Tomcal_]

Sorry for the long delay in answering your post, i have been in London and didn't check this topic. The hotel Sol Ipenema is right across from the gay beach and very nice. We had no problems bringing guests back to our room(one night we brought 3 guys back at the same time and they didn't say anything. the guys in the suanas were very happy to find someone to translate, no problem asking them.