info for buenos aries

[gulliver]

will be in BA for two nights. any recommendations for a really nice hotel in a central location that is of the quality of the alvear but not so expensive (it seems like $400,00 is a lot considering devaluation). also would like to hook up with andres, matias, and others and have read about usind the services of "our man in buenos aries, Roberto, or his assistant" but do not have contact info.

 

any info on escorts in BA beyond what is posted in reviews would be appreciated. Is there any problem having a reviewed escort or an agency sponsored one to your hotel. thanks.

[xchris]

Hi, Gulliver

I'm going to Ba and Rio as well, from 3 to 18 nov, maybe the info you're requesting to our well informed cruisers are good for me, too.

Hope to see some advice as well.

By the way, are you flying from Rio to BA with a local plane, or did you book it in advance?

I intend to buy an air tiket in a local travel agency Rio.

The two towns are so close that I think will be no problem.

Maybe our TRI has some advices about that.

 

Ciao

Chris

[trilingual]

Check travel agencies in Rio for fares to Buenos Aires. Lately I've seen round-trip excursion fares of US$197 being advertised for Rio-BA. If you're just going for a couple of days, you can also probably book an air-hotel-airport transfer package for less than what it would cost you to book on your own at one of the top hotels. They might even have something you can afford at the Alvear (which is definitely the top-of-the-line if you want the European-style grand hotel experience.) However, you could look on-line to see what rates are like at the Marriott Plaza (if you're eligible, I understand Marriott gives AARP members fairly good discounts); the Caesar Park, the Hyatt, or the Sheraton. A somewhat less expensive alternative would be the Claridge. You can always use the money you save to treat yourself to tea or dinner at the Alvear! ;-)

 

Roberto has been on vacation in New York but should be back in Argentina next week. His e-mail is vdagp@hotmail.com, and he should be able to fill you in on hotels as well as other things to do in B.A.

[xchris]

Thanks TRI,

I'll give Roberto a message so to stay in contact while finding an air passage for the week around 10 november.

I'm rather excited for my first trip to Brazil and have to say that your infos and all the advices of the guys here gave me a sort of vivid movie of the scene. Can't wait more!

 

I want to compare the differences with the places I visited since now, with Thailand and Morocco in particular. I visited these places quite lot of times and found the Asians cute and nice even if too much on the business side and a bit on the hurry for the amount of tourists needing their services. But wonderful notwithstanding, and very easy to live through their culture and smiles. Morocco is more typical, more original, an arab culture of hidden sex that gave me a particular excitation. And the tourist trail is a loooot less crowded, the boys hard and sly. But as my cute moroccan 20yo bf decided to go working to Lybia, after I refused to buy him a motorbyke, I decided to try the brazilian paradise.

 

I'm preparing my very small bag, as I use to travel with light weights: digital camera, lilliput laptop, 1 jeans, three t-shirts, electric razor, my swiss toothpaste, two credit cards, small UDS bills for BA use. And my desire to discover and meet.

All I will need in excess I intend to buy over there, at sudamerican prices, and then let to someone before leaving.

 

 

Ah, I intend to take from itally also the brazilian product I used to assume every morning. GUARANA capsule. I found them very useful in giving strenght and increasing blood pressure. Maybe this is the Brazilian Viagra. Is it? Probably I'll found plenty into Rio shops.

 

Will post my reports as seen from italian eyes.

 

Ciao

Chris

[trilingual]

Your travel plans sound excellent. Rio is not a very dressy city. However, if you plan to go to any nice restaurants, I suggest you take at least one pair of trousers that aren't jeans, and a shirt with buttons. Suntan lotion can be fairly expensive in Brazil, so you might want to take your favorite brand. Same for film, if you're going to take photos. If you think you will have a need for extra-large condoms and lube, bring your own favorites to Brazil, because they can be difficult to find. Regular condoms and K-Y lubricant are sold in drugstores in Brazil, and the better ones might might have the Brazilian XL condoms, but I wouldn't bank on that. In Brazil (and also Argentina) you can buy up to US$500 worth of goods at the duty-free store when you arrive at the airport, so you can pick up anything you might like there and not have to carry them with you from Italy. Brazilian guys love cologne, so it's a good place to pick up a few presents to give the very special friends you will certainly make! From Italy you also might want to bring some t-shirts or football shirts as gifts for your new friends. They will be appreciated very much. In Brazil, a very useful and inexpensive store to buy cosmetics, snacks, bottled water, CDs, rubber sandals, beach towels, etc. is "Lojas Americanas." It's like the old American Woolworth's. There's one on Av. Copacabana near Santa Clara (very close to the Blockbuster Video with the Citibank ATM).

 

When you get tired of Brazilian food, a nice very gay-friendly place is "Trattoria" on r. Fernando Mendes, very close to the Copacabana gay beach and just around the corner from Maxim's. It's not expensive, but bring cash because they're one of the very few restaurants in town that doesn't accept credit cards. Another pleasant Italian place is "Dom Camillo," with a terrace cafe on Avenida Atlântica. They do take credit cards!

 

Guaraná comes in the form of the national soft drink (either regular or diet). It's very nice with a slice of orange ("uma rodela de laranja") added to it, especially to the diet version! The powder ("guaraná em pó") is sold loose or in capsules at drugstores and supermarkets, and you can ask to have it mixed with your drink at any of the hundreds of tropical juice bars. ("Juice" is "suco" in Brazilian Portuguese.)

 

Once you've been to Brazil, I don't think you'll give a second thought to Morocco or Asia! The Brazilians are much sweeter and far less hard-edged and greedy than the Moroccans. Of course, there are some exceptions, but you can just ignore them and get to know the guys who are really nice. Naturally, the Brazilians are "super-dotati" compared to Asian guys, and maybe even to Moroccan guys, if "cose enormi" matter to you. }> Brazilians smile and laugh as much as the Thais, but of course in a somewhat different way. You'll feel very much at home in Brazil, because it's also a Latin country. Also, you will find it easy to communicate, because many Brazilians understand Italian.

 

If you have time on this trip, visit someplace more "typical" than Rio. Try Parati. Although it's touristy, it's a spectacularly beautiful and delightful place to spend a couple of days. It's a four hour bus ride from Rio (about US$15). You can find more information about Parati at http://www.paraty.com.br. The Pousada do Príncipe there is a nice place to stay, only a block and a half from the bus station. The whole town is very small, but extremely charming. One day while you're there you'll want to take a boat trip to see the bay and tropical islands. If you go to Parati, stop in at the atelier "Studio Bananal," at r. da Matriz, 1. It belongs to some dear friends of mine, Sérgio and Fernando. Very sweet guys, but they don't speak much English. I think they're much better with Spanish or Italian!

 

We'll all be interested in hearing about your experiences and observations through Italian eyes! Buon viaggio!

[xchris]

TRI,

the italian language is not a mistery for you, I see.

One day you'll tell me where did you learnt it (or how nice was your teacher).

This week I'll plan all my visits, and if I'm going to Parati will say hallo to the friends of yours.

As for restaurants, I've never been temped in trying an italian one abroad, just to prevent any sadness, but I promise to cook a wonderful spaghetti for you the first time we'll met.

I love fish cooking too much, so I hope to find a fish restaurant somewere, clean and safe even if I don't look at fashion or luxury restaurants.

Ciao

Chris

[trilingual]

There are many fish restaurants. An old traditional one in Copacabana is "A Marisqueira." Downtown, near Praça XV and the ferry terminal, is Albamar (best on a weekday). For Bahian-style food, which uses a lot of fish, try Iemanjá in Ipanema. It's on Av. Visconde de Pirajá near Praça General Osório. My favorite Bahian dish is moqueca de peixe, fish cooked in a superb sauce of tomato, onion, cilantro, malagueta pepper, coconut milk and a touch of dendê (red palm oil). A moqueca mixta usually has both fish and shrimp.

Portuguese restaurants, of course, offer many bacalhau (baccalà) dishes. You won't starve at all! For a restaurant guide, buy a "Guia Quatro Rodas - Brasil" at any newstand. It's organized very much like the Michelin guides, so it's easy to understand even if it's in Portuguese. "Fish and Seafood" in Portuguese is "Peixes e mariscos." You'll find the guide very useful, too, if you travel to other places in Brazil, because it also covers hotels and interesting sights. It also has maps of the central areas of many Brazilian cities, and a road map of the entire gigantic country! It's a very helpful reference!

 

Thanks for the praise of my Italian, but I really know very little. The few things I know come straight from opera libretti and restaurant menus. :-) Somehow, I have a feeling people in Italy don't still go around muttering "cospetto!" like they do in operas! ;-) One day I'll seriously have to learn to speak Italian. It's such a beautiful sounding language!

[xchris]

Hei, TRI

I've been in contact with Roberto, "our man in Buenos Aires", as you told me.

From the e-mail I feel him very fluent in english and very helpful in addressing me to some hotel web-sites. I'll call him at his personal phone.

 

As every Air Company from Italy seem to be full, I'll go back directly to BA and then to Rio from there. Maybe I'll find some of the posters there, so to compare experiences. Will agree if someone is interested.

 

I intend to follow another of your previous advices: I would like to book at the ASTORIA Hotel.

Is this a little far from the saunas compared to, say, the Atlantico I've seen in TOMCAL posts? This would not be a big problem for me, anyway. I like to walk a little, as I don't walk too much at work.

Do you think me to book from the internet, or you know better steps?

 

Ciao

Chris

[trilingual]

The Astoria is a bit farther from the saunas than the Atlântico, but it's closer to the subway station and the gay beach. It's not a long walk from the Astoria to the saunas. About 6 blocks.

 

There shouldn't be any problem making a reservation through the Internet. I've done it quite a few times now. They should reply by e-mail to confirm the reservation, so you can print it out and bring it with you.

 

Have fun!

[Guest Verde]

To OP -

Can recommend Elite Hotel, 4 star nicely located in very safe, lively area in Recoleta with terrific night life, around US$65 per room for 2 incl. tax/breakfast. Not far from gay spots (by taxi around a dollar). Apart-Hotel Loy Suites Arenales also recommended located in San Martin, same price as Elite. You may book through http://www.argentinago.com. Howard Johnson (Da Vinci)hotel on Tucuman 857, actually advertises itself as a gay friendly hotel, but located in Centro which is a very busy place during the day and almost deserted at night. There is No problem in having your "friends" come to visit you in your room. Gay establishments are concentrated in Barrio Norte in the vicinity of Ave. Santa Fe. Contact escorts in advance by e-mail to check if they're available. Then call them when you get there. Get gay guide "La outra guia" (free) and magazines La Hiena and Emporio G for the latest info on gay venues,happenings and escorts ads. Some knowledge of Spanish will be very helpful. On arrival be careful to take only prepaid taxis from companies inside the airport terminal. Observe the usual safety precautions.

[Guest Verde]

RE: info for buenos aries - Etoile hotel

 

Ooops sorry for the mistake. Elite Hotel should read "Etoile Hotel".

 

One other thing to note, prices in BA are usually quoted in Pesos even if they have the $$$ sign. If it's in U.S. Dollars it should be shown as "US$" or "U$S". If not sure, ask if it's in pesos or U.S. dollars.

[+ glutes]

RE: info for buenos aries - Etoile hotel

 

Roberto from this board suggested Hotel Wilton,m Av. Callao 1162. It worked fine for me, 4 star @ 50USD/night incl. breakfast buffet.

[trilingual]

RE: info for buenos aries - Wilton hotel

 

The Wilton is a good choice, because it's very well located. Callao is a main cross-town street, and the Wilton is near the intersection with Av. Santa Fé, which is one of the main shopping/restaurant avenues and BA's "great gay way." (The stretch between Callao and Pueyrredón, on the sidewalk farther from the river, is where the nightly gay stroll goes on before people go to bars/clubs.) From the Wilton, you can walk to virtually any place if you like; BA is a great walking town, and it's easy because it's so flat. Just watch out for broken/uneven sidewalks, a never-ending local plague. . . One of the things that's so attractive about BA is that when you get tired of walking, there's bound to be a nice confitería (café) on just about any corner, where you can take a load off and enjoy a refreshment/light meal. And if you're too exhausted afterwards to walk back, there seem to be at least half-a-million taxis at your beck and call.

 

Speaking of confiterías, "El Olmo," at the corner of Av. Santa Fé and Pueyrredón, is a major gay meeting place in the earlier part of the evening, before people head out to the bars around midnight. Turning your gaydar onto "cruise" you should be able to detect some possibly rentable guys in the place. Outside, particularly on weekends, there will be guys passing out discount entry coupons to the various bars/clubs.

[xchris]

info hotel rio

 

Hallo everybody,

I'm in BA now and must say that our man in Buenos Aires has very good relationships with many helpful friends.

A very kind friend of his works for a travel agency and he helped me find a tiket to rio, as I came here without.

 

The hotel I stay is a very cheap (50 pesos) but clean Ayacucho in the centre, near the marvellous Recoleta quartiere. I must explain that I use choose everytime not very upscale hotels, as I don't like the hotel life and prefer go around and spend my money in trips, visits, restaurants and pubs, and lots of (very unexpensive) souvenirs for my many nephews and friends.

 

I visited the Status Models and tried a very muscular top LUCA and a nice versatile GERMANO from italian ascendents (from deep Sicily). The two rolled me around the bed for more than the 60 minutes I paid for (100 pesos) and the green eyed italian-argentine sucked the whole time and and asked if I liked and if I want some other things. I enjoyed but I'm too shy to ask for different positions. I'm a newbe here and I sterted this trip to experiment your advices and myself.

Luca tried to f... me but I was not enough ready, so this didn't work.

Nice time anyway. Very pleasent boys, also two boys where there available. They present themself at the begin so you can choose who (one for 75 or two for 100 pesos). The rates is 3,20 for dollar at the aeroport, 3,50 here in town, but up to 3,70 or even 4x1 if you buy something into fashion shops. I used to take money from ATM but the print don't say me the rate.

 

Here the town is sunny and nice, european style, I can say, and no driver use to claxon furiously as I saw in other countries of the south of the world (and south of Italy I have to admit).

 

Tomorrow is my third day and will go to cruise (by boat) to Colonial town in front Uruguay, then come back for the evening and go around the night places which Roberto suggested to me. Boys walking around me are nice, but I'm not so skilled to try to stop and talk yet. Will learn.

 

The day 9th I'll fly to Rio, but I had no answer yet from ipanema.com where I tried to book Astoria or Atlantico Hotels.

Does Astoria has his own web page or e-mail address?

 

Anyway I think this is not a full touristy period, so will not be impossible to find the room once there. Am I wrong?

 

Ok, ciao from now.

Next time more detais.

 

Chris

[trilingual]

RE: info hotel rio

 

Glad you're having fun in Buenos Aires. It's a wonderful city!

 

Here's a direct website for the Astoria Copacabana: http://www.astoria.com.br/ Probably you won't have problems finding a hotel room upon arrival, because it's still low season. Also, coming from Buenos Aires, you should be able to take a morning flight that arrives before noon. It's a lot easier to go looking for hotel rooms after a 2-1/2 hour flight than when you arrive exhausted after an overnight 10-hour flight! But you should be able to make a reservation through the website. If you have trouble understanding or using the website because it's in Portuguese, just ask Roberto or one of his friends to help. Argentines spend enough time in Brazil that many can read and understand Portuguese quite well.

 

Keep enjoying yourself. It sounds like you're doing a good job so far! :-)