Still in Rio - Second Report

[Mavica]

Well, still here in Rio.

 

Yesterday was devoted, somewhat, to traditional tourist-type activity. We went to Corcovado, and it is truly an exceptional experience. The view from above is breathtaking. We took a taxi from the hotel to the tram station, and up to the top. Neves, the armed guard onboard (to protect against bandits along the way) was nothing short of awesome. Afterwards, we cabbed-it over to Impanema to one of the all you can eat beef places for lunch, it, too, was outstanding. For about R$25 each we feasted on various cuts of meat, and a spectacular salad/sushi bar. Back to the hotel to sleep for awhile, and I headed out to Estacao to check it out once again.

 

Well, the experience was much different on a weekday, as compared to the weekend. There were about 2/3 fewer escorts . . . about a 1 to 1 ration with the customers present at 8 p.m. The place was still hot, but one could feel the air being moved by fans . . . something impossible to feel on the weekend visits. I had the opportunity to speak with several escorts who agreed that the weekends are crazy, with many of the escorts pestering customers . . . because there´s an influx of part-timers on the weekend who go back home on Monday (to return once again on the next weekend). I pared-off with a guy I had been interested in the earlier visits . . . Juan Paulo . . . and he was one of the best I´ve had in a long time (anyone who has seen him, you now know my ´type´). The escorts were, generally, and as a group, far better looking than what I saw on the earlier visits. However, several were real dogs, something one might see on Santa Monica Blvd, desperate and looking for a fix. Oh, by the way, one or two of the boys at the bath are selling cocaine to other boys, maybe customers . . . and that´s a turn-off to me. Comments posted earlier by someone that it´s smart to tip the locker-room attendant and bar boys was sound , I´ve done that and I can see/feel the appreciation. I left for the hotel at 10 p.m.

 

My traveling companion still won´t return to the sauna, so we went out to Maxim´s for drinks and a small bite. 4 beers and two appetizers cost us less than US$10. Then he wanted to head to the yellow awning place . . . and, being Monday night, it was packed, and the street outfront (and outfront Incontrou (spelling?)(INC.) was lined with rough-trade and other hustlers. I still don´t like the place, but when traveling with someone else I need to respect his wants too, so we sat there (our 3rd time). Well, the pest Kevin from Estacao followed me into the men´s room and grabbed my dick, only to be pulled-off by another Estacao boy who was present when Kevin and I got into it the other night. Low and behold, at the end of the night, I had fixed Kevin up with my traveling companion . . . and I hear wedding bells! Thank God, I´m saved!

 

We then went over to Inc. at 1:30 a.m. to see the show, which was excellent, a great drag performance . . . and I don´t like drag! Lots of good-looking guys in Inc., including a wide-variety of hustlers. Nice, but small, bar . . . seemingly welll-run. Kevin took my friend into the dark room, blew him, took his cash (uh, his payment) . . . and he left us alone.

 

Today, Tuesday, we went to Sugarloaf, and it, too, is a great trip, one not to be missed. What views! No secret why Rio is called by many as the most beautiful city. After Sugarloaf we headed back to Copa to a kilo restaurant we ate at the other day, and enjoyed another good meal. The buffets here are about as good as I´ve seen anywhere . . . considering the prices charged. Kevin spent part of the afternoon with my friend, and I cabbed-it over to Spa 73.

 

If you´re going to Spa 73 take a cab (about R$20) from Atlantico, don´t even try a bus. A bus would probably be fine for a seasoned visitor, but as a first-timer . . . why deal with the risk, time needed, and uncertainty. Spa 73 is now printing a map on the fliers it hands out around town, and without the map my driver would have had a very difficult time finding it. Well, hands down . . . Club 73 is the only sauna I´ve been to thus far that I think meets international standards for customer service, amenities, bar . . . air conditioning, etc. This is a first-class place that puts the others to shame, IMHO. As for the guys, there were about 25 present tonight at 5 when I arrived (or, throughout the evening until I left at 8:30). Most of the guys were what I describe as average, maybe less as compared to the average Brazilian you see walking down the street here. I went with three guys, because the first two were horrible. First, let me say that these guys go on the attack once in the door . . . they were very agressive, almost offensively so . . . a good strong-arm is helpful. The first guy I went with, August, made me stop fucking him after 5 minutes . . . because he said he was sore from sex last night. I said fine, no sex . . . no money. He then blew me for awhile, kissed, etc., but I finally said . . . Hey, it´s over. I paid him because we did some stuff, but he was a used-car salesman. The second guy, with a big dick, wanted to get fucked, he said . . . only to piss and moan ten minutes into the act . . . and I said, Okay, lets go . . . no money. He was not happy, and I had another boy who spoke Spanish explain to him that he agreed to the act up front, and he didn´t deliver. Other boys later told me that there is a small group of boys who do this, and customers often just pay them . . . without being fulfilled. My standards are a bit higher than that. If you don´t do what we agree on, I don´t pay. Well, just when I was about to leave, Wilson walked in, and stole my heart. What a gentle giant of a guy. We spent about 1.5 hours together, and it was a great experience (extra tip included!). The bar boys were very good, friendly, helpful, and I tipped them before going. As was reported by someone else, an employee ran for a secure taxi, because the gals running the place said it was probably too dangerous for me to walk a couple of blocks for one, or for a bus. The women asked how things went, commented that I must have had a good time (by the room rentals!), and wished me luck, and a speedy return. Although this is a nice facility . . . the best in town, I think the guys aren´t my type, and I probably won´t return. It´s difficult to judge a place by one visit, but I´m not going to chance-it again this trip.

 

Tomorrow, we´re off to visit a favela, for a half-day. And, unless I head for one of the gay sauna´s (which I may), I might go back to Estacao to see Juan Paulo . . . because it´s close to where I´m staying . . . and I´d hate to see him go hungry!

 

A side comment to first-timers: I think it´s difficult to maneuver here without a knowledge of Spanish as a minum, and preferably some Portugese. We´ve moved around town a bit, and, outside the hotel, English hasn´t been widely spoken/understood. If I wasn´t able to communicate via some Spanish, I think I´d feel completely overwhelmed (as my friend feels). Few of the guys I´ve talked with in the saunas understand English, and only a few understand Spanish. Yes, some vocablulary is similar between Spanish/Portugese . . . but not enougth, IMHO> If you´re planning on coming, I´d place the language issue as a very high priority to resolve, if you want to enjoy yourself.

 

A p.s.: If you can speak Portugese, your experience here will be more rewarding . . . just like in any other foreign country. And, repeat visitors will have experiences different than first-timers. I still haven´t changed my mind that I don´t understand all the fuss about escort sauna´s in Rio. If I were going to return on a regular basis, I´d learn Portugese . . . and pick up guys off the street . . . because there are so many better-looking guys who I think are available, If you can communicate with them. Frequent visitors limiting themselves to escort saunas is probably, IMHO, a real waste of time and money.

[Guest Gringo]

I am glad to learn that things seem to be picking up for both of you. IMHO I find the men in bz to be extremely handsome, well built, equipped and, given half a chance, warm and affectionate. I may not be as well traveled as yourself. But if the question were posed, what 3 international cities would you rank as the best in the world?

[+ Axiom2001]

Mavica, from what you described in your second report is my memory of Rio (in terms of beauty and touristy things and the language barrier). I am elated that your experiences took a very different turn, this time far the better! I'm glad things are much different for you and your friend since you did a lot of preparation prior to your going to Rio.

 

It is also good to read the varied takes about the four extant saunas in Rio. Most of the threads about Spa73 prior to what you wrote have been somewhat negative; yours was the exact opposite. Since another view has been presented, I'm interested in giving Spa73 a try if my friend, who will be traveling with me, is "game"! He and I will definitely go to Roger's and Estacao; we also plan to venture over to Club 117, a place where I have yet to travel, a venue which interests me much, for there I hope to see certain individuals provided that they are around during Carnaval.

 

(When I went to the favelas-- I went with Marcello Armstrong's

business partner; did you use their services? I'm curious, for he was the originator of tourists being taken to the favelas to get a completely other view of Rio.)

[+ Axiom2001]

>But if the question were (sic) posed, what 3 international cities would you rank as the best in the world?

 

Gringo, your question would make an excellent thread for us. Within the next few days, if you don't propose it for us, I shall!;-)

[Guest Gringo]

Ax--With Mavica's experience running rather contrary to the usually very positive reaction to the scene in bz, it seemed an opportune moment to pose the question. I am uncertain where to begin such a thread elsewhere in the forums without scewing its placement. There is a generic forum "Ask an Escort," but there is not a corresponding forum for "Ask a John."

[trilingual]

I'm glad things seem to be picking up for Mavica and friend. They seem to be falling under the magical spell of Rio. He's certainly right about the scenery. Hands down, Rio has the most spectacular natural setting on earth, IMHO. (Although

Vancouver runs a close second, and I know Hong Kong and Cape Town have their partisans!)

 

If Mavica is still underwhelmed by the looks/physiques of the guys in the saunas, either his standards are more exacting than those of the Princess With The Pea, or he just isn't turned on by the general Brazilian type. That's somewhat mystifying, though, because there are so MANY types in Brazil, from blondest blond to blackest black, and builds ranging from very tall to pygmy, steroid bodybuilder to tight 'n' slender, and everything in between. Mavica may be picky, but it sounds like even he has succumbed to the charms of at least some of the sauna guys! So, even if a few tried to hustle him, he must have felt SOME stirrings towards them, or he wouldn't have gone with them in the first place! Would he? ;-)

 

Otherwise, it sounds like Mavica and friend are enjoying themselves. There certainly are enough sights to keep a visitor busy for days, and it's possible to eat very well for very little (by U.S./European standards). A few more days and Mavica may succumb to the ineffable wonderfulness called Brazil! We'll know if that happens if his posts become slightly less clinical and much more effusive! Who knows, wedding bells could ring for him, too!!!

 

Thanks, Mavica, for your observations on Spa 73, the language situation for first-timers, etc. Your impressions will undoubtedly help other visitors prepare for their trips to Rio. It's always valuable to have a fresh perspective about the place! Looking forward to your further postings!

[Driver]

The reports on crime seem a bit alarming as I experienced no of this my last two vosits though both were off season. I shall be there in 25 days time so it is relevant to me. When I took the train to Christ the redeemer there were no armed guards on board so maybe things have taken a turn for the worse.

 

I agree with the comments on spa73 exactly. It has the potential to be the best but given my first experience I'm not willing to chance a couple of nights trying to find the one good night.

[trilingual]

The recent upsurge in crime involving tourists during the past couple of weeks hit the Rio papers today. With luck, the publicity will force the local authorities to take appropriate action. This has been the best season in years for Rio (aided in no small part, I suspect, by the presence of M4M readers) and they don't want the goose that lays the golden eggs to be killed by a bunch of punks. So stay tuned. In the meantime, all I can say is to exercise the usual cautions and stay alert to your surroundings. It may look like a beach resort, but it's still a third world mega-city with mega-poverty and it's inevitable that things like this will happen. Fortunately, it tends to run in spurts like the current one and then goes back to normal as the police crack down.

 

Guards on the Corcovado train make a lot of sense as it's an easy target, considering it's full of tourists with money, cameras, etc. But go anyway, the view is staggering. The odds of problems are very small. Also, access to the viewing area at the base of the statue of Christ the Redeemer has just been made MUCH easier because they've finally opened up the new elevator/escalator access, eliminating the 200+ steps you had to climb previously. Good exercise, but it made it impossible for many seniors and disabled people to enjoy the experience. Now they can go, and asthmatics (like me) don't have to stop for breath on every landing of the steps!

[Mavica]

Response/Comments

 

For gringo: I´ll have to think about the 3 best international city question. The answer is likely to change depending upon what one is talking about. Overall, sex, food, etc. It´s a big question. About the well-hung escort comment, it´s often written . . . however, I think it might be overdone a bit. First, most of the guys I´ve been with, or see hanging around the saunas have trouble getting/keeping a hard-on. You see most of the guys stroking their dicks all of the time when customers are around, and I think it get´s to be too much for them. I´ve spoken with several hustlers about it and they admitted that the environment is a bit taxing to them . . . either lots of sex on a given day, or too much masturbating in the video rooms, chairs, etc. When I´ve asked about Viagra, I´ve been told that it´s too expensive for them. Yes, I´ve seen some big dicks, but I expect that in such a professional environment where customers come to buy that service/product. However, there are more smaller/normal dicks in the saunas than big ones . . . from what I´ve observed. About handsome men: yes, I think many Brazilians are handsome, but not all . . . as if often said, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Some of the guys I´ve seen have been in the extremely handsome category, but others might disagree with my own definition of the term.

 

For Axiom2001: I won´t bo back to Spa 73 because it´s too far and because it seems to get recycled guys from other saunas who can´t afford the cover-charge to get into the other places. I´ve been told by hustlers at Spa that other saunas charge the garotos R$10 to enter, while Spa charges them nothing. So, when a guy´s down and out, he might head to Spa. Now, I´m not certain that´s the type of guy I´m looking for (the down and out type). Certainly, there are some seemingly few escorts who work just one sauna, and Spa probably has a couple . . . but I´ve seen many of the guys from Spa street hustling across from the yellow awning restaurant, and not too successful at it. It is, I think, the best physical plant of all the saunas, but, as I´ve said elsewhere . . . why look for someplace offering second-rate merchandise/damaged goods. It´s worth a first-visit I think, because our tastes are different. About the favela tour with M. Armstrong: I think it was a fraud, and won´t be recommending it to anyone who asks me for my opinion.

 

For Tri: I doubt that some magical spell will overcome me this trip. While a beautiful environment, Rio won´t be on my list of places I´ll want to return to soon. Oh, don´t get me wrong, it´s been a good vacation. I was going to go to Mexico, or some other warm climate (I always do this in February), and I chose Rio for this trip. New places are always good to explore and can be educational, but as far as the professional sex scene goes (saunas). . . I find it, as a whole, of poor quality. About Brazilians, yes, I do find many handsome, and, yes, there are many body types/personalities. Seeing the different genetic\cultural influences has been one of the enlightening things about the trip. I like all colors, and tend to like persons of color more than lighter skin, but I have no rigid rules about whom I´ll go with. However, my friend was struck by the high number of black, dark brown, and dark tan guys . . . and that´s been a turn-off for him. It´s important for first-timers to understand that they´ll see lots of blacks/dark brown in the saunas . . . at least I think a majority of the guys I´ve seen this past week fall into those color categories; and, many people will not like what they see if they haven´t prepared themselves in advance. I´ve been with black, mulatto, light-skinned . . . all types on this trip (but, that´s the same mix of guys I´m with when I play at home).

[Guest Deweywop]

RE: Response/Comments

 

It would have been interesting if Mavica had made it to Sao Paulo. I went to only 3 saunas in Brazil: Roger's in Rio, Lagoa in SP, and that place in Curitiba. I always found someone I wanted and ultimately had a great time with at Roger's, but I can agree that the selection there was more mixed as well as pushy. Lagoa, on the other hand, was like walking onto a Kristen Bjorn set (better, actually), and the guys were so not pushy I almost had to work to get the attention of my favorites. But then again, if Mavica wasn't bowled over by Rio as a city, I think he would have found SP absolutely intolerable.

 

Vive la difference. Ultimately, if we all liked the same thing, there wouldn't be enough of it for anyone.

[trilingual]

RE: Response/Comments

 

Interesting comments. I guess you're one of the relatively rare folks whose immune to the charms of Brazil and won't be yearning to return. That's fine, of course. It just leaves more for the rest of us!. :-) As someone who really loves the place, I'm disappointed that you don't, but I understand that it can't be EVERYONE's cup of tea. At least you had the initiative to try it and find out for yourself! I am curious as to which cities you've liked better than Rio for an all-around vacation (beach, sightseeing, culture, sex).

 

Your observations on the color of the guys are useful, I guess, to visitors for whom that's important. I must be more color-blind than I thought, because I've never noticed the proportions you mentioned. My impression has always been that there's a pretty broad choice of colors/types both at the saunas and elsewhere in Brazil. Color isn't a factor in my choice of guys, however, so that might explain my failure to observe what you did. Being, um, dimensionally-obsessed, size is my main criterion, followed closely by height, personality, build and looks. I suppose it stands to reason, though, that more of the guys might be darker-skinned, because in Brazil there's a very high correlation of dark skin with poverty, and for the most part it isn't rich boys who are working the saunas! Also, Brazil has the largest "black" population outside of Africa (the majority of the population would be considered "black" or "mixed race" in American terms), so it's not surprising that there are so many darker-hued guys at the baths. I assumed everybody knew that about Brazil! ;-) Evidently not. For future reference, folks, from Rio north Brazilians are predominantly of African descent or of mixed heritage. South of Rio the proportion of Brazilians of European descent increases significantly.

 

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I find most of the guys at the saunas (and elsewhere in Brazil) to be good-looking, some extremely so. My own impression of the guys at the saunas is that a much higher percentage of them are good-looking and better-built than their counterparts on the street. That would only seem natural, as the product they're selling is looks and physique. Ugly guys wouldn't ordinarily be a big success at the baths, unless their looks were compensated for by a phenomenal physique or the dick-of-death. Speaking of which: as a person for whom size is of prime importance, and with 40 years of experience as an actively gay man behind him, I can't think of any place I've been where I've seen more championship-sized equipment than in Brazil. In the saunas, I'd say the proportion of well-equipped guys is unusually high, for obvious reasons. Unquestionably, many of the biggest guys I've ever met are Brazilian, and I say this as a specialist in the subject! I've rarely run into erection problems in my encounters. It happens, but by far my experience runs in the opposite direction, as in "My G-d, is he EVER going to get tired?"

The old canard about big ones not getting very hard is certainly belied by experience in Brazil and elsewhere. Virtually all of my big partners get very hard indeed, and stay hard.

 

Spa 73: I'm not sure your generalization of the guys there are second-rate losers is necessarily fair or accurate. Much of the time there are lots more guys than clients at the saunas, and in low season, particularly, it's not unusual for a guy not to score, or not have enough clients to make enough money for the week/month. It's possible to be hard up for cash without necessarily being a "loser." If business has been slow, it makes sense that a guy would check out Spa 73 if it doesn't charge him admission. Also, it's closer to where most of the guys live and is easier and less expensive to get to. There's an additional factor at work, too. Spa 73 is off the beaten track. To attract the quality of guys who work the saunas in the Zona Sul, which in turn will attract clients to their establishment, it makes sense from a business standpoint for the owners not to charge the guys. Taking advantage of a free place to ply your trade doesn't make a guy either second-rate or a loser. Finally, guys do tend to rotate among the baths and even among different cities. It keeps the place "fresh," so to speak. Most regular clients, I think, like variety and want to see new faces among the staff.

 

As for describing the guys as hustlers (as deliberately opposed to escorts), I can only agree in the sense that most of them work hard for their money so they have to hustle. Almost all of the guys are poor by any objective standard, and they need the money they earn to live on and maintain a decent standard of living. There are not a lot of opportunities in Brazil that offer a young lower-middle/working class guy as good a chance to earn good money as working in a sauna does. However, as I've mentioned in other threads, I'd only describe some of the guys as "hustlers" in the pejorative sense. Many, in fact probably most, are not. They're nice guys who are trying to earn decent money in a rotteh economy with few good alternatives. If you can communicate with the guys in Portuguese (or at least Spanish) you can easily discern that for yourself. Just avoid the obvious hustlers (in the pejorative sense), i.e., the ones who accost you immediately, won't leave you alone, drape themselve all over you in the bar tweaking your nipples and urging "massage?" My experience with them is that they're likely to be duds in bed, and try to charge extra. I've always had much better luck with the less aggressive guys who let you make the first move (eye contact, a smile and a greeting like "Oi," "Tudo bem?" or "Como vai?"). Conversation with a guy, even if it's in pidgin English, will also help you weed out the "hustlers" from the guys who are likely to be satisfying partners.

 

Anyway, enough. Thanks again for your postings. They've provided an interesting perspective, and, as you can see, food for thought and commentary! Enjoy the rest of your stay, and have a good trip home!