Rio Trip Report - Late-August/Early-September 2008

[Mavica]

I just returned from an abbreviated 6-day visit to Rio and took advantage of the opportunity to visit Meio Mundo and Club 117 several or more times.

 

This was a solo trip for me, without a travel companion/friend/others and I chose to stay in a hotel in the Catete neighborhood - and I liked it a lot. The vibe was good, local shops, restaurants, park, the waterfront and the excellent public transportation including the Metro.

 

I walked to/from Club 117 (about 15-minutes each way) and it was an easy shot to Meio Mundo using the Metro.

 

Of the two saunas I thought Club 117 the best. I'd been there on a previous trip and I like the improvements. The expansion of the lower-level . . . the addition of the large snack bar/lounge, the wide corridor, the new rooms . . . together with the rest of the place, above, gives guests and garotos room to roam, to spread-out.

 

The Saturday night was quiet, seemed quiet to me, at Club 117 and I was a bit put-off with the strutting steriod boys and others seemingly more interested in socializing with one another than working. I came to describe, to myself, Club 117 as the "Limp Dick Club," because so many guys seemed unable to achieve a hard on as they walked about jerking themselves. The guys who did focus on working seemed desperate and offered to be bottom or top - and so many bottoms kind of surprised me. I'm an equal opportunity patron, but, really, I'd not remembered so many bottoms there on prior visits. I arrived at 5 and left at 8 and later thought I should probably time my arrival/departure differently. I didn't do anything with any of the guys.

 

Wanting to give Club 117 a further try I returned Sunday night (thinking wandering Centro on a Sunday night after dark might find me amongst very few other folks, well folks I'd want to be surrounded by!). This time I waited until 8 p.m. to show up, and the house was rocking! Lots of guys continued to have troubles getting a hard-on. A guy I'd spotted the prior night and who I found attractive was there, again - and we got ourselves a room. This was Thiago - not the Thiago of the porn photos many people have seen (from the Miami-based publisher) but a tall, white and rock-hard bodied young man of about 23 years old (guessing). His body wasn't gymnast-like with non-stop ripples, just hard, nice. It took about 15-minutes of oral action to get the guy really hard - and he had an odd-looking piece of meat (not large by Rio sauna standards) - but once he climbed on top and got into motion . . . it turned-into a very nice BFE. Nice hard body, not much body fat, good kisser. Sweet guy. Price asked/paid: R$70.

 

 

Standing in the 2nd level lounge/show room at Club 117 that Sunday night, watching the show, the young men dancing, the full-room of people enjoying themselves, garotos lazing about stroking, strutting . . . took me back to a time when I frequently visited Rounds in NYC. Those of you old enough and pursuing garotos in NYC during those years (1980s) will remember the joy that was Rounds - where everyone in the club was either selling or buying . . . a body (clothed, though - before you took them home, or to your hotel room!). I thought how there aren't many places in the world where you can do so easily/openly what we do when in Rio. I was out the door and on my way back to the hotel by 10 p.m.

 

Tuesday was to be my last night in Rio so I decided on Club 117, once again. I was in a "top" mood for the evening and when I saw Thiago (he of the magazine photos from Miami (shot in Rio)) I quickly dispatched him for a room in which we kissed and enjoyed some 69 before I put him on his back/stomach and fucked him . . . all the while as he kept twisting his body to get a better view of himself in the mirrored wall. The young man's body is not as toned as it appears in the earlier magazine/web photos but it's still nice and soft, very pliable. The boy's a "power bottom." He was fun to be with and a good time was had by all. Price asked/paid: R$70.

 

My body charged after the time spent with Thiago I spotted a young man with my favorite body-type: gymnast. Leandro had that perfect college-age competitive gymnast body and I'll be surprised if there's much more than 5% body fat on him. Outstanding body. He was light complected, maybe 5'10" and 145 lbs. Ripples from head to toe. Leandro and I played cat and mouse for a while before he walked up to me and said he wanted to shoot his load and go home - and did I want to get it on with him. Room secured we got familiar with each other's body and I was convinced he was relatively new at this - by the way he reacted to my touching, where I used my mouth on him, etc. Reluctant at first, he turned out to be an excellent kisser - trying to get as much of my tongue down his throat as he could. He also surprised me in that he was a good cocksucker - not reluctant and quite agressive. He performed best, though, on top of me using his approx. 7" piece of meat (not too thick, but thick enough). Again, this was, for me, a great BFE. When he came it flowed to the point I thought he could fill a quart carton - as he sprayed my chest. Price asked/paid: R$80.

 

After Leandro and Thiago I was on a roll and I was looking for one more . . . but by 10 p.m. the place had pretty much emptied out and only a few, maybe 10 garotos, remained - none of which particularly interested me. It was as if someone blew a whistle at 9:45 p.m. and yelled, "Everyone out of the pool." Out the door I was and this time I chose to take the Metro from Gloria the short distance to Catete where I was staying.

 

My first night in town, Thursday, I rested and didn't go to a sauna. Friday night I went to Meio Mundo - my first sauna visit of the trip. This was also my first visit to Meio Mundo.

 

Meio Mundo is smaller, noticibly smaller, than Club 117 and I don't like the feel of the place as well. I found the guys decidely darker - much darker - than those working at Club 117. I'm an equal opportunity client and have a particular interest/taste in dark bodies/meat - so the large offering of blacks caught my fancy. I found the guys at Meio Mundo calmer and not as pushy as the guys working Club 117 - and I like that, also. There's a waiter - tall and nicely browned young man - working the bar/lounge and I'd have taken him to a room if he were working with the garotos.

 

Most of the guys at Meio Mundo didn't seem to have a "getting it hard" problem, this night or on my other visit - and it was refreshing to see that. Lots of big, very big dicks in the house. A guy calling himself "Juan" turned his attention on me in the lounge and with his wet and inviting mouth moving across parts of my body we went to a room. Mistake one, but not a serious one. This was my first night at a sauna this trip and I let my guard down and when Juan asked if I wanted a massage and I asked how much for sex he replied, in broken English, "R$50 for massage" and I didn't catch it - eager as I was to get into a room with him. Juan gave a so/so massage and when I turned my attention on him, and his 6' sturdy, very muscular, smooth frame and whoppper of a dick he let me have my way . . . and he had his way (didn't think I could take what he had). When we finished he reminded me of the price we'd agreed on, R$50 - for a "massage." The sex wasn't included in the R$50, he explained. That would be another R$50. What could I do? I didn't pay attention to the conversation to begin with, didn't make certain we were in agreement on everything - so I paid him R$100. I viewed it as my mistake - but he, I thought then, and observed on another day, was a bit of a sly fox with seemingly everyone. He was very good sex, though - and for my "icebraker" for this trip I chalked up the time as well spent at an acceptable price. I'd hoped to have learned my lesson. Juan has a beautiful ass - but I don't think you can get in that. He's a good kisser. Price asked/paid: R$100.

 

I walked back to the Metro at approx. 8:30 p.m. and made my way to Catete, and my hotel.

 

My second visit to Meio Mundo produced a memorable experience for me (aren't they all?). About 7 p.m. "my type" wandered into the first floor locker room and undressed . . . and my knees went limp (no wrists, mind you!). "Junior" was his name and he, too, was the college-age competitive gymnast type that made me drool (maybe 21/22). Light skinned, he was. It didn't take me long to pounce on this fellow and soon we were in a room. Other boys later told me Junior was new at Meio Mundo, and I believe ti - based on his reactions in bed. The guy couldn't do enough (from a top's perspective, him being) to please me. Great kisser, toucher, massage, rubbing all the right places. What a rippling-rock-hard body, smooth all over . . . and a perfect ass (only if he'd have let me try it out!). This was the best sexual experience of my trip. Junior's piece of meat is probably 6.5", maybe 7" and not thick - but boy did he go into overdrive using it . . . and he wanted to cum. I fell in love with the guy. Price asked/paid: R$50/R$70.

 

Maybe I've left something out. But there was lots of opportunity with all types/styles of guys. Not overcrowded, not too many clients, and always more guys. A couple of times I waited for a room (no more than 15-minutes) at these two saunas.

 

As I've said, I like the feel and layout of Club 117 but don't like all of the socializing and distractions amongst the garotos - nor some of the steroid bodies, but there were others to focus on. Meio Mundo's guys seemed overall better - but there seems to be a crossover amongst the guys between the two places. The gym bunnies of Club 117 don't seem to be going to Meio Mundo - but some of the others are.

 

Had I not been using a frequent flier free airline ticket I'd not have made this trip. The cost would be unjustified for me. I could buy time with escorts in the USA in greater quantity than I had in Rio and for an overall less trip price. I'm not particularly interested in big dicks, so what interests/attracts some travelers isn't enough of a draw to get me back to Rio frequently. The timing - dates - of the trip worked well because the weather was moderate. It rained one day and part of another and it was cool a few nights, but overall the weather was perfect for me.

 

I toured around town daytime and ate in some good restaurants, and enjoyed exploring Flamengo, Catete and Gloria - and a lot of the Centro section of the city.

 

Thanks to those of you who continue to provide information here, much of which I've used these past 6 years.

[+ Lucky]

RE: Rio Trip Report - Late-August/Early-September

 

Thanks for the report. This should serve Club 117 a good reminder not to buy its Viagra on the internet. Make sure you are getting the real thing! If we wanted Mr. Softee, we'd stay home!

[LurkerSpeaks]

thanks for your great update.. I will be making my inaugural trip to Rio in November and as a versatile bottom who doesnt do it very much, I was a little concerned that EVERYONE there was hugely hung.. It is nice to know that some of the guys are more in line with "average". I also go for the more "twinkish" type guys and was told by "the great" Tomcal that Meio Mundo would probably be more to my liking. I appreciate your report and look forward to getting my first taste of Rio :9

[+ Lucky]

My tastes turned out to be immensely different from tomcal's and he is braver than I to travel to the other side of town...I like Club 117 just fine and bet that you will too.

[+ Axiom2001]

My friends and I have always traveled to Meio Mundo via taxi. Once you arrive there by this mode of transportation-- EVERYTHING is fine. Also, of all of the current saunas which have guys for a fee-- MM has become our favorite one because, overall, the guys seem to be so "down to earth" and real. I have had only great experiences there without encountering ANY ATTITUDE from anyone!

 

I have a few stories to tell about Meio Mundo, all positive, but will wait until someone begins a thread of this nature. When that happens I'll share then, esp. taking the taxi (along with friend) and having been let out in the wrong area (my fault) and walking for a short while....

[jackhammer91406]

Thanks for sharing your experiences on your recent trip. I will miss not going to RIO this year for the first time in five years.

 

On my last several trips friends and I have gone to Meo Mundo via the Metro and not had any trouble....even a hint of it. BUT walking from the Metro station is not for everyone because you do pass through a couple of blocks that are not nearly as safe looking as the area around Club 117. My biggest complaint with MM is the A/C. But it's my understanding that they may have upgraded that now. I found the guys there very pleasant, not at all stand-offish. Fun.

[Mavica]

Transit to Meio Mundo

 

My visits to Meio Mundo were accomplished by taking the Metro and walking the 3 blocks or so towards the church and then one to the left, before reaching the Santander bank branch. I felt okay walking, even back to the Metro afterwards at 8-9 p.m.

 

Weekdays, there's tables and chairs set up on the street adjacent to Meio Mundo and scores of people were sitting, drinking, talking, eating snacks, etc. so it wasn't deserted. You can catch a taxi, if you wish, by walking back towards the church - and opposite the church, the side of the boulevard closest to you, there was a taxi stand with taxi's waiting for passengers.

 

For someone uninitiated in central city urban life - such as you find in Rio - the walk back to the Metro after dark could be a bit stressful I think.

 

The Gloria neighborhood can be a bit concerning for the same reasons - for people visiting the first time.

 

What I did for Meio Mundo, during this visit which I visited for the first time, is to go during the daytime when it was bright outside and I found the place and became familiar with it's surroundings - so later I'd not be hesitant. I did the same thing the first time I visited Club 117.

[Mavica]

About size: it's not a particular attraction for me (though I did try one on for good measure!). I'm always more of a top than a bottom and this trip I wanted dicks I considered more "normal size" (to me) and they were available as I've mentioned. During my visits, I think the twink quota was about the same - at both Club 117 and Meio Mundo. I saw, though, maybe two or three people total that I'd classify has having the "twink look." That definition is probably not something universal amongst us, and you are likely to find just what you want - because they'll stand out like a sore thumb!

[Guest ihpguy]

Just make sure that you visit Meio Mundo on one of their no towel/no sunga nights. Much funner!!!

[Mavica]

No towel night at Meio Mundo

 

With so many of the guys displaying their wares typically, I wasn't impressed with the no towel night at Meio Mundo and I thought the guys were more subdued.

[+ Axiom2001]

RE: No towel night at Meio Mundo

 

"No towel night" is held on several or more nights at Meio Mundo. It's always a fun time for the guys as well as the clients. Do take in this venue that has an ambience of ease and enjoy.

 

Forget about the decor, as it is not as eye-pleasing as Club117 or Point 202. Enjoy the music, the dancing, and the apparent interaction amongst those who are there.

 

But the major feature that I personally like about Meio Mundo is its "stable" of guys. All that I have observed as well as met have been quite cordial, easy-going, down-to-earth, and without any apparent attitude.

 

Lastly-- one can ask an attendant to hail a taxi for him. It will be awaiting you right outside of the door of the sauna. Tip the guy who does this for you R$5 or R$10.

[Guest ihpguy]

RE: No towel night at Meio Mundo

 

One reason to go to Meio Mundo on the sem toalha/sem sunga nights is that there will usually be more boys do choose from because they know that there will be more clients on those nights as well. Cause and effect.

[Mavica]

RE: No towel night at Meio Mundo

 

Sounds to me as if there's a difference in the effects of no towel night - differences between high season and low season for tourism. I didn't detect any more garotos at Meio Mundo on the Monday, more than there were on Friday night when towels were used. I don't think more than one or two guys walked around showing everthing and some guys wore towels - full-sized towels. My impression was, from the expressions/talk of the guys - that they didn't like the no towel promotion.

[Driver]

Adding my thanks

 

Just adding my thanks for you taking the time to post this information.

 

This trip will will be my first where I travel to Meio Mundo.

 

I shall take some notes and report back at my first opportunity.

[catnip]

RE: Adding my thanks

 

Driver, enjoy MM. It's a fun place with many types of guys. After the office crowd leaves Centro around 6:30, don't even think of walking there. A big tall strapping garoto told me it's not even safe for him when he goes home after 8 or 9.

 

After dark, take a cab to MM from one of the nearby metro stops. Cinelandia has a lot of cafes right at the station entrance and is less deserted at night. Once I tipped the towel guy (at midnight!), he offered to get me a cab from MM back to Copa, near Rua Sá Ferreira. It was less than 25 reais and I was home in 10 minutes.

 

I still find the staff at 117 the warmest and most attentive (I arrived towards the end of Bingo, but the barman got me a card without my asking and filled in the numbers with me), and the atmosphere there is always festive, but I loved MM, too, and will definitely return.

[Guest ihpguy]

Safety around Meio Mundo

 

You can hop any bus from Ave NS Copacabana to Central and get off at the corner of Presidente Vargas and Primeiro de Marco and it is literally a quarter of a block away. Right at this corner, where the Igreja Candelaria is located is the Universidade Gama Filho, which always has people out in front with all of the students coming and going. Also in front are carts with people selling candy, churrasco and sandwiches natureis na hora. I've never felt safer. Right across the street is the Banco Brasil Centro Cultural. However, on Saturday nights the streets are much emptier. But I have always felt less safe on a Sunday morning or late at night in Copacabana. But hey, I'm just a poor stupid gringo.

[Driver]

After 18 hours of travelling i was rather tired to say the least but needed to stay up late so that my body kept to a normal pattern for the next few days.

 

went to MM on the metro, the instructions posted here in an earlier post were spot on. Felt perfectly safe even when I left at around 21:00

 

There were a lot of boys there and the clients were outnumbered easily. One twink i would have gone for normally was already taken and given my tiredness i didn´'t feel obliged to settle for just anything.

 

 

If anything one of the barmen was more my type. Many of the towels were too small for the boys to completely wrap around so a few of them used their keys to make the towel tie at the side. Personally i think its a bit naff to not give the boys a full size towwel.

 

R$46 for 4 beers and entrance fee

[Guest ihpguy]

Those are the mini towels they are permitted on no towel/no sunga nights. I believe their function is so the boys have something to sit down on, and are not reuquired to sit down anywhere bare-assed.

[zack222]

Mavica,

I have not yet been to Meio Mundo and want to try it out in November. Can you provide some directions. I know the address is Rua Teófilo Otoni, 18 - Centro, however, subway stop then walking directions would be most appreciated (or taxi from what metro stop if a bit far to walk to).

Have been to Rio many times and Centro (most areas) does not intimidate me (most reasonable hours of the day, of course.

Most appreciated, I am sure this info is buried here somewhere but cannot locate it.

[+ Axiom2001]

I think the directions to Meio Mundo are given rather clearly at http://www.gaytravelbrazil.com.

This sauna was well discussed some time back (four or five months ago).

 

I took the subway along with two friends (one being native). After we got out of the subway, we walked, but the carioca guided us. I would NOT do this alone if I were you, esp. at night.

 

All three of us hailed a taxi back to Copacabana; the assistant at the desk rang one for us; and lo and behold, the taxi driver was a somewhat friend of ours. I say somewhat because he failed to honor his commitments to a few of us!

[zack222]

>I think the directions to Meio Mundo are given rather clearly

>at http://www.gaytravelbrazil.com.

>This sauna was well discussed some time back (four or five

>months ago).

>

>I took the subway along with two friends (one being native).

>After we got out of the subway, we walked, but the carioca

>guided us. I would NOT do this alone if I were you, esp. at

>night.

>

>All three of us hailed a taxi back to Copacabana; the

>assistant at the desk rang one for us; and lo and behold, the

>taxi driver was a somewhat friend of ours. I say somewhat

>because he failed to honor his commitments to a few of us!

 

Regarding subway stop closest to Meio Mundo, then walking directions, any other input? Above site is a pay site which I don't want to join. thanks alot. I, too, would not walk a distance in Centro in the evening but have no problem in the late afternoon

[catnip]

From a poster on GTB:

 

Go to maps.google.com/ and enter this address - Rua Theophilo Otoni, 18, Rio de Janeiro - and you'll be presented with an excellent map of where Meio Mundo is located in the Centro section of Rio. I used the map myself and found it helpful. By the way, before departing for Rio I located most places I wanted to go/see and printed google maps of where things were located - and you might find doing the same thing useful also.

 

Some people get to/from Meio Mundo by taxi, others accomplish the journey by Metro (or other transport, including by foot), such as myself, and there's an option of taking the Metro there and taxi back afterwards. The closest Metro station is Uruguaiana, from which the sauna is about a 3 long block walk towards Nuestra Señora de Copacabana church, after which you turn left before the Santander Bank branch. Turn right at the next street and the sauna is four or five buildings down on your right.

[EastbayMike]

Closest metro is Uruguaiana. Head out of the station and walk north on Rua Uruguaiana about three blocks to Avenida Presidente Vargas. Turn right and walk east about five blocks east on Avenida Presidente Vargas to Rua 1 de Marco. Turn left and walk one block to Rua Theophilo Ontoni. Meio Mundo is at Rua Theophilo 18 near the corner.

 

It's a short walk, easy to get to, and I've left after dark and walked back to the metro with no problem. Not that I wasn't a bit leery during my walk. The sauna will call a cab if you prefer.

 

117 and Meio Mundo are my two favorite saunas in Rio. If you're looking for a great top with incredible stamina (and a huge smile!) ask for Holyfield.

[Guest ihpguy]

The church, one of the most impressive in Rio, is named Nossa Senora da Candelaria. It is at the intersection of Avenida Presidente Vargas and Avenida Primeiro de Marco. It is worth your time to take a walk inside, as well as the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center and Casa Franca-Brasil right across the street. Meio Mundo is on the corner, 1/2 block north on Rua Teofilo Otoni, directly behind Banco Santander. Frequently, there are taxis waiting for fares at the Meio Mundo entrance, by the way. There are always tons of taxi on both main streets. Just stick your arm up and a driver will stop right away. About the only time I think I have ever had trouble finding a taxi was on Good Friday, when they streets were empty and I was taking family and friends on a visit to many of central Rio's historic churches. Otherwise, no worries about finding taxis.

[zack222]

thanks Catnip, Eastbay Mike and ihpguy.

Now that you mention the cathedral, ihpguy I know exactly where I am and where to go. Yes, I have been in the cathedral and agree it is very impressive and unique. I have also noticed the cultural centre on more than one occasion but have never gone in it. I will this trip, thanks again guys.