Rio de Janeiro Reports

[The Cane]

Blameitonrio4travel.com has had to be a hard hustle over the last ten, fifteen years. I guess they can hustle tours and currency exchange. It seems like I'm better off using the internet to find the tour operator and book with them directly.

I don't know what he's doing with tours, but I went to him once to inquire about exchanging some money, and he totally was not offering a good rate. Went across the street and got a rate that was much, much better. These days, I just withdraw from an ATM. Airbnb, multitude of online tour operators, smart phones, and no-fee ATM debit cards. And who really needs to go to him to wash some clothes? Times have changed. His business model is screwed. Got to admire him for hanging on for so long.

[Ptgbac]

As a Brazilian quipped at 4 x 4 last week, Rio is the capital of the world, and it's own planet.

Your English lessons pay any worthwhile currency?

[WyattEarp]

Bobby has been around a long time, he is very resilient. I first met him in 1997 working for a hotel website, he later borrowed the code from that website and started his own business with it as we all know Blame it on Rio for travel.com. He had a great idea but it must be very difficult for an American to keep a business going in Rio. He later went brick and mortar with that business as we know today.

Before 1997 he tried other schemes for a business to make some money and live in Rio, this has been a life long pursuit of his, you got to hand it to him. Old friends told me one of his early pursuits was to sell either pretzels or bagels and earned the name Pretzel Bobby. Yes this is not the first gofundme request and before he used to just send emails to help him keep afloat. When I'm in town I try to give him business with FX but he doesn't budge on price even if I'm offering some volume, I've even had my laundry done there. I think he has several young children and a Brazilian wife so he wants to stay in business, I would say hes mid 60s at least I wish him good luck.

Blameitonrio4travel.com has had to be a hard hustle over the last ten, fifteen years. First, the air and hotel websites mushroomed. Then AirBnB and Vrbo came along to take up a lot of the apartment rentals. The closing of Help moved the epicenter of tourism. I think they use to have an internet cafe on-site, but with everyone having smartphones does anyone need a place to use the internet. Maybe there was a laundry service. I guess they can hustle tours and currency exchange. It seems like I'm better off using the internet to find the tour operator and book with them directly.

I'm reminded of many an American who was down there not too long ago booking apartments, providing airport pick-up and guide services. They have all disappeared from what I can tell. Bobby has been a more permanent fixture.

On a similar note, my less fortunate Brazilian contacts down there routinely ask for funding for this opportunity or that opportunity. They never mention what is in it for me if anything. It seems like it's a quite normal ask. Perhaps, Bobby's seen this and thought why not me.

[Jingo10]

As a Brazilian quipped at 4 x 4 last week, Rio is the capital of the world, and it's own planet.

This is the view of Brazilians and their government, they are the principal country in SA if not the world. I'm looking forward to returning next week.

[Sperto]

It depends. You may spend that much in the tourist areas. If you go to Centro, a very good meal is less than R$30. I think because there are many white collar workers in Centro so they are good restaurants at affordable prices. These are the type of restaurants that average people can go to daily. Think about Solarium and 4 x4. The restaurant situation is reversed quality wise.

For breakfast, you can have it for less than R$10 which include a bakery item and a coffee. If you get breakfast on the street, the cost can be less than half of that.

Coconut water is R$10 by the beach, but it is R$2 in the supermarket in Rio, It is about R$6 in Centro. It is R$3 in Control in Sao Paulo. Orange juice is about R$1 for 100 ML.

The hungry ones should try comer a vontade lunch restaurants. Many years ago I entered on of these restaurants on Rua Buenos Aires. I was in a hurry and thought I had entered a comida a kilo. In the line I noted everybody filling up their plates to the very extreme. Then I realized it was comer a vontade and you had the right to fill up one plate for a fix price, about are $10. It was interesting to see how tiny women managed to eat so much food.

However, for lunch in centro it's better to have a PF (prato feito) or comida a kilo. There are many excellent lunch restaurants. If you want a GP for dessert, try the lunchrestaurants in the alley of TDM33. There are always many GPS having lunch there. Decent PF for less than are $20.

Yes, lets speak about coconut prices. Last year cold coconuts in Arraial d'Ajuda was 3 coconuts for are $2,5.

[Rio Bob]

Interesting pitch. Didn't Bobby set-up a Gofundme page a few years back when he had a break-in at one of his offices?

I myself find these Gofundme initiatives for profit enterprises or startups perplexing.

How old is Bobby by the way? I thought he was older twenty years ago. Does he have some Brazilian filhos he needs to support?

Bobby has been around a long time, he is very resilient. I first met him in 1997 working for a hotel website, he later borrowed the code from that website and started his own business with it as we all know Blame it on Rio for travel.com. He had a great idea but it must be very difficult for an American to keep a business going in Rio. He later went brick and mortar with that business as we know today.

Before 1997 he tried other schemes for a business to make some money and live in Rio, this has been a life long pursuit of his, you got to hand it to him. Old friends told me one of his early pursuits was to sell either pretzels or bagels and earned the name Pretzel Bobby. Yes this is not the first gofundme request and before he used to just send emails to help him keep afloat. When I'm in town I try to give him business with FX but he doesn't budge on price even if I'm offering some volume, I've even had my laundry done there. I think he has several young children and a Brazilian wife so he wants to stay in business, I would say he’s mid 60’s at least I wish him good luck.

[Nounce]

...

Eating out 3 meals a day adds to some serious expenses too. Probably at least $1,500 a month.

...

It depends. You may spend that much in the tourist areas. If you go to Centro, a very good meal is less than R$30. I think because there are many white collar workers in Centro so they are good restaurants at affordable prices. These are the type of restaurants that average people can go to daily. Think about Solarium and 4 x4. The restaurant situation is reversed quality wise.

For breakfast, you can have it for less than R$10 which include a bakery item and a coffee. If you get breakfast on the street, the cost can be less than half of that.

Coconut water is R$10 by the beach, but it is R$2 in the supermarket in Rio, It is about R$6 in Centro. It is R$3 in Control in Sao Paulo. Orange juice is about R$1 for 100 ML.

[Vagabundo1]

As a Brazilian quipped at 4 x 4 last week, Rio is the capital of the world, and it's own planet.

I surmise you live in Rio. That's pretty cool.

[Golfinho]

Interesting pitch. Didn't Bobby set-up a Gofundme page a few years back when he had a break-in at one of his offices?

I myself find these Gofundme initiatives for profit enterprises or startups

Interesting? It's shameless.

[Xpartan]

Retired at the Transamerica! That's shooting high. Awesome.

Nothing's more entertaining than counting another man's money.

I'm with VB on this. If I retired in Brazil, I would be watching my budget too, at least until I get my bearing.

Retirement is not a vacation. Rio de Janeiro is the most or the second most expensive city to live in Brazil.

Even rent as cheap as $20 a day is $600 a month.

Even pernote as cheap as $80 is $2,000 monthly or more, provided it's not every night and there aren't any other sexual activities (which judging by VB's posts there are).

Eating out 3 meals a day adds to some serious expenses too. Probably at least $1,500 a month.

I don't know if VB has a health insurance, but that would cost something too.

And if you're only semi-retired, then Uncle Sam wants his cut as well, as far as I understand.

So, like I said, counting another man's money is fun, LOL.

[Nounce]

Quatro is Colombian for doggie.

But that is not the creativity Steve was talking about. Quatro works in Brazil but they also come up the term D4.

[Fellas]

i am actually ap shopping. There are nearby condos. The downside of transamerica is that the aps have no real kitchen. Realistically, it will be after carnaval due to pricing / availability. My intent is to keep staying here at less than 20 usd a day through the crazy season.

Much of my writing is self talk, as i am charitably, working on middle age health issues myself.

That said, see the joe rogan podcast with peter attia on health for men.

You should have 4 x 45 minute workouts a week of cross training. (olympic lifting / cardio). My check the box 30 minute workout is.

3 x3 clean and jerks..

Really cool mate.

[WyattEarp]

For those who didn't receive this email, and are eager to help this for-profit enterprise fill its begging bowl:

"Dear clients and friends.

For the last 21 months, the Coronavirus has devastated our travel business in Rio de Janeiro, leaving us financially and emotionally crippled. As you can see in our photo, one of our stores had to close and we've downsized to a single store.

Today, we're asking for your help in making sure our business will survive this pandemic.

Please take a look at Blame It On Rio Travel's GoFundMe page, and you'll understand what we've gone through in the last 21 months of the Coronavirus. It has greatly damaged our business. I hope you can help us out with a donation.

Please click here to visit our Go Fund Me page and help to ensure you have a home away from home here with us in Rio de Janeiro..

Interesting pitch. Didn't Bobby set-up a Gofundme page a few years back when he had a break-in at one of his offices?

I myself find these Gofundme initiatives for profit enterprises or startups perplexing.

How old is Bobby by the way? I thought he was older twenty years ago. Does he have some Brazilian filhos he needs to support?

[WyattEarp]

As I've said, the reader should take into account when a contributor has not actually been in Rio for years and will not come again for 6 months.

I surmise you live in Rio. That's pretty cool.

[Vagabundo1]

I am actually ap shopping. There are nearby condos. The downside of Transamerica is that the aps have no real kitchen. Realistically, it will be after carnaval due to pricing / availability. My intent is to keep staying here at less than 20 USD a day through the crazy season.

Much of my writing is self talk, as I am charitably, working on middle age health issues myself.

That said, see the Joe Rogan podcast with Peter Attia on health for men.

You should have 4 x 45 minute workouts a week of cross training. (olympic lifting / cardio). My check the box 30 minute workout is.

3 x3 clean and jerks.

3 x2 heavy bags (the golden gloves. I lost to a guy who lost to mike tyson -- in a decision).

160 meters of swimming.

Diet:

As much tea (mate) as possible. Local pro tip: buy the tea leaves at mega matte, brew it in the sun on your balcony. Your body is 60% water, your lungs 83%. Tea is a diuretic -- ie it sucks the poison out of your system.

On my own, I carry some protein in 250 ML pill bottles. 10-15 grams of protein an hour. When trying to lose weight, as I usually am (50 pounds over my college fighting weight, but in 2014 when I was banging women here I got down to my college boxing weight). Men, having testicles, will react to lifting weights until old age, which can be fought by said lifting.

I am pushing it to try to keep up with the ladies.

I will spare the details of my lastest tricks. 500 pernoites with a solarium MMA diver girl is fun. Though, I avoid a boate when I take a mini relationship out of there. Mma diver has bought me new bedding two weekends ago, and new cloths last weekend. This is a long time in hoaring time frames.

Retired at the Transamerica! That's shooting high. Awesome.