Rio de Janeiro Reports

[Vagabundo1]

Best Data and Tech for Brazil.

OK, a few techie notes:

1. You can get almost all tech you need in Rio. I always recommend Rosanne at Sorella informatica, piso 1, at Rio Branco 156, a honest vendor (I bought a gamer laptop for 10,000 reais, and it didn't work, and I took it back, and she gave me CASH, despite her losing 10%, as I had put it on a card. When the F does that ever happen in Brazil?

- You can get all the data you need by going to Central station, going to the vendors near the metro and supervia entrances, and pay 16 reais for a vivo card. Vivo has better data than the others, TIM, Claro, etc. You can then top up your chip at pharmacias, or of course at vivo stores. No CPF, no hassle, just $3. 1 USD, cash in Reais. In case you hadn't figured it out, Rio is built for Vagabundo's, people who don't want to be tracked for whatever reason, mobsters from Siciliy named vinnie who go become Mr Catra's in Zona Norte, etc.

- you can ask your landlord for high speed data (I pay 200 reais more a month for 5 g WiFi in my Barra Transamerica love shack, that's what, 40 USD).

2. There are some tech items that are harder or hard to get in Brazil, and which are the things you want to bring with, or ask your frequent traveler buddies to bring for you:

- pixel phones with an activated Google Fi plan. Fi is the best in my experience. And lots, and lots, and a friggin shitton of data cards to stick in burner phones and devices.

- kindle. For some reason, hard to get in Brazil.

- top tier laptops, like, for example, a Razer Blade14 (asking for advice, is this a good gamer rig? V is in the market for a gamer laptop, but doesn't necessarily want a 9 pound monster brick, but this one seems good), which of course would be super inflated by brazilian taxes if you could get it in Brazil.

- Leatherman skeletool, or SOG knives. OK, not to drift into the military too much, but the skeletool is a super multitool and ounce for ounce the best single knife multitool to carry, as it has pliers to fix your car, a serrated blade that it lethal, a carabiner to attach to your pack while you are climbing sugarloaf or halfdome and a screw driver with a phillips and regular bit. The SOG fixed blade that is best is the SEAL Strike because of the excellent carry in the inside of belt sheath, and the SOG Trident especially the new one in D2 steel. But, if you had to carry just one in a 40 pound checked. Bag, it would be the skeletool, which even the chicks want because of the bottle opener. For those of you who appreciate a sharp knife, the best sharpener in centro is on a side street in Lapa a little further up Rua Rezende, same street as Ganja Coffeeshop, on a side street going onto Rua Riachuelo. Finally, the best place to carry said skeletool is in the zippered pockets of the trail running shorts sold at Decathlon, which are really useful, as there are two zippered pockets, and three little mesh pockets, perfect for condoms, lube, surf wallet, bluetooth earbuds, and even that stun gun flashlight fits well into the little compression pocket of the shorts.

https://www.decathlon.com.br/short-m...:preto-amarelo

Those shorts also make great underwear under a long pant, and a great sleeping short (and with some hoars, it is a good idea to keep a few knives in the zippered pockets of your shorts because like Gus in Lonesome Dove says, a hoar can always slit your carotid artery while you sleep. Not that having said knives would help you much, but its the thought).

Tmobile / Google would use the towers in Brazil that they partnered with so the service would switch to them once you land. Fastest would be LTE speed which is good. If you have unlimited data, shouldn't worry about being throttled.

[Fewdie]

Tmobile / Google would use the towers in Brazil that they partnered with so the service would switch to them once you land. Fastest would be LTE speed which is good. If you have unlimited data, shouldn't worry about being throttled.

Yeah it should be and I am getting a second plan just to be safe. But no idea how well TMobile or Google Fi work down there, and if they slow you down if you burn through data with video meetings. Wifi still key to making this thing work, was able to squeeze two weeks versus one if I can make it work.

[Vagabundo1]

The places to be in Barra.

On various Euro trips, say to Paris, and then in London after chunnelling under the channel, Vagabundo's friends would say of our team of men armed with heat seeking dicks, "follow that ass", to wit, the best dancers, and by extension of their lovely limbs, the best asses in 4 x4, are Penelope and Renatinha, who are friends.

https://4x4class.com.br/

And here is a sunny winter day Sunday schedule for these lovely lasses. In Barra. The happiest little (adult) place on earth.

16 h. On a balcony overlooking Posto 2 and the islands there upon.

17 h. Classico Beach Club, Posto 2.

20 h. Practica, Olegario Maciel 120.

https://www.instagram.com/praticitac...legario/?hl=en

At each venue, the two aforementiioned mentiras famosas (famous liars) smoke ganja on said balcony (not out on the street), drink girly drinks at the beach club, dance dirty with each other at practica. Olegario maciel is a 15 r uber from Transamerica, or in walking distance of KSportal, and metro jardim oceanico.

OK, look, men, SP and RJ are both megacities (cities with 10 mm or more), but they are effectively a joint mega city because:

At any given time, you can, within 9 hours, and for less than 40 dollars fare be in the other. On public transportation, with a 40 pound backpack and a 10 pound carryon. By simply, say from barra.

Taking the 309 bus to central, and then any bus or the VLT to Rodoviaria, and then taking a luxury sleeper bus to SP (for about 30 USD), which run hourly, and is a 6 hour ride. And then in SP rodoviaria, which is on a metro, take the metro all around SP. Which is awesome. Like in SP you have the BEST (all caps, I know, I know) porno talent in the entire fuc*ing world. (memo to you porn producers, stop spoiling the hottest local girls for native Brazlian mongers, bradmontana.com pays the effing hottest local brazilian girls, like kamila werneck 300 effing reais, which she complained about, but then the thought of her complaining about things, like taking dick in her bare asshole is a very nice memory.).

https://www.xvideos.com/models/kamilla-werneck#_tabVideos.

(BTW, XVideos Red is a good porno site, in fact, it may supercede the need for any other porno site, though it will be hard to cancel my kink.com and evilangel.com memberships.).

[ElephantBeer]

Still 80% covered.

Taking Prep is a very bad idea unless you're a fan of bare back anal or your S. O. Partner is HIV positive. You think exposure to HIV only happens when traveling?

Think you're missing the 'I think' taking Prep is a very bad idea. Cause it's just your opinion, not really fact. Also, the 'only anal thing' is hogwash. The person RECEIVING anal is more likely to catch HIV. Not the top. LOL. Mucus membranes and all that. (sigh).

Personally, (my experience) - I've been taking Prep for 6+ years. I start them when I go traveling and am about to start sticking my dong in shady places. Like Vila Mimosa, Ethiopia, Nairobi, Madagascar, Haiti etc.

You 'should' check you liver enzymes, but it's a $20 test. Not a big deal to me. Mine are fine.

I've never had any side effects (at all).

It's called On Demand or Event Based Dosing (EBD).

https://www.iwantprepnow.co.uk/how-to-take-prep/

And I prefer it to taking daily. At home I have my GF and a couple of backups I keep. Far safer (in my humble opinion) than poking a gal in Vila Mimosa bareback. Plenty of med. Literature out there that shows it works, so I figure why not take it. Don't want to bring anything back to my LT GF.

If you don't like it. Cool But no need to tell everyone it's a 'very bad idea' and other nonsense.

[Mr Enternational]

I believe you can have serious side effects. Obviously everyone is different but can have negative effects on liver and kidneys. I think the risk of HIV through vaginal sex is less than the risk of side effects from taking Prep.

Mfs taking shit just because, because they see it as a magic pill. You better see a damn doctor before you start taking all that bullshit.

[HiddenEye]

I'm sure you know many more words, but let me start with these. Correct if you find a different meaning:

- Beldade: a solid 9 - 10 escort.

- baranga: Tute.

- Casa: nigth club.

- Coroa = MILF.

- Caralho: What escort screams when climax is close. Ay caralho!!

- Gata: super cute girl (gato in Argentina is the unofficial sex worker).

- Japones: Referring to a man with small dick. Brazilian girls believe oriental guys have mostly small dicks. Maybe I'm one LOL I don't care.

- Ninfeta: An escort that looks 18-19 why / o, being older.

- Plantel: Girls in the club / massage parlor.

- Patricinha: A classy young brazilian girl.

- Perva: Tute. Real meaning is perverse.

- Safado: Crazy originial guy.

These are the ones that come to my mind.

[Houston Player]

Why is Prep a bad idea? I read most side effects are mild.

I believe you can have serious side effects. Obviously everyone is different but can have negative effects on liver and kidneys. I think the risk of HIV through vaginal sex is less than the risk of side effects from taking Prep.

[Xpartan]

Still 80% covered.

Taking Prep is a very bad idea unless you're a fan of bare back anal or your S. O. Partner is HIV positive. You think exposure to HIV only happens when traveling?

For places like help in Brazil you have to go to Sao Paulo.

Why is Prep a bad idea? I read most side effects are mild.

[Houston Player]

Used to hit Rio once a year or so, back when I still lived in the west.

Long time ago now - 2003,04, 05,07.

2008 was my last trip.

Headed back for Carnival in 2023, and just researching the board. Amazing that most of the places that were around then are still here:

- Help is gone (sad. But then by 2008 it was showing it's age).

- 4 x4, Classico and Centaurus are still there. Wow. Fucking amazing.

- Even Vila Mimosa is still around. Spent plenty of nights in those crappy little rooms back in the day. Wonder if they'll be the same.

Now in Asia a long time, spoiled with BBFS being the norm.

In the past most Rio action was covered, I got lucky a few times at 4 x4, and (lucky / unlucky) at Mimosa. A few times with freelancers from Help. But back then was 80% covered.

What's it like now?

(I take Prep when traveling).

Also, anyplace like Help along the beach now?

Still 80% covered.

Taking Prep is a very bad idea unless you're a fan of bare back anal or your S. O. Partner is HIV positive. You think exposure to HIV only happens when traveling?

For places like help in Brazil you have to go to Sao Paulo.

[Bearsi]

I am not sure I would leave newbies with the impression that Barra is like the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. Williamsburg is a hip, very walkable, exciting urban environment in its own right.

Obviously, there are no direct USA comparisons. However, I always likened Barra to the condo complexes up the Miami Beach coast and beyond away from the action of South Beach. Things are spaced out and more modern. I suppose East Barra has more places. If Barra was my choice, that's where I would look to stay.

I strictly made the comparisons in terms of commute and various transportation into the main city.

Sorry for the confusion.

[ElephantBeer]

Used to hit Rio once a year or so, back when I still lived in the west.

Long time ago now - 2003,04, 05,07.

2008 was my last trip.

Headed back for Carnival in 2023, and just researching the board. Amazing that most of the places that were around then are still here:

- Help is gone (sad. But then by 2008 it was showing it's age).

- 4 x4, Classico and Centaurus are still there. Wow. Fucking amazing.

- Even Vila Mimosa is still around. Spent plenty of nights in those crappy little rooms back in the day. Wonder if they'll be the same.

Now in Asia a long time, spoiled with BBFS being the norm.

In the past most Rio action was covered, I got lucky a few times at 4 x4, and (lucky / unlucky) at Mimosa. A few times with freelancers from Help. But back then was 80% covered.

What's it like now?

(I take Prep when traveling).

Also, anyplace like Help along the beach now?

[WyattEarp]

I guess to compare it to something it would be like staying in Williamsburg (barra) and than commuting 30-45 mins to get into Manhattan (copa) you get a better set up for your buck in a lesser neighborhood and in exchange you have to make a daily commute which is a hassle for sure but you get use to the routine and lots of brazilians commute to copa and ipa to work / play from nearby neighborhoods.

I am not sure I would leave newbies with the impression that Barra is like the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. Williamsburg is a hip, very walkable, exciting urban environment in its own right.

Obviously, there are no direct USA comparisons. However, I always likened Barra to the condo complexes up the Miami Beach coast and beyond away from the action of South Beach. Things are spaced out and more modern. I suppose East Barra has more places. If Barra was my choice, that's where I would look to stay.

[Xpartan]

Hello everyone,

I'm not that much of sex tourist and my only experiences so far have been Cuba and Puerto Vallarta MX.

I have 2 months of vacation next winter and was considering going to Cartagena Colombia since I love beaches and swimming. But upon further research I realized that the Cartagena beach is garbage and the area in general seems. Not worthy of spending a month or 2.

So here I am, considering Rio instead, as the beaches look much better and Rio in general seems cleaner and 100 x better than Cartagena.

Anyway I'll lurk this forum further as my knowledge on Brazil is limited at the moment but here is a dumb question while I'm at it; I'm going solo and enjoy swimming a lot. If I leave my beach towel and a small backpack containing a book, a bottle of water and random stuff such as snacks, will it get jacked automatically as soon as step in the ocean? I was thinking of leaving my bag fully opened whenever I leave so that people can see for themselves there isn't anything worth taking.

On second thought. I guess I could simply learn some Portuguese in the following months, and maybe just ask a nearby family or whatever if they can keep eye on it.

As someone who loves Cartagena, I think you would regret spending 2 months in Cartagena for the following reasons:

1. Not much to do. Cartagena is a small city compared to the megapolis of Rio de Janeiro. The historic center is beautiful, but 4-7 days is more than enough to explore everything.

2. P4P is super-costly compared to Brazil (and the rest of Colombia).

3. The beaches are shitty unless you go to islands (which will add up to your expenses).

Meanwhile in Rio I could spend 2 months (maybe with some occasional day tours) and wouldn't be bored for a second.

As to your bag on the beach, don't worry. They wouldn't be snatched automatically. They'll be snatched manually by your friendly Copa thieves if you're staying in Copa. Ipanema, Leblon and Barra beaches are safer.

You can ask people to watch your stuff while you're in water -- either a guy you rent a chair from or some Brazilian families. Still, a good idea is bringing as few valuables to the beach as you can. Leaving a bag open or close won't make any difference IMHO.

Be aware, though, that beaches in Rio are more suitable for surfing than swimming, and waves can be a bit violent. You'll have to go as far as Recreio to find some calm waters. Although there is a nice semi-protected beach in front of Sheraton Leblon.

And don't worry about snacks. There are tons of kiosks and merchants selling inexpensive food and drinks.

[Bearsi]

Just my personal opinion, but I wouldn't want to live in Barra. Yes, you can probably find a better, newer apartment with gym etc, but Barra is so spread out and not designed for walking. You really need a car like everyone else living there. If you have a family and want to settle down it would be a good option. Lucio Costa was one of the designers and he was known for his work on designing Brasilia. Another layout disaster for anyone without a car! Its not like a city where you see or discover interesting things all the time, like little side streets with cool looking bars or restaurants, not great for people watching etc. It just feels artificial and a bit boring. You have to go to a big shopping center if you want that. It does have some of the best big stores, but how often will you actually need to go to buy a very expensive designer table? You can use the metro to the zona sul or bus or taxi, but you'll be spending a lot of time on public transport. As a single guy, I just think its better to pay more for more interesting surroundings, more life around you, more options within walking distance. In my 10 years living in Rio, I lived in Copa, Flamengo and 2 locations in Ipanema. No way would I even consider Barra. To each their own I guess.

I totally understand where you are coming from and can see your point of view for sure and it's a very valid one!

I guess since the OP was asking for something better at the $1000 range with good amenities this would be the best option for him and guys like him in similar conditions.

I don't know how long he will stay in rio but if it's more than 6 months I'd say barra is fine.

I guess to compare it to something it would be like staying in Williamsburg (barra) and than commuting 30-45 mins to get into Manhattan (copa) you get a better set up for your buck in a lesser neighborhood and in exchange you have to make a daily commute which is a hassle for sure but you get use to the routine and lots of brazilians commute to copa and ipa to work / play from nearby neighborhoods.

Barra definitely isn't the free spirit energy like copa / ipa is but they also have nice beaches and you'll definitely meet alot of affluent brazilians who speak english and american / european expat so less working girls but a good chance of meeting a quality girl.

Some places in barra give you a free or discounted bus pass to the city and some have ferries to get you into the city.

You could also rent / buy a bicycle to get around. Rio is very bicycle friendly and I'd be wise to live a healthier lifestyle in a city that promotes it. Definitely a benefit. I'm trying to bike around my city to save a few bucks on these gas prices and get in better shape at the same time but it's a real warzone trying to do so in the states. (I also saw that pic of Brasilia and that looks like a hellscape for traveling. Pretty looking but a real pain to get around).

One of my favorite Japanese book has a great line in it called:

The Law of Equivalent Exchange.

Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return.

To obtain, something of equal value must be lost.

You cannot conjure something out of nothing. It must be taken from somewhere else.

This applies to everything in life and here as well.

In order to stay closer to Copa (gain) you must pay more and expect less (loss).

In order to get a nice value and place in barra (gain) you must spend more time traveling (loss).

So you're either spending more money or time in each scenario. One isn't better than the other since it's subjective but the loss must come from somewhere and that's to each to decide is more fair.

Also applies to learning a new skill like playing the guitar very well.

In order to be proficient and skilled in music (gain) you must spend hundreds of hours in order to do so (loss).

Even winning the lottery applies.

In order for you to win $500,000,000 with a $2 ticket (gain) millions of other people have to put their money into that jackpot with their millions of $2 tickets (loss).

Love this law and I apply it to everyday life.

And seems like alot of posters do as well as some have discussed about how they either.

Buy a first class plane ticket and get a 3 star hotel.

Or.

Buy a economy plane ticket and get a 5 star hotel.

[Bkgnj1]

Yeah it should be and I am getting a second plan just to be safe. But no idea how well TMobile or Google Fi work down there, and if they slow you down if you burn through data with video meetings. Wifi still key to making this thing work, was able to squeeze two weeks versus one if I can make it work.

Is your cellphone data unlimited? Why not use that?