Rio de Janeiro Reports

[Jimmy Boy 99]

I was saying for people like me whose body can no longer take much natural sugar which caipirinhas have a shit ton of, bringing my own artificial sweetener was indeed an excellent substitute.

Don't know how your inability to handle too much sugar equals them using fake sugar but am glad to know that they are using real sugar. I always ask them to put in half the sugar they normally do to make it less overpoweringly sweet.

[Mr Enternational]

Weird how I ended up in the caipirinha discussion as I never made any comments about caipirinhas.

How are the gua de coco prices on the beach?

No idea. But the caipirinha prices at the kiosks have plummeted. As low as are $5 in some places. I went to one with two chicks. We had 3 each and the bill came to are $30.

[Sperto]

Anyway, I don't remember if it was you or Sperto that mentioned having caipirinhas made with fake sugar...

Sperto must know muddling the mint with sugar releases more oils from the mint.

Weird how I ended up in the caipirinha discussion as I never made any comments about caipirinhas.

How are the água de coco prices on the beach?

[The Cane]

For an accurate and up-to-date summary of how much cash you can withdraw from bank ATMs such as Bradesco and Santander, see my posts in the "Real versus Dollar and other currency issues" thread.

[One Eyed Man]

Something I forgot to mention. I was walking with a buddy down NS on the way to Cervantes. He needed to change some money so we walked into some random exchange place. The rate there was as good as my Charles Schwab card. I think it was 4. 16 for 1 USD. I have had Schwab for a while and had HSBC (is that place still around in Brazil?) for years before that, so I really have not changed money in Rio since the Help days outside of once with the airport porters a couple of years ago.

HSBC sold its Brazil business to Bradesco. Last December, I used the Bradesco ATM and I believe I got a reduced fee. HSBC is saying it wants to come back to Brazil now. Just don't go to Santander: they only let you take out are $500 a day.

[SherlockBones]

Nice hotel. Is Rio Porto Bay girl friendly?

According to at Safado69's comment a few posts down, Rio Porto Bay is guest-friendly. Happy to confirm this for myself on Oct 31st.

[Mr Enternational]

As an occasional drinker of caipirinhas at the beach in Copacabana, I was concerned about your fake sugar comment.

I was saying for people like me whose body can no longer take much natural sugar which caipirinhas have a shit ton of, bringing my own artificial sweetener was indeed an excellent substitute.

[Jimmy Boy 99]

Snip. Anyway, I don't remember if it was you or Sperto that mentioned having caipirinhas made with fake sugar, but I finally remembered to bring my Equal this time and ordered my drinks without sugar. That was a great tip. Thanks.

As an occasional drinker of caipirinhas at the beach in Copacabana, I was concerned about your fake sugar comment. Did a search in the Brazil thread for fake sugar and did not find any previous posts about that, so I don't know where you heard it. What fake sugar are you talking about? The only fake sugar reference I could find on Google is that it is artificial sweetener. Isn't that more expensive than real sugar? Given the amount of the stuff they put in the drink, I doubt they would use the more expensive product.

[WyattEarp]

51 has always been my favorite. As you can see by the receipt I posted, I also bought a bottle of Ypioca for R30 to try out. EVERYTHING has insect parts in it. That is just a byproduct of being human and eating shit here on earth.

"In a regular-sized 16-ounce jar of peanut butter, the FDA will allow up to 136 insect fragments and four rodent hairs."

"For every 100 grams of ground cinnamon, it's OK to include 400 or more insect fragments (legs, heads, wings, thoraxes, etc.), and 22 or more rodent hairsa substance the FDA charmingly refers to as "rodent filth."

Anyway, I don't remember if it was you or Sperto that mentioned having caipirinhas made with fake sugar, but I finally remembered to bring my Equal this time and ordered my drinks without sugar. That was a great tip. Thanks.

If you hang out out with Brazilians, they will make fun of 51. They will say its for gringos. For me, it's a bit harsh. If you make caipirinhas, the sugar will mask any harshness. However, I do like sipping on a smooth cachaca.

Sperto must know muddling the mint with sugar releases more oils from the mint. There's a bit of natural chemistry in a good caipirinha. I've tried sweetening caipirinhas with Equal. Stevia works better.

[Mr Enternational]

It tickles me that some people go to extremes to find the currency exchange where they can get 50 reais more for their euros or dollars. If the exchange rate is in the right ballpark, I just change my money and don't think about it anymore.

Something I forgot to mention. I was walking with a buddy down NS on the way to Cervantes. He needed to change some money so we walked into some random exchange place. The rate there was as good as my Charles Schwab card. I think it was 4. 16 for 1 USD. I have had Schwab for a while and had HSBC (is that place still around in Brazil?) for years before that, so I really have not changed money in Rio since the Help days outside of once with the airport porters a couple of years ago.

[Nordico]

51 has always been my favorite. As you can see by the receipt I posted, I also bought a bottle of Ypioca for R30 to try out. EVERYTHING has insect parts in it. That is just a byproduct of being human and eating shit here on earth.

My favourite whisky is DYC. It's the cheapest brand you can find in a bar in Spain, but I like it more than JW Black. The benefit of drinking cheap shit is that in a bar you probably get what you order, but if you order some premium brand, there's no guarantee that you get what the label says.

There could be many reasons for people to buy at duty free shops; they are lazy, they are afraid the bottles may break in their suitcase (never happened to me), most people are already up to their free baggage allowance limit, they finally remember the cousin who takes care of the cat etc.

I calculated that my next trip every waking hour (just airfare and hotels) cost me 56 reais, meaning every hour I waste doing some stupid shit, I pay 56 reais to do that.
It tickles me that some people go to extremes to find the currency exchange where they can get 50 reais more for their euros or dollars. If the exchange rate is in the right ballpark, I just change my money and don't think about it anymore. This of course is not applicable to cachaca, which you can find in every corner store in Brazil.

[ThadMax]

Thanks for the feedback, Rio Rob. I ended up booking a suite the at the Rio Porto Bay, which has a balcony as well. Recent TripAdvisor negative reviews for the Pestana Rio gave me pause for concern.

Nice hotel. Is Rio Porto Bay girl friendly?

[SherlockBones]

Just my 2 cents, while the Marriott or Hilton are a little bit nicer than the Pestana you can get more for your money at the Pestana. For example the Marriott basic rooms are very small, most have no view and windows don't open. On the other hand for about the same money at the Pestana you can get an ocean front suite with a huge balcony, this goes over great with the girls to hang out and party plus you might like it yourself. The bar on top of the hotel has some working girls on weekend nights and I have seen during the day at the pool. Just a little FYI.

Duty Free. About the only thing I drink that is made in Brazil these days is beer and wine from the south. Sure today they make some better Cachacas than in the past but when I arrive in Rio I go to duty free and buy couple of bottles of high end whisky for the room. This is what I drink for the most part, savings are better on high end whisky and they are good quality with less hangover and headaches.

Thanks for the feedback, Rio Rob. I ended up booking a suite the at the Rio Porto Bay, which has a balcony as well. Recent TripAdvisor negative reviews for the Pestana Rio gave me pause for concern.

[Rio Bob]

Thank you for the heads up! I will cancel my reservation and look at either JWM or Hilton. Much appreciated!

Just my 2 cents, while the Marriott or Hilton are a little bit nicer than the Pestana you can get more for your money at the Pestana. For example the Marriott basic rooms are very small, most have no view and windows don't open. On the other hand for about the same money at the Pestana you can get an ocean front suite with a huge balcony, this goes over great with the girls to hang out and party plus you might like it yourself. The bar on top of the hotel has some working girls on weekend nights and I have seen during the day at the pool. Just a little FYI.

Duty Free. About the only thing I drink that is made in Brazil these days is beer and wine from the south. Sure today they make some better Cachacas than in the past but when I arrive in Rio I go to duty free and buy couple of bottles of high end whisky for the room. This is what I drink for the most part, savings are better on high end whisky and they are good quality with less hangover and headaches.

[Mr Enternational]

Most of us will find it funny that someone will even buy cheap crap to take out of the country. If prices are so good, why not take better. Sort of like buying the fake name brand polo shirts in Centro with the Made in USA labels. Anyway, 51 always gives me a headache. I think it is all the impurities (like insect parts).

51 has always been my favorite. As you can see by the receipt I posted, I also bought a bottle of Ypioca for R30 to try out. EVERYTHING has insect parts in it. That is just a byproduct of being human and eating shit here on earth.

"In a regular-sized 16-ounce jar of peanut butter, the FDA will allow up to 136 insect fragments and four rodent hairs."

"For every 100 grams of ground cinnamon, it's OK to include 400 or more insect fragments (legs, heads, wings, thoraxes, etc.), and 22 or more rodent hairsa substance the FDA charmingly refers to as "rodent filth."

Anyway, I don't remember if it was you or Sperto that mentioned having caipirinhas made with fake sugar, but I finally remembered to bring my Equal this time and ordered my drinks without sugar. That was a great tip. Thanks.