General Info

[Riofan6]

just returned to usofa this morning after 5 days in copa. there is construction activity on the help / museo site. peeking through the fence you can see lots of workers, lots of materials, pallets of cement and rebar and some kind of weird looking big-ass piece of machinery. it looks to me to be something for setting foundation walls / posts / supports. now whether it will become a museum or a hotel. time will tell.

[Exec Talent]

Speaking of which, how is the new sound and image museum?

It hasn't changed since they demolished Help. My bet is that it will be a hotel with the site sold to the highest bidder. Claiming that the location would be used for a museum just made it easier politically to get rid of Help.

[Mr Enternational]

I was there sometime in July and it appears exactly the same as the pictures below with a couple of glaring exceptions:

In other words it's about the same as it was a year and a half ago when they tore down the club and the restaurant?

[Voyajer1]

i was there sometime in july and it appears exactly the same as the pictures below with a couple of glaring exceptions:

- first, the lights that sorround the colorful fence that borders the site where the museum supposed to reside were gone. not a single bit of movement on the site except for the reappropriation of the lamps.

- second, the site has become the largest unflushable toilet in copacabana. the stench of [CodeWord109] and sh*t, both human and canine (yes, i've seen residents have their dogs do their business right on the fence, inside and outside, no clean up after the deed in some cases) makes the place unsanitary. that's why i took the pictures from afar.

that is, literally, one big sh*thole, pun intended! if there is a pile of dirt on the premises before the world cup, i will say there was real progress. jeez, they move so slowly downthere.

speaking of which, how is the new sound and image museum?

[Mr Enternational]

by the way, according to the locals i've spoken to, they do not plan on building any new hotels for any of the aforementioned events. they plan, at least in rio de janeiro, to expand the berths on the port of rio de janeiro to bring in cruise ships, just like the did when the super bowl took place in jacksonville, fl (anyone remember that crap) because there is no space to accomodate new construction (anyone, remember the old helpee hole on beachfront property?).

speaking of which, how is the new sound and image museum?

[Voyajer1]

damn near every single hotel in rio de janeiro has doubled the cost of lodging and will keep doing so every year until the events take place. i can't imagine what the cost will be once the world cup or the olympic bames take place. i plan on avoiding rio de janeiro for 6 to 8 months before and after each of those events just to insure i don't end up paying 8x's the cost of lodging even though they have not bought a single new piece of linen to justify the increase. the have as the locals mention "febre de ouro" and no one is trying to control this.

by the way, according to the locals i've spoken to, they do not plan on building any new hotels for any of the aforementioned events. they plan, at least in rio de janeiro, to expand the berths on the port of rio de janeiro to bring in cruise ships, just like the did when the super bowl took place in jacksonville, fl (anyone remember that crap) because there is no space to accomodate new construction (anyone, remember the old helpee hole on beachfront property?). unfortunately these high paying customers are in for a very rough ride because the ports happen to be located in ssome extremely decrepid and rough neighborhoods, filled with graffiti and crime. the security on the way to the games better be extremely tight.

recently when i called to reserve a room at one of my favorite love motels they informed me that they were now a hotel. they said my favorite suite was still available but the price had increased. looks like this is becoming a trend.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2011...-925282953.asp

[Poucolouco]

It's the Brasilian way.

Just days before the fatal accident on rua Joaquime Muritinho, a defect in the tracks prevented a descending streetcar from switching to the right side of the road as it made its return run to Lapa. No problema, the motorista, assisted by his cashier just drove on the ascending tracks to descend the mountain. Everyone was quite amused as oncoming cars switched lanes to dodge the descending streetcar and avoid head a collision. Fortunately they did not encounter an ascending streetcar on the same track until after they were able to find an operating switch and get back to the right side of the road.

Watch the video here:

http://oglobo.globo.com/pais/noblat/...mao-402009.asp

[Java Man]

I found a better picture of the trolly's brake held by wire on G1:



Per G1, preliminary cause of crash is brake failure due to loss of air pressure, with the overcrowding of the trolly as a contributing factor.

[Poucolouco]

Wow, that is harsh. Could have been anybody here too! I always think of riding it, and stay right up the street, but never have because the temptations of pussy in Centro apartments keep me too busy.

Incredibly insensitive AP article. 'It is not known if any foreigners are among the dead or injured. '. Are they more valuable than Brasileiros? WTF wrote something like that, filho the puta should be hung off the arches by his balls and left to dry

In my opinion you are over reacting to the AP news release. It was timely, factual and accurate with the details that were available at the time of its release. AP picked up the story from G1 News, the on-line news service of O Globo. AP released the story as reported by G1 News immediately to the world wide press that use the AP news service. The more complete story that you see on O Globo, O Dia, JB online and other brasilian sites was compiled after their reporters had an opportunity to further research the accident and gather more information. The AP report did not state nor infer anything about the value of persons, foreign or domestic and it is illogical to imply that they would do so.

[Member #3439]

I do not agree that article was insensitive. Rio gets a lot of tourist, A lot of tourist ride the trolly. Target audience for AP is mostly intended for English speakers, it's HQ'd in NYC, BTW. Say you have family or friends in Rio, and are unable to get in contact with them. That article is intended for them.

Okay, agreed. Yes, NYC. But from from the perspective of the Brasileiros that I know, reading English, it may be misconstrued by them as EUA elitism and this is embarrasing to me as a person who deals with Brasilieiros who are my customers. And Dues forbid that anyone continue to perpetuate the concept of 'Ugly American' We Americanos are not ugly minded people. No matter what AP says or what the EUA politicians are pushing, most of us value other cultures and people as much as our own. Whenever I go to another country, people home say 'Wow, cool, what did you see there' The old days of Banana Republic are gone and we are okay people, post cold-war, a new breed, in case anyone is mislead. Unfortunately, due to large oceans, it is very expensive to travel from EUA to anywhere else, so with limited international experience, most people here including press are fairly ignorant when it comes to these things, don't have the tact to anticipate how something could be misconstrued by , for example, a Brasileiro reading a AP post.

[Java Man]

I do not agree that article was insensitive. Rio gets a lot of tourist, A lot of tourist ride the trolly. Target audience for AP is mostly intended for English speakers, it's HQ'd in NYC, BTW. Say you have family or friends in Rio, and are unable to get in contact with them. That article is intended for them.

The Oglobo report linked by Sperto has a nice picture, giving one, an idea of the disrepair of the trolly. There is a wire where a bolt should be.



That part is next to the brake, which failed. Also the trolly was overloaded with passengers: 62 when only 40 allowed. AMAST, Associação de Moradores e Amigos de Santa Teresa, (Association of Residents and Friends of Santa Teresa) blames the state government for omissions and neglect of the tram system in the neighborhood. It was only a matter of time according to AMAST.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2011...-925231605.asp

[Sperto]

Incredibly insensitive AP article. 'It is not known if any foreigners are among the dead or injured.'. Are they more valuable than Brasileiros? WTF wrote something like that, filho da puta should be hung off the arches by his balls and left to dry

Btw, there were three french, one portuguese and one english among the injured (and five dead brazilians and about 52 injured brazilians).
http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2011/08/28/bonde-que-descarrilou-em-santa-teresa-usava-arame-em-vez-de-parafuso-para-prender-peca-constata-crea-925231582.asp

[Member #3439]

5 dead. 30 injured.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2011...-925231582.asp

http://amast.org.br/

http://news.yahoo.com/streetcar-dera...223335984.html

Wow, that is harsh. Could have been anybody here too! I always think of riding it, and stay right up the street, but never have because the temptations of pussy in Centro apartments keep me too busy.

Incredibly insensitive AP article. 'It is not known if any foreigners are among the dead or injured.'. Are they more valuable than Brasileiros? WTF wrote something like that, filho da puta should be hung off the arches by his balls and left to dry

[Exec Talent]

5 dead. 30 injured.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/mat/2011...-925231582.asp

http://amast.org.br/

http://news.yahoo.com/streetcar-dera...223335984.html

[Lonzof]

No one has responded with certainty, so I will advise.

Every Sunday they are closed, and last year I was there during the during World Cup games they were almost all closed during the BR games despite it being normal casa hours. I would plan on them being closed 9/7.

Thanks for the reply p playa. I was planning a GFE on this day due the national holiday.

Lonzof