General Info

[Golfinho]

If you are at the Isabel end of Copa, Botafogo is closer. If you're at the Ipanema end, Lagoa is closer. In the middle, it's either, but Botafogo is often quicker.

If it's rush hour you may get traffic jams approaching North Centro, either way, but traffic can grind to a long standstill around Lagoa at peak periods. Yet at night Lagoa's a very pretty view. Coming in to Copa from the airport, I always thrill to the sight of Sugar Loaf and Botafogo bay and the lovely long stretch of road that breathes Rio to me. That view is much better on the way in to Copa than when leaving. When leaving Copa, the lights over Lagoa leave beautiful fond memories and images in my mind and I like going that way to the airport (and it manages to miss the traffic of south Centro). The beautiful view of Lagoa sort of justifies the taxi over the price of the bus.

You may thrill to the site of sugar loaf/bay (and feel the breath of Rio in a low tide stench) and carry your beautiful and fond lagoa light site memories, but you will no longer see the roadside favela panorama (or the goats) as barrier fencing now blocks out the view extending from airport. Getting ready for the show. (saw the same fencing strategy in Delhi recently during the Commonwealth Games). Leaving Copa for the airport, there's also the Fig. Malgahaes way out, but not all taxistas seem to favor this one.

[Jan 156]

He had a brand new taxi and he asked me which way do I want to arrive Copa via Botofago or Lagoa?

I had never been asked this question before, so I said lets take the quickest route and he went via Botafogo. The taxi fare was 42 reais.

The funny thing is on my way back to the airport the taxi driver asked me the same question, I gave him the same answer and he went via Lagoa.

Through the years of course I have gone both ways but during high traffic times I always thought one way could be better than the other but during no traffic times does it matter and which is less mileage, anybody know?

If you are at the Isabel end of Copa, Botafogo is closer. If you're at the Ipanema end, Lagoa is closer. In the middle, it's either, but Botafogo is often quicker.

If it's rush hour you may get traffic jams approaching North Centro, either way, but traffic can grind to a long standstill around Lagoa at peak periods. Yet at night Lagoa's a very pretty view. Coming in to Copa from the airport, I always thrill to the sight of Sugar Loaf and Botafogo bay and the lovely long stretch of road that breathes Rio to me. That view is much better on the way in to Copa than when leaving. When leaving Copa, the lights over Lagoa leave beautiful fond memories and images in my mind and I like going that way to the airport (and it manages to miss the traffic of south Centro). The beautiful view of Lagoa sort of justifies the taxi over the price of the bus.

[Golfinho]

I was prepared to go to the departure level to catch a taxi bringing someone in but I looked outside on the arrival level and noticed 6 yellow taxis waiting in a queue. I went to the first one and asked if he uses the meter and he said yes. He had a brand new taxi and he asked me which way do I want to arrive Copa via Botofago or Lagoa?

I had never been asked this question before, so I said lets take the quickest route and he went via Botafogo. The taxi fare was 42 reais.

The funny thing is on my way back to the airport the taxi driver asked me the same question, I gave him the same answer and he went via Lagoa.

Through the years of course I have gone both ways but during high traffic times I always thought one way could be better than the other but during no traffic times does it matter and which is less mileage, anybody know?

Taxi from copacabana posto 5 to airport via Lagoa/Reboucas this morning for a fare of 40 reales. In a 'normal' traffic situation. Can't help but think that all meters are not created equal.

[Rio Bob]

This shows that bahianos are ladrões.

When I arrived in Rio last month, I arrived early and didn't sleep much on the plane. I was tired and lazy so I went up to the taxi booths to see how much it would cost to go to Copa. All of them told me 90 reais. I was no longer lazy, I continued walking and all the guys waiting in the lobby quoted me similar prices, some went down to 80 reais.

I was prepared to go to the departure level to catch a taxi bringing someone in but I looked outside on the arrival level and noticed 6 yellow taxis waiting in a queue. I went to the first one and asked if he uses the meter and he said yes. He had a brand new taxi and he asked me which way do I want to arrive Copa via Botofago or Lagoa?

I had never been asked this question before, so I said lets take the quickest route and he went via Botafogo. The taxi fare was 42 reais.

The funny thing is on my way back to the airport the taxi driver asked me the same question, I gave him the same answer and he went via Lagoa.

Through the years of course I have gone both ways but during high traffic times I always thought one way could be better than the other but during no traffic times does it matter and which is less mileage, anybody know?

[Sperto]

The site works for all of Brazil. I've tested it on several cities and it's very accurate.

I was playing around some more with the taxi fare calculator. I found one city that gave an interesting result.
Salvador, airport to Mercado Modelo, the correct fare is R$ 49 according to the site. In reality the taxis at the airport have their "fixed price" of R$ 90. Bargaining might give you a price of R$ 75.

This shows that bahianos are ladrões.

I shouldn't complain as last time I only payed R$ 40 when taking a taxi leaving passengers at the airport.

There is also a bus that charges about R$ 6. However it takes ages to arrive to your destination.

[Sperto]

Slutlover posted a link in the Manaus section to Manaus taxi fare calculator.

The site works for all of Brazil. I've tested it on several cities and it's very accurate.
http://www.tarifadetaxi.com

Thanks, Slutlover.

[Torgoch]

Playa, Here's a new one. They advertise opening in Nov but they are not open yet and no date is given. Like most new establishments in Rio, nothing ever happens on schedule. http://www.edenspario.com.br/

It is very close to where I am staying, I'm here until the end of November so if it is open before then I will have a look.

[Poucolouco]

There is no list for Copa. Search the Rio thread with keywords 'termas', 'club', 'clubbe', 'bar' or 'NS Copa' and you'll find plenty of venues to keep you entertained in the area. Massagems aren't the big thing in Copa. Copa is setup for guys who like to drink alot, pickup from bars, or get action in the back rooms of a bar.

Try these: http://www.amantesecia.com.br/
http://www.copaterapias.com/v2.0/home.php
Copamassage http://www.amantesecia.com.br/verage...hp?agencia=250

Playa, Here's a new one. They advertise opening in Nov but they are not open yet and no date is given. Like most new establishments in Rio, nothing ever happens on schedule. http://www.edenspario.com.br/

[Torgoch]

What is it with these garotas?

One minute they're fucking your brains out and sucking every drop from your scrotum.

Next, in the post-coital cuddle period, they're asking you what church you go to and then telling you off when you say you don't believe in all that crap. Naturally they are evangelical happy-clappies.

Then, they're shoving it back up their ass and screaming at you to go faster and to destroy their cu.

I have had several girls on this trip in Rio, behave like this..

All I can say is PRAISE THE LORD!!

[Golfinho]

Not only is it polluted but it has a dangerous undertow. I have told this to non mongers and they ask then why do you go? I don't tell this to people anymore.

I saw no activity going on at ground zero, looks like they just knocked Help down and now have a big hole in the ground and nothing is going on.

Haven't gone in the copa water since 2004 since seeing trash and refuse and a sneaker in the wave spume. Course, it's what you can't see that's really bad. The untertow nothing compared to Ipanema or Barra.

Behind the temp fence and what's left of the old back wall at the former-Help site, there is no 'hole in the ground', just a detritus-strewn and concrete rubbled lot. Let's get some graffito up on that fence: it's going to be there for a while.

[Rio Bob]

actually, a dermatologist will tell you the sand in rio is more polluted than the water. and, who on earth is sits in the sand on copacabana beach?

it's true i read an article in o globo a few years back about how they tested the sand on the beach. it was filled with all sorts of bacteria mostly from dog [CodeWord113] and whatever the polluted waters brought up.

i have a friend who used to walk along the water and take photos; he developed an infection that he can't get rid of for years, very serious.

not only is it polluted but it has a dangerous undertow. i have told this to non mongers and they ask then why do you go? i don't tell this to people anymore.

nice videos.
what about ground zero? how does it goes with the construction of museu da imagem e do som?

any news about "the new help" (café del mar)? just a false alarm?

i saw no activity going on at ground zero, looks like they just knocked help down and now have a big hole in the ground and nothing is going on.

i didn’t get a chance to check out café del mar but if it was supposed to be the new help than why was the girl telling me about it at dolce vita (you would think she would have been there). it’s probably just another place like balcony or dolce vita that the girls plan on visiting just to see if they can get a customer but not “the” replacement for help.

[Torgoch]

Any news about "the new Help" (Café del Mar)? Just a false alarm?

Looks like a false alarm to me Sperto. I've been here for over a week and every time I've walked past it in the evenings (admitedly before 11 pm) it has been almost empty with a few well-dressed couples or groups. Certainly no single women dressed to advertise availability. The only action point on Alantica is Balcony.

[Sperto]

A short video of the area: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWn6Jque0F4

Nice videos.
What about ground zero? How does it goes with the construction of Museu da Imagem e do Som?

Any news about "the new Help" (Café del Mar)? Just a false alarm?

[Rio Bob]

I was wondering if they still had touts around there.

Yeah, some of the old touts from 10 years ago are still there. I haven’t sat there in almost 10 years and they still remember my name.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXy4SihluRw

[Golfinho]

Who on earth swims on Copacabana beach?

Didn't you know that all sewage from Copa, Ipanema and Leblon goes straight to the ocean. No treatment at all.

Actually a few months ago a researcher, brazilian, said in TV that all waters around Rio de Janeiro are so polluted that if Brazil would follow international standards it would be prohibited to swim anywhere near Rio.

Well, good luck. I'd go to dermatologist.

Actually, a dermatologist will tell you the sand in Rio is more polluted than the water. and, who on earth is sits in the sand on Copacabana beach?