General Info

[Sunset Strip]

I still like Fogo de Chao, always good meat; however, I cannot get over the fact there are more of them in the USA than in Brazil. California itself has more Fogo de Chaos than all of Brazil! Seems to be more of an American brand now!

SS.

[BackDoorD]

Churrascaria Palace is in Copacabana on Rodolfo Dantas between Atlantica and Nossa Senhora, facing the side of Copacabana Palace. I've always thought it to be the best of the 2nd-tier Churrascarias -- that is, if you want to go to one and don't want to visit Fogo de Chao in Botafogo. Haven't been there for over a year though. About 5 minute walk at most from Metro Cardeal Arcoverde.

There is apparently an argentinan-style steakhouse called Tragga operating in Botafogo. It's on my list to check out. Some people have told me it's great, others (the Leblon crowd) have downplayed it.

-Cartman.

Tragga is a bit hit and miss. I've been a couple of times; first was great, second was so-so. My go to, always outstanding steakhouse in Rio is CT Boucherie. They do a rodizio of side dishes so you don't have to choose a single side dish or pay for multiples. The 900 gram florentina for 2 hungry people is fantastic. The new Rubaiyat is good too. Beside the jockey club. Amazing setting.

[FuckAfMedDig]

If anyone of you are adventurous and find yourself in Zona Norte, go here to eat. Great meat, lamb pasteis, sucos etc.

Near Nova America Shopping.

[Eric Cartman]

I also discovered a new Chuascaria that has been there for over 50 years The Chuascaria Palace. It was a new experience for me, I might have been here before years ago but it was old school style just like Mariu's was over 30 years ago and even Porcao which is closed now, I really enjoyed it.
.

Churrascaria Palace is in Copacabana on Rodolfo Dantas between Atlantica and Nossa Senhora, facing the side of Copacabana Palace. I've always thought it to be the best of the 2nd-tier Churrascarias -- that is, if you want to go to one and don't want to visit Fogo de Chao in Botafogo. Haven't been there for over a year though. About 5 minute walk at most from Metro Cardeal Arcoverde.

There is apparently an argentinan-style steakhouse called Tragga operating in Botafogo. It's on my list to check out. Some people have told me it's great, others (the Leblon crowd) have downplayed it.

-Cartman.

[Exec Talent]

I also discovered a new Chuascaria that has been there for over 50 years The Chuascaria Palace. It was a new experience for me, I might have been here before years ago but it was old school style just like Mariu's was over 30 years ago and even Porcao which is closed now, I really enjoyed it.

Great report Rio Bob!

Churrascaria Palace is one of the GF's favorite places because they have a great selection of seafood as well as terrific BBQ pork ribs.

I am a member of their discount club and receive regular emails on their specials. If I remember correctly they emailed me a temporary card then mailed me a permanent plastic one. If you do not have a Rio address, you should be able to just give them your name or membership number which I have done when I forgot my card.

http://churrascariapalace.com.br/en/clube-palace/

Great place for a date because it is not too large and they often have a very talented piano player in the evenings.

[Rio Bob]

I was in Buzios for Christmas and Rio / Copacabana for New Years eve this year. It was not a mongering trip, it was a family holiday trip, I took 3 family members of mine on this trip all expenses paid, lucky them. Only because of time constraints and I didn't want to leave them alone I only had one mongering session in the Eden Spa that was magnificent with Bruna I believe, they presented 4 girls this one kissed me on the lips and gave some tongue which sealed the deal, she did not disappoint.

Buzios had a lot of families but there were a good amount of single girls mixed in from Brazil and Argentina, with the right language skills and game one could have scored something while on holiday, unfortunately I was not in a position to.

Copacabana was packed, my hotel was 100% full and again many families with single girls mixed in that I'm sure were looking for some fun, many tourists from Argentina, I did not hear much English being spoken the whole trip, mostly Spanish and Portuguese. On New Years eve I had reservations at Don Camillo on Ave Atlantica in Copacabana, $250 dollars plus a person which included Lobster and Champagne and live music, it was a nice experience. Other venues were charging like 800 or 900 dollars per person like the Marriott for roof top party, I would imagine the fireworks would look awesome from this vantage point. At midnight the whole restaurant went out to the street / Orla to experience the fireworks display. The fireworks display was awesome although cut short from 20 minutes to 12 minutes due to the economic crisis and even the Christmas tree in Lagoa was not there this year for same reason and it has been there for some 15 years or so. I did not see any of the entertainment provided on the beach as I was too far away and didn't want to get mixed up in the crowd of some 2 million people with a $2,000 plus camera in my hand, everybody was warning us about theft.

I also discovered a new Chuascaria that has been there for over 50 years The Chuascaria Palace. It was a new experience for me, I might have been here before years ago but it was old school style just like Mariu's was over 30 years ago and even Porcao which is closed now, I really enjoyed it.

This was my first time doing New Years eve in Copacabana and it was very exciting for me even though this year will be the 37th year since I first stepped foot in Rio and discovered my calling LOL. I took a lot of pictures of Buzios and Copacabana but unfortunately the photos I have of the fireworks are only videos. Attached are 2 photos taken from my hotel balcony at about 9 pm with all the barges in place to shoot off the fireworks and 1 from Chuascaria palace which is next to the Copacabana Palace, also mixed in some Ipanema and Buzios photos.

Unfortunately my hotel was right in front of HO beach and I sat there twice and fortunately I did not see one HO (remember family was with me), there were girls there and it was packed as they were running out of chairs and umbrellas but I didn't think they were HO's.

After all the expense and playing tour guide I owe myself a mongering trip soon.

[Exec Talent]

Recently someone who has never contributed anything to this forum used the lame excuse that those who contribute get criticized for providing erroneous information. Whereas the real concern should be that the regular contributors lose interest in the forum because all they do is correct misinformation from others.

For example, other than the great beach video of a thief, there really has not been any reports of New Year's in Rio. Did the poor economy and ongoing corruption investigations damper the celebration? Was tourism down? How was the entertainment and fireworks?

[Mexicano1208]

Hey guys! I have been out of the network for a while, but planning a 2 to 3 eeek trip to Brazil. I plan to go at the end of June or early July. I was wondering what is the best city in Brazil to monger. I have only been to Rio, and Fortaleza. I want to Rio in the early 2000's and back then Brazil was heaven due to prices. I have read the threads and it seems that a lot has changed. I am fluent in Spanish and my Portuguese is intermediate. I can hold a conversation and read Portuguese extremely well. I would like to get some opinions on the best place in terms of price, and service. Thanks. I owe you guys a report when I return.

[Sperto]

Hi everybody.

I have the opportunity to take vacation between roughly Dec 27th and January 7th.

I would like to know if people would recommend travelling to Brazil for hobby at this time (Sao Paolo and / or Rio?). Or if that would be a waste of time and money.

I would chose Rio instead of São Paulo because of the New Year celebration. Hotel or apartment will be expensive. On New Years Eve and the 1:st of January the privês are normally closed. This year that's not so bad as it happens on a weekend, meaning you don't loose any "mongering days". Of course there will be less girls as many girls choose to take some days off and travel around New Year.

The New Years Eve in Copacabana is a very memorable experience, which I never miss.

[Rio6160]

Hi everybody.

I have the opportunity to take vacation between roughly Dec 27th and January 7th.

I would like to know if people would recommend travelling to Brazil for hobby at this time (Sao Paolo and / or Rio?). Or if that would be a waste of time and money.

I've never been to Brazil, but by RTFF, I feel I'm more into "organized stuff" (clinicas, boates, termas), than just bringing a bar girl to the hotel.

Thanks in advance for any input.

You guys take care.

,

new years eve night in Rio will be packed in Copa. for fireworks on the beach.

[Reef LostCause]

Hi everybody.

I have the opportunity to take vacation between roughly Dec 27th and January 7th.

I would like to know if people would recommend travelling to Brazil for hobby at this time (Sao Paolo and / or Rio?). Or if that would be a waste of time and money.

I've never been to Brazil, but by RTFF, I feel I'm more into "organized stuff" (clinicas, boates, termas), than just bringing a bar girl to the hotel.

Thanks in advance for any input.

You guys take care.

[Rio D]

OK currency gurus. The "Trump effect" slammed the Brazil Real along with other emerging markets, dropping its value vs USD from 3. 24 to 3. 4+ in a 24 HR period. There was a slight recovery last week to 3. 38, but last week the Fed also announced it was "likely" to raise US interest rates (finally). So the question: is the Fed rate hike already priced in, or if it happens will the BRL get slammed again.

Usually, widely watched market events (such as FED policy changes) follow the 'buy the rumour, sell the news' rule. That is, a given market will begin moving in a certain direction just on the expectation of an event, and when the event is finally announced, the market will show little reaction, or even reverse direction. This means the Fed rate hike is probably already priced in, especially since Fed officials have 'telegraphed' it to the market in advance with their many public comments. The only surprise would be if they (1) announced a rate hike larger than. 25 basis points, or (2) if they announced NO rate hike. A larger-than-expected hike would send the USD flying higher and slam the Euro along with the BRL (a decision of no rate hike would probably only happen if a stock market crash occurred between now and mid December). Once the rate hike is finally announced, currency markets will begin looking more at economic reports, world stock prices, commodity prices, and the Eurozone for it's influences.

[Eric Cartman]

If you're buying USD at 3. 38 or 3. 48, you're getting screwed. I use a Sao Paulo based bank called Confidence, a subsidiary of Travelex. They are amazingly unbureaucratic. Pay about 3 points over published rate, so at 3. 33, I get USD at 3. 36. If you want the contact details, I can send you my bankers details. PM me if interested. Takes about a week to open an account with them, but worth it for the ease of FX transactions in any currency.

Please send me details via PM, thanks. I just tried through their site and they offered a rate of BRL 3. 525 (to buy 15,000 USD. So something's off vs. What you said above. Maybe I need to talk to them.

[BackDoorD]

Thanks for the comments.

I'm not "worrying" -- I'm just trying to figure out if I send a bunch of BRL (like, BRL 50 K+) back to the USA now, buying USD at something like $3. 38-3. 48, or if I wait and see if the BRL gets back into the $3. 20-3. 25 area before year-end. Fundamentally it might only make a difference of $500 USD or so, so maybe it doesn't matter. Market timing is a *****.

If you're buying USD at 3. 38 or 3. 48, you're getting screwed. I use a Sao Paulo based bank called Confidence, a subsidiary of Travelex. They are amazingly unbureaucratic. Pay about 3 points over published rate, so at 3. 33, I get USD at 3. 36. If you want the contact details, I can send you my bankers details. PM me if interested. Takes about a week to open an account with them, but worth it for the ease of FX transactions in any currency.

[Eric Cartman]

T
End of the day, the world is a mess and smart people have looked stupid for most of 2016, so the best thing to do is bury your face in some tasty vagina (preferably Brazilian) and stop worrying.

Thanks for the comments.

I'm not "worrying" -- I'm just trying to figure out if I send a bunch of BRL (like, BRL 50 K+) back to the USA now, buying USD at something like $3. 38-3. 48, or if I wait and see if the BRL gets back into the $3. 20-3. 25 area before year-end. Fundamentally it might only make a difference of $500 USD or so, so maybe it doesn't matter. Market timing is a *****.