Rio de Janeiro Reports

[Vagabundo1]

Ipanema video.

https://youtu.be/007jQf7_gqk

For those of you into history, Brazil's diplomat Sergio (see the netflix movie with wagner mouro) was filmed at arpoador. The particular culture of Brazil and rio is reflected by Sergio, who should have been listened to by the ignorant Americans. We Swiss, particularly the swiss French, consider the arrogant yanquis with utter disdain!

[Jimmy Boy 99]

The reason he walked is not he did not take Uber. He was walking to a location where Uber pickup is more reliable, less cancelation. Last time 4 of us called Uber from 4 x4, the Uber came and canceled right in front of us. Probably it is easier to just take the taxi from 4 x4 to avoid cancellation.

I think the reason Uber drivers don't want to pick up passengers in front of 4 x4 or other termas may be that they don't want to piss of the taxi drivers waiting at the termas for potential customers leaving the termas.

[Nounce]

Great post JW with a couple of solid tips to boot. The main point is just use your common sense. Avoid empty, dark streets late at night. Use Uber. It is a reliable, cost effective way to get around town. ...

I think all the replies miss this point.

Assault AAR.

1. I agree. Take the uber from 4 x4. That is the first lesson learned. The victim here was walking to Windsor in order to avoid the problem where Uber cancels the user for getting picked up at the terma....

The rest of the replies to this post seem inconsequential.

The reason he walked is not he did not take Uber. He was walking to a location where Uber pickup is more reliable, less cancelation. Last time 4 of us called Uber from 4 x4, the Uber came and canceled right in front of us. Probably it is easier to just take the taxi from 4 x4 to avoid cancellation.

[Axel Heyst]

With all due respect, vagabundo is out of his mind.

Spent over 8 months in rio / SP so far.

If you are a gringo, wearing a flamengo shirt will do nothing. You will still stick out like a gringo with a flamengo shirt.

Using a taser is absolutely ridiculous. You shouldn't be in an area like the intersection of ave. Vargas and urugaiana walking on a weeknight at 10 pm in the first place. Leave at sundown.

Rio is mostly safe during the day, just stay in the areas that are busy / populated. Use common sense.

Vagabundo I believe is talking in third person in the posts below, which shows the mental clarity.

He's former military I assume, so take his advice with a grain of salt.

IMO, absolutely do not wear the local "bombeiro" shirts, or anything close to that. It does not help you blend in, as a gringo. Rather, it draws a bigger target.

See my post history if you don't believe me. Just keep to yourself and you'll be fine. But the over-cautionary tales of the fanny pack, taser, flashlight etc. Are absolutely excessive.

Again, if you are a gringo, everyone will know. Just don't wear jewelry or use your cell in public. Everything else is over-precautionary.

Been visiting the centro prives, usually at 11 am and 5 pm daily, all going well. Favorites are dark room in praa olavo bilac and sala 2107 at av 13 de maio (not sure, too lazy to look). It's paradise in rio.

The turnover is huge, half the girls I saw last month aren't working prives now. Use good hygeine, be a gentleman, and you'll get better service than 80% of the clients.

Just my two cents.

JW.

Great post JW with a couple of solid tips to boot. The main point is just use your common sense. Avoid empty, dark streets late at night. Use Uber. It is a reliable, cost effective way to get around town. I wear solid color t-shirts & jeans every night and people do not know that I am an American until I open my mouth begin to speak.

Here is a great "with all due respect" clip from Talladego Nights:. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af-Id_fuXFA.

[Nounce]

... So my understanding is the victim here "tased" the first assailant twice (the body and the neck), while the second assailant just stood there and watched? What if he didn't? What if he stabbed him in the gut or face before getting tased too?...

I think the second guy was also "tased" but was still standing.

The corner of Avenida Presidente Vargas and Rio Branco is not a good place to be at night after business hours. I myself just head directly into an Uber when leaving 4 x 4. Newbies should take caution.

...

I think it depends on which corner. If you walk out from 4x4 and do not cross the street, that corner maybe more dangerous. It's nuts to take taxi from 116 to 211 but maybe worth doing if danger is a concern.

[Xpartan]

With all due respect, vagabundo is out of his mind.

Spent over 8 months in rio / SP so far.

If you are a gringo, wearing a flamengo shirt will do nothing. You will still stick out like a gringo with a flamengo shirt.

Using a taser is absolutely ridiculous. You shouldn't be in an area like the intersection of ave. Vargas and urugaiana walking on a weeknight at 10 pm in the first place. Leave at sundown.

Rio is mostly safe during the day, just stay in the areas that are busy / populated. Use common sense.

Vagabundo I believe is talking in third person in the posts below, which shows the mental clarity.

He's former military I assume, so take his advice with a grain of salt.

IMO, absolutely do not wear the local "bombeiro" shirts, or anything close to that. It does not help you blend in, as a gringo. Rather, it draws a bigger target.

See my post history if you don't believe me. Just keep to yourself and you'll be fine. But the over-cautionary tales of the fanny pack, taser, flashlight etc. Are absolutely excessive.

Again, if you are a gringo, everyone will know. Just don't wear jewelry or use your cell in public. Everything else is over-precautionary.

JW.

Senor Vagabundo is not crazy, but he is indeed ex-military from what I understand. He might also enjoy an occasional adrenalin rush, which doesn't or rather shouldn't appeal to 99.9% of visiting gringos who come to Brazil for only one kind of combat that has nothing to do with tasers, water bottles and knives, IMHO.

Don't try to prove you're a tough guy in Rio, fellows. If you do get assaulted, give them your money and your fucking phone. Make sure it's a shitty phone and not iPhone 13. Make sure you don't have more than $30-60 on you to give them. Make sure you have nothing else that can interest your friendly Rio mugger, like a watch or gold chain. They don't need your life, and you don't need the risk of getting injured or worse.

I have stupidly walked Centro streets at night on multiple occasions and never gotten in trouble. But that's pure luck. Instead, uber everywhere. If there is no Uber, there are cabs standing by at every terma. So pay a tiny bit more and travel safely. The cabbies picking you up at a terma won't rip you off. At least I've never had an issue.

By the way, technically speaking, a stun gun is not a taser. Taser can shoot at a distance, but you only have one shot. A stun gun can hit a target multiple times, but it has to be applied DIRECTLY to the body;.

So my understanding is the victim here "tased" the first assailant twice (the body and the neck), while the second assailant just stood there and watched? What if he didn't? What if he stabbed him in the gut or face before getting tased too?

I mean, kudos to that guy, but he got incredibly lucky, IMHO. Unlike VB, I wouldn't recommend anyone to try and replicate his success.

[Vagabundo1]

Senor JohnnyWalker,

With all respect:

I was not describing what happened to me. I was describing what actually happened to a ISG friend who is in town.

Everyone is entitled to his own opinion. I am just reporting facts. The ISGer I reported on a week ago was attacked, and he did use the taser flashlight to defend himself as I described. A month ago, another ISGer friend was also attacked on President Vargas at knife point, late at night, and robbed of a cell phone. I gave him a loaner cell phone.

I've been here 26 straight months now.

Another lesson learned is that Perola Negra in Barra has the same talent, literally, the same girls as 4 x 4, but the area is safe.

Best.

Vagabundo I believe is talking in third person in the posts below, which shows the mental clarity.


JW.

[JohnnyWalker55]

With all due respect, vagabundo is out of his mind.

Spent over 8 months in rio / SP so far.

If you are a gringo, wearing a flamengo shirt will do nothing. You will still stick out like a gringo with a flamengo shirt.

Using a taser is absolutely ridiculous. You shouldn't be in an area like the intersection of ave. Vargas and urugaiana walking on a weeknight at 10 pm in the first place. Leave at sundown.

Rio is mostly safe during the day, just stay in the areas that are busy / populated. Use common sense.

Vagabundo I believe is talking in third person in the posts below, which shows the mental clarity.

He's former military I assume, so take his advice with a grain of salt.

IMO, absolutely do not wear the local "bombeiro" shirts, or anything close to that. It does not help you blend in, as a gringo. Rather, it draws a bigger target.

See my post history if you don't believe me. Just keep to yourself and you'll be fine. But the over-cautionary tales of the fanny pack, taser, flashlight etc. Are absolutely excessive.

Again, if you are a gringo, everyone will know. Just don't wear jewelry or use your cell in public. Everything else is over-precautionary.

Been visiting the centro prives, usually at 11 am and 5 pm daily, all going well. Favorites are dark room in praça olavo bilac and sala 2107 at av 13 de maio (not sure, too lazy to look). It's paradise in rio.

The turnover is huge, half the girls I saw last month aren't working prives now. Use good hygeine, be a gentleman, and you'll get better service than 80% of the clients.

Just my two cents.

JW.

[Nounce]

Any update??

It is business as usual according to local WA group report.

[Vagabundo1]

7. Do wear a local soccer shirt. I gave the victim a flamengo shirt. He should have worn it. A guy wearing a flamengo shirt (or better vasco, of course) who is not carrying a cell phone openly is not an attractive victim because he does not profile as a gringo / tourist / target. The victim insists on wearing Nascar and other obvious gringo shirts. Which makes him a target AND makes anyone he is with a target. Don't get me started on overpaying at 4 x4, which of course has been litigated to death on these pages.

Assault AAR.

1. I agree. Take the uber from 4x4. That is the first lesson learned. The victim here was walking to Windsor in order to avoid the problem where Uber cancels the user for getting picked up at the terma.

2. Do not take out cell phone (see previous assault on Pres Vargas in centro). The victim here took out his cell to call the uber to Windsor, a saved place.

3. Do buddy up. The victim here was alone.

4. Use of the taser. The victim here did use the taser. The attacker was tased to the body, and then to the neck, which put the attacker on the ground. The second attacker, not deterred, was also tased to the body. So, practice with and be able to use the taser flashlight, which is non lethal (though the flashlight is built to have a knife edge which can be used, so it is really a good single device for escalation of force = A) the light, b) the taser, C) the knife edge).

5. Carry a bottle, as Executive Talent has said. When I am walking in a high threat area like centro at night or VM anytime, in one hand I carry both the flashlight taser with a wrist strap, and a bottle, plastic o glass. A bottle is a great non lethal or possibly lethal item. A plastic bottle can be thrown, and a glass bottle can be broken and used to cut. I hate to be too graphic, but the reality is that Rio is a city at war, at war between rich and poor. It is the off season, and the poor are getting more desperate.

6. Immediate action. If you are injured, you should carry a bandage (a boxing hand wrap is a good dual use item), tourniquet (a belt) and know how to call and get to medical help. The local numbers are 190 for police, 193 for firemen, 192 for ambulance. Given response times, it would be better probably to take a cab or uber to the best trauma hospital, which is at Central, about 100 meters South of Central metro.

[The Critic]

Hope everyone is enjoying themselves in Rio. I sure miss the place.

I read several pages back that 4 x4 was shut down by local authorities back in April, but a few days later I saw that someone said they had visited in May. Can anyone who has been on ground recently confirm if it is still open or not?

Cheers,

TIA.

Any update??

[Layne87]

Hi Rio Fans,

So I read lot her about Termas Eden Spa, 4x4, Monte Carlo etc, but seems not much visits to Centaurus from you guys.

I m curious about Centaurus.

I know its maybe the most luxurious and most expensive establishment in Rio.

But seems, as I read on other sources, it was in the past, especially on weekends with impressive Line-Up and model look girls.

Sometimes possible to find new young girls just coming into this business, who just there on weekends for extra money.

Also, the atmosphere and mood of the girls seems to be higher.

This is what I m looking for, model look from 7/10, young girls.

Sure, it can be expensive for Brazil standards..

Cent is not the most expensive anymore. But be careful if you do an hour. It goes to r900. R600 for 40 I think. You also do not pay as you walk in anymore. You pay girl / bar fee before you go up to room though. Entry and drinks upon exit. Girls are aggressive in Cent. Yes the lineup beats the other termas in quality. But you MUST choose carefully. Lots of pros mixed in with the new girls you seek. Many are hit and run. You will need patience and be aggressive back waiting on the one you like. You will be saying no politely a lot. It kind of ruins the fun relaxed atmosphere of a terma run but the quality is there.

[Vagabundo1]

Assault AAR.

1. I agree. Take the uber from 4 x4. That is the first lesson learned. The victim here was walking to Windsor in order to avoid the problem where Uber cancels the user for getting picked up at the terma.

2. Do not take out cell phone (see previous assault on Pres Vargas in centro). The victim here took out his cell to call the uber to Windsor, a saved place.

3. Do buddy up. The victim here was alone.

4. Use of the taser. The victim here did use the taser. The attacker was tased to the body, and then to the neck, which put the attacker on the ground. The second attacker, not deterred, was also tased to the body. So, practice with and be able to use the taser flashlight, which is non lethal (though the flashlight is built to have a knife edge which can be used, so it is really a good single device for escalation of force = A) the light, b) the taser, C) the knife edge).

5. Carry a bottle, as Executive Talent has said. When I am walking in a high threat area like centro at night or VM anytime, in one hand I carry both the flashlight taser with a wrist strap, and a bottle, plastic o glass. A bottle is a great non lethal or possibly lethal item. A plastic bottle can be thrown, and a glass bottle can be broken and used to cut. I hate to be too graphic, but the reality is that Rio is a city at war, at war between rich and poor. It is the off season, and the poor are getting more desperate.

6. Immediate action. If you are injured, you should carry a bandage (a boxing hand wrap is a good dual use item), tourniquet (a belt) and know how to call and get to medical help. The local numbers are 190 for police, 193 for firemen, 192 for ambulance. Given response times, it would be better probably to take a cab or uber to the best trauma hospital, which is at Central, about 100 meters South of Central metro.

The corner of Avenida Presidente Vargas and Rio Branco is not a good place to be at night after business hours. I myself just head directly into an Uber when leaving 4 x 4. Newbies should take caution.

What's your take on walking around Centro at night VB?

[Robreefer]

I'm in town from Southern California for the next couple weeks. My 3rd time in Brazil but my first time being let off the leash. I will at least be out on the town for each NHL game (tonight included) and the remaining NBA finals games.

Last time I was here I watched all of my American sports at "Blue Agave" and ate their shitty Mexican food. Brazilians truly have no taste for spice. I swear my wife thinks root beer is too spicy.

Unfortunately, the Blue Agave is closed down so I will likely be watching sports at Mabs or some other expat tourist trap. I have read a lot of reviews on this forum in regards to the ladies (or, lack thereof) at Mabs, but I am mostly interested in high quality TVs that will have American sports. Any other suggestions to watch American sports are definitely welcome!!

Sadly, my budget for mongering is capped at about $1,000 USD (liquid cash). But I have much more to spend on food and bar tabs. I'm definitely looking to sample at least one Terma, and as many massage parlors as possible.

I would also like to go out in Baja Tijuca to the night clubs a bit if any of the younger guys need a wing man, let me know! Either way I am down to meet up with anyone who is like minded regardless of age. I'm a fairly young 36.

Sort of a long shot, but I brought my 2 FPV drones here with me in case anyone needs a real wing man and down to fly!

[WyattEarp]

Vagabundo gave the below items including a taser flashlight to a ISGer on Sunday night. He used the taser flashlight to actually put two attackers on the ground after he left 4 x 4. This occurred at about 22 h on Monday at the intersection of Av Pres Vargas and Av Rio Branco. You can find the taser flashlight in the popular mercado at Metro Uruguiana on the alley that continues Rua Alfandega at the knife shop across from the smoke shop, which BTW also has good cheap bongs for 30 r. Vagabundo will be maintaining a few spare loaner taser flashlights which cost 70 r.

Be careful out there.

The corner of Avenida Presidente Vargas and Rio Branco is not a good place to be at night after business hours. I myself just head directly into an Uber when leaving 4 x 4. Newbies should take caution.

What's your take on walking around Centro at night VB?