Rio de Janeiro Reports

[Jan 156]

Just got back in last night and wondering if I can add anything useful . . . spent fifteen minutes in customs declaring excess cash but no probs. Haggled the airport cambio up from 2.5 GBP to 2.6 Reis to GBP. Today was better - haggled Marilene at NS Copa 80 (near Isabel) up from 2.85 to 2.9. I do not subscribe to the view that one cambio or the other gives best rates - I have had best rates at different times from the airport, Marilene, the cambios around Copa Palace, and the cambio in the shopping mall by Carioca station. I compare two or three that are nearby - cannot be bothered spending all day scoping them. Taxi from airport (departures floor, midnight Sunday) was still 50R, he asked 55 but 50 is an ok price. In case it is of interest to anyone who likes to travel light (I always arrive here with just a tiny amount of stuff that will easiloy fit in cabin baggage), my routine is to buy the necessaries when I arrive from the farmacia and all night supermarket, then go into Saara market next day for stuff that is a fraction of trhe cost in Copa. eg today, havaianas 8R, a TIM chip/sim 15R (and none of that passport hassle that TIM shops give you), a t-shirt <8R, an extension cable 5R, a large bottle of shampoo for garotas 2.5R, and so on. I arrive with two sets of technical clothing (Rohan for Brits - Aussies and US-ers google). One is an all-weather waterproof: lightweight jacket, trousers, trainers (Brasilians cannot make trainers for toffee) that are lightweight, waterproof, breathable and that you can remove the insoles to store large wads of dosh. Then an ultra-light heatproof set inc anti-mozzie shirt. These clothes are higfh-wick, fast-wash, fast-dry, with multiple zips, hidden pockets, loops for attaching phones and keys and stuff. I make two concessions to local custom. Brasillian shorts (cos anything else looks awful). And a Brasilian microceda shirt - usually football but this time of year a Beija-Flor tech-rehearsal shirt from last year carries more kudos. Wear them straight off the plane. Temperature today is 39 degrees. Nice contrasting pic of snowball fights in Berlin on front page of todays O Globo. Quick bus tip going into town (most buses stop two blocks from Uruguiana) - the 382 drops you by the book stands at the corner by Carioca59 knockshop - as handy as the Metro. Ciao.

[JayHighFive]

I realize that if done right if someone builds a place to replace help it will be quite profitable.

But, why from a business perspective, would you do it at a hotel. Forget about regular hotel business. Unless all of your guests are mongers. And if that were true there is no way the city will let that happen. Its too big a property and investment to use for just a nightclub. They can make more money selling the property or renovating and building condos or and making a legit hotel.

I just don't see it. But we will see.

Well you never know. I've been to Thailand and Dubai and in both places the biggest mongering niteclubs are in the hotels. Seem crazy but it works.

[Exec Talent]

The problem is that the city can harass your ass until you have to close. This is just like in the States.

I mean, imagine having to deal with fire inspectors every single week, being fined repeatedly for bullshit code violations, having people come into your club and start fights so that the cops who paid them off can come in and shut everything down.

This is what they're going to have to deal with if they don't get at least tacit approval from the city and state.

So sure, you can open a club alright, but can you keep it open if mongers and GdPs fill it and the city decides to take issue?

The Meridian rumor is all over Copacaban, by the way, and I'm sure Their Majesties the Governor and the Mayor are aware of it by now. The question is, are they going to harass the Meridian's new owners?

Macunaima by any other name still smells like shit. Do you not have the decency to take a hint when you are not wanted? You were given your own thread as Macunaima then as Quincas. What does it take to get rid of you?

[Abzsafado]

It is true guys the place is closed I went by today the Terraco outdoor covered area is gone and there are workers tearing apart the inside of both buildings.

I have mixed emotion like most of you I think back to what it used to be with fond memories even though I have not been a fan of it for a few years now.

Last night Balcony Bar was packed though with some good talent.

It is very weird almost erie walking by help/Terraco.

HELP R. I. P.

Personally all that concerns me about the closure of Help is the knock on effect it will have on the really good places in Rio. I never really liked the place.

[KellySlater]

I realize that if done right if someone builds a place to replace help it will be quite profitable.

But, why from a business perspective, would you do it at a hotel. Forget about regular hotel business. Unless all of your guests are mongers. And if that were true there is no way the city will let that happen. Its too big a property and investment to use for just a nightclub. They can make more money selling the property or renovating and building condos or and making a legit hotel.

I just don't see it. But we will see.

[Rio Bob]

The problem is that the city can harass your ass until you have to close. This is just like in the States.

I mean, imagine having to deal with fire inspectors every single week, being fined repeatedly for bullshit code violations, having people come into your club and start fights so that the cops who paid them off can come in and shut everything down.

This is what they're going to have to deal with if they don't get at least tacit approval from the city and state.

So sure, you can open a club alright, but can you keep it open if mongers and GdPs fill it and the city decides to take issue?

The Meridian rumor is all over Copacaban, by the way, and I'm sure Their Majesties the Governor and the Mayor are aware of it by now. The question is, are they going to harass the Meridian's new owners?

Yeah sure anything can happen, thanks for the cold dose of reality but I can dream if I want.

[RagingBeast]

I used to have a couple local favorite apartments around for fun in the Copacabana area.

Does anyone know if there is still great apartment fun around like 583 apt203 apt204 and clube 53 around siqueira campos?

Any inf is apprieciated.

[John Cricket]

From what I heard they already bought the hotel thru another corporation and they are trying to keep it quiet in order to avoid protests. The outside venue might be a stretch as you say, I can't even think where they could put it. If they do pull it off, people can gather outside in front of Mab's across the street as they do today in TA and then walk across the street and enter the club.

My feeling is that anybody can open a club and they can't stop the GDP's from entering and they can't stop Mongers from entering. If this is all true and they have a Help in the basement of the hotel and they open the hotel, what a hotel this would be.

The problem is that the city can harass your ass until you have to close. This is just like in the States.

I mean, imagine having to deal with fire inspectors every single week, being fined repeatedly for bullshit code violations, having people come into your club and start fights so that the cops who paid them off can come in and shut everything down.

This is what they're going to have to deal with if they don't get at least tacit approval from the city and state.

So sure, you can open a club alright, but can you keep it open if mongers and GdPs fill it and the city decides to take issue?

The Meridian rumor is all over Copacaban, by the way, and I'm sure Their Majesties the Governor and the Mayor are aware of it by now. The question is, are they going to harass the Meridian's new owners?

[Rio Bob]

If they get Meridian going, my bet is that they won't get a dispensation from the city to have an outside venue like Terraço Atlântico.

I also bet that the city will stick every barrier it can in their way, but we'll see.

From what I heard they already bought the hotel thru another corporation and they are trying to keep it quiet in order to avoid protests. The outside venue might be a stretch as you say, I can't even think where they could put it. If they do pull it off, people can gather outside in front of Mab's across the street as they do today in TA and then walk across the street and enter the club.

My feeling is that anybody can open a club and they can't stop the GDP's from entering and they can't stop Mongers from entering. If this is all true and they have a Help in the basement of the hotel and they open the hotel, what a hotel this would be.

[Lorenzo]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VBlaromJY

This clip is from the 2005 German film "Downfall" ("Der Untergang"). Bruno Ganz plays Adolf Hitler. Just giving credit where it's due.

[Eros74]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VBlaromJY

Already posted, and discussed more than enough.

[Dcsplicer]

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VBlaromJY

[RagingBeast]

Just wanted to add a picture from today outside HELP.

The scene is definately different here now in the immediate area as Mia Pataca is pretty slow but Balcony is very busy now.

Went to Lapa last night that was a f-cking blast what a fun place Friday and Saturday nights music thousands of people partying in the streets untill 6:00 or so in the morning.

To get to Lapa from the Copacabana area take the 433 or 434 bus it takes about 30 minutes with a guy driving a bus but thinks he is in a Indy car.

Tomorow I think I will be in the mood for Loumos.

Will add more later.

[Alex Deuce]

The prices for apartments will be affected. The Help girls put a lot of money in those apartments. Many girls subleased them, with up to 10 girls to studios o one bedrooms. I really feel sorry for the girls who were just trying to help their families out of poverty. I think when LuLa leaves office there will be a strong move to send the poor girls back to the favelas and poorer parts of Rio. Those are Rio's gems of beauty. They wanted to live a life outside of poverty. If I had the means I would try and help Rio's poor outside of my mongering budget. No joking!

This is worse than gentrification!

[Jamaicanceo]

It is sad! I spent nice days over the last many years visiting and staying near HELP. Anyone knows whether FLs will still be there outside HELP. Any alternatives to HELP in Rio? It will be interesting to see how this will affect the local economy of that area including apartment prices and etc.

The prices for apartments will be affected. The Help girls put a lot of money in those apartments. Many girls subleased them, with up to 10 girls to studios o one bedrooms. I really feel sorry for the girls who were just trying to help their families out of poverty. I think when LuLa leaves office there will be a strong move to send the poor girls back to the favelas and poorer parts of Rio. Those are Rio's gems of beauty. They wanted to live a life outside of poverty. If I had the means I would try and help Rio's poor outside of my mongering budget. No joking!