Rio de Janeiro Reports

[QUOTE=Geofagus]Guys,

I am new here, even though been going to Rio for a long time. I want to start discovering Centro. I plan on going to 4X4, Termas 502, Termas 21, Termas 65 and Termas Cancun. They all seem to be in the same area. However, can you guys recomend any 2nd tier houses or apartments that are alot less expensive? Is there a list out here of those 2nd tier places around the Urugania Station I could go to? Any help?

Thanks![/QUOTE]
There are lots of maps and lists on the forum. I did a search and found the information my first time in centro.

Since there has been lots (too much in my opinion) of talk about centro thermas in the last 2 months I would suggest looking at the posts and compiling your own list.

have fun,
TJ

[QUOTE=Asstroglide]Yo TJ, could very well have been her. She was definitely darker than most of the girls in there, but I didn't really consider her black. I believe I was darker than she was and I'm not the darkest brother out there.[/QUOTE]
In that case it was Bruna, she is thick, and a morena clara. Or did she have the sniffles or seem to have a cold? That is another girl.
You know what I bet it was this second girl because she is aggresive and hits newbies hard. She thought I was one and came on real strong.

Was the cute-faced blonde, Melenie, there? She always stands in the door.
How about the light-skinned woman working the desk? She used to work on the first floor. She has lost weight but that is a really big butt. Man, you should have seen it in a thong!


TJ

[QUOTE=TJ Fannatic]There are lots of maps and lists on the forum. I did a search and found the information my first time in centro.

Since there has been lots (too much in my opinion) of talk about centro thermas in the last 2 months I would suggest looking at the posts and compiling your own list.

have fun,

TJ[/QUOTE]I am going to explore Centro this trip for the first time. I usually stay in Copacabanna, so I plan to take the Metro up in the afternoon and stay there until 9 or 10 pm. My question is, Should I take a cab outside in Centro and go back to my apartment in Copacabanna around 10pm or is it safe to get on the Metro, get off at Siquiera Campos and walk down to Avenida Atlantica where my apartment is? Naturally safety is my #1 priority. Any advice on which way to go? Usually at night after 10pm, I dont walk around the Copacabanna area by myself, unless I;m outside of HELP. My apartment is right on the corner.

Any advice which way to come back to Copacabanna from Centro around 10pm?

Thanks

[QUOTE=TJ Fannatic]In that case it was Bruna, she is thick, and a morena clara.
Was the cute-faced blonde, Melenie, there? She always stands in the door.
How about the light-skinned woman working the desk? She used to work on the first floor. She has lost weight but that is a really big butt. Man, you should have seen it in a thong!

TJ[/QUOTE]Haha, man, you sound way too excited! I feel like I missed a whole of of good stuff there during all of my wandering. Shame I couldn't have gone with you and had you show me the ropes, sounds like you really know the place!

what is the status of helpee?
is it still open, or have a scheduled closing date.

buscemi

[QUOTE=Geofagus]I am going to explore Centro this trip for the first time. I usually stay in Copacabanna, so I plan to take the Metro up in the afternoon and stay there until 9 or 10 pm. My question is, Should I take a cab outside in Centro and go back to my apartment in Copacabanna around 10pm or is it safe to get on the Metro, get off at Siquiera Campos and walk down to Avenida Atlantica where my apartment is? Naturally safety is my #1 priority. Any advice on which way to go? Usually at night after 10pm, I dont walk around the Copacabanna area by myself, unless I;m outside of HELP. My apartment is right on the corner.

Any advice which way to come back to Copacabanna from Centro around 10pm?

Thanks[/QUOTE]The metro in Rio is safer than being in a taxi. You will have no problems. Cantalago to Carioca or Uriguianna, safe as.

I think metro runs from 5 in the morning till midnight.

[quote=buscemi]what is the status of helpee?

is it still open, or have a scheduled closing date.

buscemi[/quote]help is still open, i will be there on wedensday night. but as far as i know, it's open. the rumours off it closing have been going on for years now.

It would take me a year to read all this great stuff!

Thanks for the shortcut.

[QUOTE=Geofagus]I am going to explore Centro this trip for the first time. I usually stay in Copacabanna, so I plan to take the Metro up in the afternoon and stay there until 9 or 10 pm. My question is, Should I take a cab outside in Centro and go back to my apartment in Copacabanna around 10pm or is it safe to get on the Metro, get off at Siquiera Campos and walk down to Avenida Atlantica where my apartment is? Naturally safety is my #1 priority. Any advice on which way to go? Usually at night after 10pm, I dont walk around the Copacabanna area by myself, unless I;m outside of HELP. My apartment is right on the corner.

Any advice which way to come back to Copacabanna from Centro around 10pm?

Thanks[/QUOTE]You have all day and all night? WALK BACK. Man, by the time you get caipirinha'ed in the casas or whatever, how are you supposed to drag yourself down into the Metro. What do you think cabs are for anyway?

[QUOTE=Geofagus]I am going to explore Centro this trip for the first time. I usually stay in Copacabanna, so I plan to take the Metro up in the afternoon and stay there until 9 or 10 pm. My question is, Should I take a cab outside in Centro and go back to my apartment in Copacabanna around 10pm or is it safe to get on the Metro, get off at Siquiera Campos and walk down to Avenida Atlantica where my apartment is? Naturally safety is my #1 priority. Any advice on which way to go? Usually at night after 10pm, I dont walk around the Copacabanna area by myself, unless I;m outside of HELP. My apartment is right on the corner.

Any advice which way to come back to Copacabanna from Centro around 10pm?

Thanks[/QUOTE]
If you are worried about safety, then take a cab. I think that the favela-scum can smell fear in guys and then home in on them.

At 10 pm the streets are pretty empty (well, comparatively). And a cab from centro to copa should not run much above R20.

[QUOTE=Geofagus]I am going to explore Centro this trip for the first time. I usually stay in Copacabanna, so I plan to take the Metro up in the afternoon and stay there until 9 or 10 pm. My question is, Should I take a cab outside in Centro and go back to my apartment in Copacabanna around 10pm or is it safe to get on the Metro, get off at Siquiera Campos and walk down to Avenida Atlantica where my apartment is? Naturally safety is my #1 priority. Any advice on which way to go? Usually at night after 10pm, I dont walk around the Copacabanna area by myself, unless I;m outside of HELP. My apartment is right on the corner.

Any advice which way to come back to Copacabanna from Centro around 10pm?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

My rule is to leave centro by 8pm. Take what Euro said to heart: this is not the place to get into trouble and NOBODY speaks English when trouble begins!

You can actually take the metro to the new last station on the South line (Cantagaio), and exit on Rua Xavier da Silveria and you are just a few blocks from the beach and your apartment.

Rua Xavier da Silveria is the street where the Rio Othon, the hotel by Meia Pataca, is located. Just walk away from the beach and there is the station. Then walk toward the beach on the way back.

TJ

[QUOTE=Geofagus]It would take me a year to read all this great stuff!

Thanks for the shortcut.[/QUOTE]Actually does not take all that long to sort through these threads. Well work the time and effort in both great experiences that follow and maximizing your budget. Lots of great advice has been dispensed throughout the different threads. And you will pick up tips and some stories that make you really appreciate the culture and get you in the mindset to really enjoy Rio - not just the garotas. And I have found that if you do that the garotas enjoy their time with you more.

Without wanting to minimize the excellent advice already given, there are activities that do not involve mongering. There are some excellent concerts, shows, movies and so on in town in the evening, especially towards the Cinelandia side of Centro. The main point being know exactly where you are going beforehand. Whether to take a cab or not in Centro mostly comes down , for me, to a feel of the streets at any particular time. If in doubt and you're new to Centro, always get a cab at night. After you get to know your way around, you know where and when you can walk, just as cariocas there do. Whether for mongering in late night joints or going to a classy concert. The walk back from 4x4 to the Metro shouldn't give anyone a problem but, if you blow 4x4 -type money, doing anything except getting a cab seems a bit cheapskating. My main exception is if I feel like walking the few yards to Rio Branco and getting a bus. (Or the few yards to Vargas if going the other way, to VM.)

Buses run all night. Buses from Rio Branco are exceptionally easy cos they have the word Copa in big letters on the front. Just have your small change ready. Buses are generally safe (I personally find them safer than taxis in many situations) but the Metro is the number one safest. If I am coming back to Copa at night (10pm is not that late) from Centro, especially to the SQ or Cantagalo / Help area, I am very much more concerned with safety there than in the main strips of Centro.

If you do want to explore Centro, best to do so first in the day. Nothing looks dumber and more inviting than someone who hasn't a clue where they are going at night.

[QUOTE=Geofagus]I am going to explore Centro this trip for the first time. I usually stay in Copacabanna, so I plan to take the Metro up in the afternoon and stay there until 9 or 10 pm. My question is, Should I take a cab outside in Centro and go back to my apartment in Copacabanna around 10pm or is it safe to get on the Metro, get off at Siquiera Campos and walk down to Avenida Atlantica where my apartment is? Naturally safety is my #1 priority. Any advice on which way to go? Usually at night after 10pm, I dont walk around the Copacabanna area by myself, unless I;m outside of HELP. My apartment is right on the corner.

Any advice which way to come back to Copacabanna from Centro around 10pm?

Thanks[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=TJ Fannatic]My rule is to leave centro by 8pm.[/QUOTE]Then you miss some of the best parties in town.

And notably the happy-hours at Arcos de Teles (the alleys just off Praça XV). Every weekday, but especially Wed-Frid, office workers (including tons of women aged 20-30, often pretty hot) flock there to grab cold cervejas, eat appetizers and catch some music before heading home. And on Thurs or Friday often don't go home before 3-4am. It's one of the best option in town to chase middle-class non-pros (Cobal Humaita isn't bad either) and with all the tables and chairs over the alleys creating a large and impromptu patio, one of the best option for people-watching also (beware though, if you get there after 9pm you'll be lucky to find a seat at all). There's maybe over 15-20 bars and botequims, all packed to the walls, but Dito & Feito is IMO the best (it's the most popular). Santa Fe is pretty good too.

For mongers with "game", language skills and cultural awareness, finding a piece of ass is relatively easy at Arcos de Teles.

Anyhow as Xtopherd rightly stated, there's lots of great cultural events and "in" nightlife options in Centro. Much more so than in Copacabana. And it's undoubtely a safer area.

Centro being one of the epicenters of Rio's nightlife with dozens of good clubs and bars inevitably filled with party-goers, I find your "rule to leave Centro by 8pm" pretty weird.

Yet as usual, to each its own.

All this talk about centro, I really love centro. I have never seen so many brothels in such a small area in my life. Even the 2nd tier termas like 502, going in grabbing 3 beers (comes with your entrance fee), lot's off brazilian buisnessmen coming in after work. After spending the month in Rio in April, I remember my last night I headed into centro in the arvo, popped into uriguianna 24. A dump, but worth having a beer for the experience each trip, then went to ba 85, had a few beers (didn't do anything there, but have done over 10 women there before.) then off to 502, few beers having a laugh with a few brazilian buisnessmen and garotas. Then off to 4x4. Now that is one place that I can't go to without having a few women. I always feel totally safe in centro (even at night). Off a night time especially on the weekends people pack the streets drinking etc. The police leave the streets around 5 or 6 pm in centro, but I rarley see a problem there.