Rio de Janeiro Reports

[QUOTE=Gfe Finder]Indeed it was. I was there as well, and my guess was that there were 2 factors driving this:

1. A series of raids against favelas beforehand
2. At least in Copacabana, you couldn't walk more than one block without running into a uniformed police officer armed with an assault rifle

It seemed like such a good way to keep order. Not the friendliest way, but certainly an effective one.[/QUOTE]

It was like that when I was there in July. Cops on every corner. Not necessarily assault rifles, but pistols. They went away at night. It felt like Disneyland and with GDP's.

It could be interesting to know, how many members here had safety problems.

I start, I dress low profile, never drunk ( unless couple of beers), walking alone in the night sometimes but always open eyes and I was in Rio 3 times for total 7 weeks and no one problem, but still I do not know if I was lucky or if it is safer than it appears from the media.

Anybody else who wants to share his experience about safety is more than wellcome.

[QUOTE=Lukasek]It could be interesting to know, how many members here had safety problems.

I start, I dress low profile, never drunk (unless couple of beers), walking alone in the night sometimes but always open eyes and I was in Rio 3 times for total 7 weeks [/QUOTE]

Hey Lukas,

Your description sounds just like me. Low profile dressed, never drunk etc. I was in Rio 3 times for a total of 6 weeks. BUT I was robbed.
It happened one block away from Help, the time was around 1.30 am and I was walking alone. All of a sudden 3-4 kids, age about 14 yo, surprises me and before I knew it they were searching my pockets. One of them showed some kind of knife, something like a kitchen knife. Everything happened very fast and they took a small amount of cash, only like 20 R$. Small money but it wasn't a nice experience being robbed. I never felt very scared though, those kids didn't feel too threatening. I guess it would have been much worse to be robbed in an abandoned alley with a knife to the throat...

glad you did not get hurt, but the 4 blocks surrounding helpee are bandito central after 12, i take a cab one block from helpee to rue xavier da silveira.

[quote=torinofreak]it happened one block away from help, the time was around 1.30 am and i was walking alone. all of a sudden 3-4 kids, age about 14 yo, surprises me and before i knew it they were searching my pockets. one of them showed some kind of knife, something like a kitchen knife.[/quote]

I have been in the streets around HELP and beyond at all times of the night and early morning, and never have had any issues. You just gotta be street smart and have a look that these thugs know that you are not gonna play their games.

Now, I am not recommending that every gringo do this, but I am saying, dont be to afraid, have fun, and just be smart.

Chris H

[quote=buscemi]glad you did not get hurt, but the 4 blocks surrounding helpee are bandito central after 12, i take a cab one block from helpee to rue xavier da silveira.[/quote]1 block from help a cab, i am suprised that any cab driver would take you. i have just returned from my 4th trip this year, spent just over 3 weeks in rio, walked around all hours off the day and night in zone zul and didn't feel one bit threatened. i would be more worried about getting robbed by police stoping a taxi late at night, i always have around 2 or 3 thousand reals on me too. some guys on this board are just way too paronoid. being paranoid will get you robbed. if you fear the streets off rio that much it is best that you monger else where, so you feel comfortable at all times.

Wait and see what happens to Copa once Help closes!! All of copa will be a "target rich enviorment" for the banditos, not just that 4 block radius!! Drunken gringos walking up and down the strip, looking for pussy? It will be like ringing a dinner bell for the lions!!

[QUOTE=Bravo]Wait and see what happens to Copa once Help closes! All of copa will be a "target rich enviorment" for the banditos, not just that 4 block radius! Drunken gringos walking up and down the strip, looking for pussy? It will be like ringing a dinner bell for the lions! [/QUOTE]when help closes it will be the best thing that happened to copa. It just gets worse and worse in there as time goes on. Took one girl from there, she quoted 400r we settled on 300r tln multiple pops. Got back to the apartment and she demanded money upfront. I showed her the money and explained in the morning when she leaves it is there for her. She said no upfront or no sex. I said fine fuck off then. She then threatened and wanted cab money and re entry money for help. I told her to fuck off and removed her from the apartment. She was the only garota who I hadn't seen in there for the past 3 years. Help is a shithole that has become infested with hoes that can't make money elsewhere. Termas are the only option in Rio.

[QUOTE=JohnnyBraz]1 block from help a cab, I am suprised that any cab driver would take you. I have just returned from my 4th trip this year, spent just over 3 weeks in Rio, walked around all hours off the day and night in zone zul and didn't feel one bit threatened. I would be more worried about getting robbed by police stoping a taxi late at night, I always have around 2 or 3 thousand reals on me too. Some guys on this board are just way too paronoid. Being paranoid will get you robbed. If you fear the streets off Rio that much it is best that you monger else where, so you feel comfortable at all times.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for getting the truth out there!

[QUOTE=JohnnyBraz] I always have around 2 or 3 thousand reals on me too. Some guys on this board are just way too paronoid. Being paranoid will get you robbed. If you fear the streets off Rio that much it is best that you monger else where,[/QUOTE]
Walking around at all times of day and night, all over Rio with 2-3 thousand reis in cash doesn't show confidence, but foolhardy!!!!! Not being paranoid, but common sense has to play a roll at some point. Just my opinion.

Ryjer

[QUOTE=JohnnyBraz] I would be more worried about getting robbed by police stoping a taxi late at night, I always have around 2 or 3 thousand reals on me too. [/QUOTE]I am curious about a few things: (a) why do you carry so much money with you?; (b) how do you carry it (e.g. do you keep your money in a money belt or in separate pockets or all in one pocket?); and (c) have you ever been robbed by the police or anyone else while carrying so much money?

JohnnyBraz is genuinely an extremely hard nut, judging by his past posts. His style is not one to be copied by others even if it works for him.

Iraq or even Afghanistan is safer than Rio.

I would think twice before venturing to that jungle....


Read 4 urself: (Warning- Disturbing pictures)

[url]http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1221898/Just-day-Rio-Residents-stroll-past-mans-body-dumped-supermarket-trolley-death-toll-reaches-25.html[/url]

[QUOTE=The Watcher]I am curious about a few things: (a) why do you carry so much money with you?; (b) how do you carry it (e.g. do you keep your money in a money belt or in separate pockets or all in one pocket?); and (c) have you ever been robbed by the police or anyone else while carrying so much money?[/QUOTE]Nice catch phrase, "Robbed by the police," I've seen a Centro street churrascaria vendor beat down by the Rio cops for no apparent reason. I can't imagine that a gringo would fare any better when encountering cops who want money.

JohnnyB wears Armani and Boss clothes around Rio. He's safe because nobody wants to put a knife or bullet hole or blood stain in the clothes. If they did mug him, they'd forget the money and take the clothes.

Some people here seem to think that 2 or 3 thousand reals is alot off money here. Well if you hit a terma it can easily set you back over 1000r. If you hit vips motel with drinks and food for 8 to 10 hours it always runs around 1000r without the cost off girls. And I like to do duplas in termas and have 2 or 3 women when I hit vips. What I can't understand is why people here are afraid to walk around zone zul. If you can't be yourself in a place. Don't go there. Most days I hit termas. Around once per week I hit vips. And I do stuff on the spare off the moment. I don't see the point in heading back to the apartment everytime I decide to do something to get money. And I don't use debit or credit cards in Rio except for citi bank atm machines.