Rio de Janeiro Reports

[QUOTE=Exec Talent]Why can't we go for one month without someone starting this crap? It is like bad sushi or Macunaima, something you just don't want to see again.[/QUOTE]

Sheet you´re feeling a bit touchy today aren´t you ET? Bad chica last night? ;) And seeing he´s getting a repeated toasting from you, I might add I thought Macunaima offered a lot of genuine local info in the early days. Chill out man. Or is there anybody else you want to have a go at? :rolleyes: ;)

And at least Luka and myself are posting reports - feel free to join in. You might even enjoy yourself and let us benefit from your expert knowledge without that big chip on your shoulder! :)

[QUOTE=Lukasek]Let's say you have almost the same girls of help at balcony,but obviously nobody dance and it was nice to see girls dance at help, you cannot sit down as in TA or as outside help upstairs.[/QUOTE]

What did you think of Dolce Vita next door Luca? I wonder if they charge entrance at the weekend.

[QUOTE=Lukasek]Another difference is the price, it really seems 150 reais is a standard, but.... where on Help was quite easy to get overnight, I have now the feeling it is just suck and fuck, as many girls went away with gringo and after short time came back alone again. They try to get the same money as before getting 2 or 3 men in the same night, so I guess the service is not that good then....[/QUOTE]

I suppose it was a hassle for them to pay the entrance fee again at Help. ;) But I think it was always the scene at Balcony that some girls would try to do a short time and go back to look for more business. To me, the highlight of Copa is getting a good overnight. They seem more likely to do this late on IMHO. The girl I got on Tuesday spent a lot of time with me before we went back and I was quite clear that it was for long time and sleep over. I´ll try to ask some longterm chica friends what they think the general scene is, though I´m sure it varies a lot according to the girl - they´re all freelance after all!

This is the part of town where I stay when I´m in Copa and I love every dirty muckhole of it. Just coming back from shopping though and for anyone else this end of town, if you are fed up with grubby Copa supermarkets and overpriced food, do try the Leme supermarket, 100yds past Isabel. Western-style hygeine and an attractive in-store lunch (pizza, pasta etc) for around 10R or less.

[QUOTE=Christopherd]Sheet you´re feeling a bit touchy today aren´t you ET? Bad chica last night? ;) And seeing he´s getting a repeated toasting from you, I might add I thought Macunaima offered a lot of genuine local info in the early days. Chill out man. Or is there anybody else you want to have a go at? :rolleyes: ;)

And at least Luka and myself are posting reports - feel free to join in. You might even enjoy yourself and let us benefit from your expert knowledge without that big chip on your shoulder! :)[/QUOTE]
There is a lot of misinformation not information. The fact that you think Macunaima ever had or has anything to offer says a lot. As for my love life, you could only wish.

[QUOTE=Exec Talent]There is a lot of misinformation not information. The fact that you think Macunaima ever had or has anything to offer says a lot. As for my love life, you could only wish.[/QUOTE]

Whatever ET. You are going to tell us about what . . . (scans back) oh yes, the ice at TA. You have plenty to offer. It was a good point you made about indies vs agencies (applies to a lot of countries too.) Quit venting your spleen man. Put in an occasional field report.

[QUOTE=Lukasek]Now you have huge crowd around balcony and tons of streetwalkers all around the streets there, so for a normal carioca person it looks much worst now, as prostitute and mongers are not closed inside one place, but everywhere, the feeling now prado junior + balcony turned into a red light district, so my qyestion is.....they wanted to clean up help, now even from monger point of view it looks worst, and less practical too, what the next step ?

Close balcony and the streets around it ? LOL[/QUOTE]You answered your own question

[QUOTE=Christopherd]What did you think of Dolce Vita next door Luca? I wonder if they charge entrance at the weekend.[/QUOTE]

Oi Chris, I went there inside in september when already changed into boite,it was normal disco, right ?However very dark there upstairs and nothing nice.
Yesterday at balcony i saw many girls go inside and then come out and join balcony again. It should be something as little charge with some drinks,but not much reason to go there as you wait a while and you have the same girls come out and you can talk to them with no entrance fee :D

[QUOTE=Christopherd]...100yds past Isabel. Western-style hygeine and an attractive in-store lunch (pizza, pasta etc) for around 10R or less.[/QUOTE]

Never been there, you made me curious, I am going to check it ;)

[QUOTE=Lukasek]As reported, Balcony now is so packed you have to come here to see with your eyes to believe it !!!

Now you have huge crowd around balcony and tons of streetwalkers all around the streets there, so for a normal carioca person it looks much worst now, as prostitute and mongers are not closed inside one place, but everywhere, the feeling now prado junior + balcony turned into a red light district, so my qyestion is.....they wanted to clean up help, now even from monger point of view it looks worst, and less practical too, what the next step ?

Close balcony and the streets around it ? LOL[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the great description of the current scene. Looks like Prado Junior is becoming alive again just like in the 80's.

Dolce Vita? Is this that club that is upstairs right next to Balcony? It used to be Holiday club? Interesting what goes around comes around.

I'll be in Rio in a few weeks to check the scene out for myself but thanks for the heads up.

[QUOTE=Sangue Bon]Thanks for the great description of the current scene. Looks like Prado Junior is becoming alive again just like in the 80's...[/QUOTE]

Your welcome ;), I am happy to contribute if I can, it is nice when you are at home to have an update of the news here, at least for me.

I am just a 3 timer to Rio, so I have no idea how it used to be, but I liked from the first time this red-light district, I have no idea how to call it.

Right about Dolce vita and I think that despite Barbarella, where yesterday the girl told me she has to paid 60 reais to get into, all the other boites have no entrance for the girls, cause otherwise I cannot explain why girls go inside and outside in such a sort time.

Strange that the owner of Dolce Vita does not realize that if one stand in front of it and see how it works, he will never go to pay to get into,as it is enough to wait to see even a nice girl get soon out.

Oh I forgot even Senso has girls stuck there for all the time, entrance 50 reais and show inside. ( yesterday for all the time a group danced samba in Barbarella ).

Btw Christopherd I went after princessa isabel, so the beginning of leme, but where is exactly the part with nice shop and market ? Please give me couple of streets to get easier and faster there.

However not far from pincessa isabel, avenida atlantica 880 there is Spaghetteria, great supermarket with the best quality food and higher level of hygiene I saw here. They also make pizza and if my nose does not lie me, it should taste very good.

[QUOTE=Lukasek]

I guess you have to come at 18h to find a chair free, it is very chaotic, too much people walking and stand up qround balcony and most of them....look and watch each other, yes they spoke and too, but the feeling is that now they are as waiting for something-somebody where in Help they were there to have fun.
[/QUOTE]

Excellant description, best I have read to explain the scene. Instead of being there to have a good time, they are there to see and be seen. Completely different vibe than help!! THX Lukasek!!

[QUOTE=Loulakis Jim]Do we have any news from Centaurus or Monte Carlo, prices and girls?[/QUOTE]

A couple of months ago Centaurus went up to 450 and they asked for it up front after waving in some loud mouthed gringos. All of these things offended me since I have known this place for many years. I left and won't go there as long as there is such a price difference. I don't expect them to come down.

MC also has gone up. It is now 70 + 70 + 170 which is R310! As far as the talent, I would say mixed. Definitely some stunners but a lot of huge bundas. And I mean HUGE.. To each his own. that's just not my thing. If one can't find something they like there, I an sorry for them.

[QUOTE=Lukasek]Btw Christopherd I went after princessa isabel, so the beginning of leme, but where is exactly the part with nice shop and market ? Please give me couple of streets to get easier and faster there.

However not far from pincessa isabel, avenida atlantica 880 there is Spaghetteria, great supermarket with the best quality food and higher level of hygiene I saw here. They also make pizza and if my nose does not lie me, it should taste very good.[/QUOTE]

Hiya Lukasek - sounds like you found the hygeinic supermarket that sells quite nice pizza. There´s one entrance on Atlantica and another on Gustavo Sampaio. I like shopping there for treats for my fridge! Lots of nice sit-down restaurants in both streets round there, but the supermarket restaurant is nice and quick and inexpensive and the food always looks tasty.

Regarding a market - I was mentioning Saara market in a previous post - maybe the two got mixed up a bit? Saara market is in Centro, not Copa or Leme. It is quite a fun place, but a place to get the cheapest of everything mostly, rather than quality. Someone else was asking about it and I´m wondering the best way to describe where it is. You get off at Uruguiana station and head in the opposite direction to 4x4 and BA85 (west, if you are looking on a map). So behind the station, parallel to Pres.Vargas. It can be a fun place to meander cos everything is there and very cheap, and also lots of cheap (1R) termas nearby. The main east-west streets are Buenos Aires and Alfandega (further west, opposite direction to Rio Branco). Then you can take a left down Goncalves Ledo, Conceicao, or Ave. Passos towards Tiradentes Square (which has some very grubby sex places but also Carioca59 and the marginally cleaner Casarao) or you can walk a bit further to Lapa on the south of Centro or take the tram up the hills for a nice afternoon out.

The nicer way to VM

I´ve kind of advocated this route for a few years, but it struck me today that, with increased Metro traffic from Ipanema, it might be even more attractive. So here´s some directions for those interested.

A big advantage is you don´t have to change Metro lines. This is especially nice if you go in rush hour (the time I personally use the Metro to get to VM). You just play sardines on a carriage, squashed between everyone else, and don´t have to move till you get off at Afonso Pena.

The next big advantage is that Afonso Pena to Praca da Bandeira is a very nice walk. I don´t think anyone would say Cristovao to Bandeira is nice - just straightforward. But Afonso Pena is easy when you have done it once and takes roughly the same time. Plus there are many nice upmarket bars and restaurants on the route.

[b]Here´s how -[/b]

Stay on the train all the way from Copa or Ipanema till it gets to Afonso Pena. It´s the third stop after Central. Or the fifth one after Uruguiana. When you get off, turn right and take the PRACA exit. You come out onto the square. Cross to the (diagonally) opposite corner of the square and keep going along the main road (Campos Sales). You´ll see a big building on your right marked America FC, so you know you have come off the correct corner of the square.

At the end of Campos Sales you´ll see [i]Trigus Restaurant[/i] facing you at the T-junction. Turn right - it is signposted Maracana/Cristovao/Centro. Follow this street (Mariz e Barros) till it comes out onto Praca da Bandeira.

[i](Once you know the area, you can take a slight short cut along Goncalves Crespo, but I thought I´d give the simple route first.)[/i]

[b]Pr.Bandeira[/b]

If you have been to VM already, you are probably familiar with this bit. I´ll include it here partly for newbies and partly cos the appearance has changed quite a lot recently.

Praca da Bandeira is a big concourse to the west of Presidente Vargas. Mimosa is directly north of it by a hundred yards or so. If you are looking on a map, find Vargas, the big east-west street that crosses Rio Branco in Centro, and run your finger to the left. Just past the end of Vargas (and just after a spaghetti junction) is Praca da Bandeira. And also an inverted triangle above the main thoroughfare. This is where Mimosa lies.

If you arrive by road or from Cristovao station, you are probably already on the north side of Bandeira. If not (for instance, if you came via Afonsa Pena), just cross by the footbridge which spans the many lanes of fast traffic. This footbridge used to be blue but is now just white. As you cross, if it is dark, glance to your right and you may see a huge bridge floodlit in impressive colours not far off. The area is not dangerous as such, just keep yourself to yourself. There are many working class families about.

On the north (Mimosa) side of Praca da Bandeira, there is now an enormous long white railway bridge that looks like some superhighway from the Restaurant at the end of the Universe. This makes the area [i]almost[/i] unrecognisable from the mess it was before. Go under the new bridge and over a foul-smelling river, and under the other adjacent steel bridges. Follow the street (Rua Ceara) past the bikers and just past the bend in the road. Turn right onto Sotero dos Reis. If you cross the railway level crossing you have gone too far. VM is the little village of bars half way along.

For the sake of completeness after my last post (and those who like vicarious descriptions) here´s some VM details. I usually go late - around 11pm. There´s many buses. But during rush hour, the bus takes too long. So today (some time after 5pm) I get the Metro. And walking through the nice middle-class area of Afonso Pena (east Tijuca) to Mimosa almost makes me feel too posh to get down and dirty in the muck-stained sheets. So I try to check out Caligula Whisky Club, a mid-price terma, just before Bandeira (there´s also a terma just as you get to Mimosa, but I´m not keen on it). Caligula Whisky Club is shut however (6pm-ish, Thur - for anyone who feels like checking it out). It´s on Pereira de Almeida. Take Rua Matoso from the south side of Praca Bandeira then, at the next junction, take the left fork straight ahead which is Pereira de Almeida. The Whisky Club is No.73 and on the right hand side. I´d expect to pay about 100R but can´t recall a field report recently so maybe someone will visit and let us know the up to date info.

I got to Mimosa just before dark. Unlike earlier in the week, it´s already in party mode, though a lot of the best girls won´t be out till much later. I have a few drinks and gently knock back a couple of girls I´ve seen before. One looks much better in daylight and the other a bit more of a schemer - strange what the light does!

I´m looking at the clouds and thinking VM is not a good place to be when it rains. But it seems a waste not to do something. I pick a 20yr old girl called Camilla from the right hand of the U-Bend, second casa.* She´s very petite, dances a nice butt-dance and does the cutesey come-on to me every time I go past. Decent performance in the room if not outstanding. She doesn´t rush. Her clit swells to the size of an uncracked walnut but I don´t sense she´s going to come. Her breasts are a little loose for her age and I guess she´s not nulliparous though I don´t ask. Her party piece is doggy, when she shakes her butt the way she did when dancing - rather nice. I crack off a couple of photos and show her. She has a very slight whitish discharge and I reassure her this is normal (which it usually is, especially when there´s no smell, which there isn´t). She´s worked in VM for 3 months she says. Affectionate leave taking and I take another glance at the sky and dark looking clouds. The alleys of Mimosa soon get waterlogged and many of the roofs leak. And I think it tends to smell worse in the wet.

I get back to Bandeira but have a sudden urge for fried chicken. Of all the restaurant bars here, I´ve only ever been to one that´s tried to take the p*ss. (For the record, I never try to ´pass myself off as Brasilian,´ just a sincere gringo who is patriotic and respectful of the country he is visiting.) Mostly they are good working class joints and give a very warm welcome - as is the case tonight. Half a chicken and manioc for 6R and a nice crowd. Say g´bye and jump on a Copa bus.

Since you have to know exactly when to get off, there is good excuse for not getting a bus to Mimosa until you know the stop. But it is sheer decadence IMHO to get anything but the bus back. The bus comes from the left as you stand on the south side of Praca da Bandeira (at the taxi rank) and is clearly marked Copacabana, so you just have to hail it. If you are going back in the early hours (say 3am), or Sunday, they are less frequent. But choose a taxi with care - many of these cars are falling to bits. If you can specify which way you want to go home, so much the better (eg Lagoa is a stupidly long way round if you are at the Isabel end of Copa).

[i]You might think I´ve typed this report out of the goodness of my heart, but the rain has come down and gone again while I´m in the internet cafe lol ;)[/i]

Finally, for those who have not yet tried VM - it´s a love it or hate it. Just in terms of bang for your buck, maybe BA85 is better value in many ways just now. Just different.

Enjoy. :)


[i](Added the folowing Friday) :this week, probably the best looking (physically) girl out of, VM, Balcony, Dolce Vita, BA85 and Centro, and Ciccolina was probably a blonde at this casa. Her attitude was glassy so I didn´t bother, but might be fun once one can elicit a reaction lol[/i]

Thanks for the good info on Mimosa. I generally stick with nicer Termas and clubs (minus Centaurus). Your description of Mimosa sort of reminds me of Lapa - an interesting area itself.

I get back to Rio soon and I may stroll through that area just out of curiosity. At the very least to explore Afonso Pena. That's if I can tear myself away from the academias, Ipanema, & Barra da Tijuca .... I reckon the weather should be great for soaking up some rays.

"O tempora, O mores"
- DSK