Feliaz Ano Novo! (and month #3 report)
Happy New Year everyone (even though I think this is the biggest B / S holiday)!
So I'm here in Copacabana for my second New Year in a row, except I've been here for 3 months now, and I can honestly say that I finally feel like a Brasileiro because I want all the tourists to leave! But if you were looking for the best pyrotechnics on the planet, on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, with the happiest people in the world, this was the night. Absolutely SPECTACULAR!
As for the rest of the upcoming week, plus 2-3 more days perhaps, price gouging will be at it's finest (aside from Carnaval) and it's easy to see why. The streets are completely filled with idioto and idiota tourists. If 1/2 million tourists invaded my beach town I would probably overcharge them too. It's simple economics. Supply and demand. Although the only supply I see in jeopardy right now is alcohol and freelance 'entertainment'.
Bit ve never seen an environment where 2+ million people can party on a huge beach without a single incident. I do hear some rowdiness going on outside my apartment now but it's 5am and I don't hear sirens or screaming like I would in New York City where so many people celebrate the new year in zero Celsius degrees.
So I will finito my post with one final observation about this grande holiday in Rio (2nd only to Carnaval). Right now everyone that works / hustles has muito $$$ on their mind so if you're not with a ball & chain (e. G. Came with your own sand to the beach) I can't imagine what the freelance GDP's will gouge you for. It has got to be louco. And if anyone sees an increase in Terma prices (compared to the recent posts I've seen on here) that would be nice to know too because they have got to be gauging as well. I don't visit Termas anymore and I don't invite GDP's over on one their biggest weeks of the year so I can't provide intel. Sorry. Last New Year 'Help' was still open until the 5th of January so I was able to work out some great deals, but this year is different. I do believe price fixing will finally commence.
Ciao for now,
RioDan
Whispers of Colombia (shhhhhh!)
[QUOTE=Dazzler72; 1107831]4. I hear dissent about Rio (as I always have) and whispers of Colombia. Can anyone compare and contrast the two scenes in a coherent way?[/QUOTE]I know I'm relatively new to this board, compared to the contributors you mentioned with many years of experience in this city, but this is my 5th visit to Rio in less than 3 years, and my 2nd visit this year (2 months Jan-Feb. 4 months Oct-Jan'11) so I'm seeing a lot of changes happening very quickly that visitors who only stay a week or two may not recognize, and experienced visitors from the past may be sorely disappointed with when they return. The reason for my long stay this trip was to look for real estate (I'm priced out of anything worthwhile at this point) and new business (I'm a web site and software developer).
It's as simple as this. Help is gone (arguably the best GDP club on the planet) , there is a new female president, Dilma Rousseff who was just sworn in a few hours ago and is riding in a convertible (top up) Rolls Royce as I am typing (Obama had to ride in atomic bomb proof limo when he celebrated) , the World Cup and Olympics are coming to town, real estate prices have sky rocketed up to 100% in the past year, so. Say Hello, to a new 'Family Friendly' Rio. And richer families at that! Oh, and I almost forgot to mention the huge Petrobas oil platform that is drilling off this beautiful Copacabana coastline. One of my girls down here told me the town is filled with very well-paid contract workers, both Brasileiros and Texans (of course) that are spending money like drunken sailors. These are the major factors why everything is changing so fast here, and it has only just begun.
I can't speak for the termas (I only went to 4x4 once this trip and the price increase was about 35-40%) but the vast quantity and quality of freelance GDP's that used to frequent Help have all turned into lower-grade, greedy, non GFE, Piranhas that feed in three small ponds: Mei Pateca (sp?) next to Othon Palace, Balcony Bar (what a scene) , and Dolce Vita's (smaller than my apartment) in the wee hours. All the girls will say they are friends with each other, which is like saying I know everyone on Facebook. Why? To cawk-block you from taking another. But don't listen to them. And if you let one (or two in some of my cases) sleep over be prepared to let them sleep the next day off, eat all your food, and possibly steal anything they can fit in their pocket book. After a mere 3 months here I have come to the conclusion that I will never return for more than a few weeks (mainly because I love the beaches, looking at beautiful carioca's in thongs, and it sure beats the snow).
As for Colombia, I went for the first time this past May. I was scared sh-tless but decided to take the risk because I'm the "no risk, no reward" type. I'm so glad I did because I met some of the nicest travelers (totally different than here) , and some of THE MOST beautiful women in the world. Yes, Brasil has the hottest, but Colombia has the most beautiful (many guys I met that have been here and there said the same thing before I found out for myself). And, contrary to popular belief, there are many with nice round butts. My preference is the model looking types with beautiful smiles, tight bods, and freaks in the bed. And that's all I got in Colombia. Non-stop. And the trip was 1/10 the cost of here. However, the country is still not completely stabilized and there are nightly curfews that range from 10pm. 12am and the bars must close. That's when you bring the action back to you hotel room or apartment and create your own terma. I had such a good time in Colombia I extended my trip another week after all my Spanish speaking friends left (I only speak Portuguese, and not that well) , and I still got by like Tipo Rei (King type)!
I'm not here to lamb baste Rio, I really love this city because it's extremely charming, the locals are some of the friendliest in the world (in Colombia they rarely crack a smile) , and the beaches are outrageous (especially during thong season)! But I think it's slowly becoming a contrived Disney World for Adults in Copacabana. Centro is another story, I know there are low-priced, all you desire, termas and freelancers there so I may need to trek back there more and stop looking for girls here in Copa Louca.
But I highly recommend Colombia for a taste of something very inexpensive and different. I've never heard any complaints from anyone that went and made it back (j / k)!
1 photos
Rio 2016 Olypics logo revealed
The logo for the 2016 Olympics in Rio was unveiled Friday. The flowing symbol resembles three figures. Orange, green and blue. Embraced at the arms and in a flowing dance.
IMHO the thing looks like a tri-color IUD device.
Prices at 4 X 4 up again?
Can someone on the ground in Rio confirm if the price of a session at 4 X 4 has gone up once again? If so, what are the current prices? Any information will be nice to have. Thanks.
4x4. As of Dec 10 Bubba Boys Guide Accurate
[QUOTE=Voyajer1;1108138]Can someone on the ground in Rio confirm if the price of a session at 4 X 4 has gone up once again? If so, what are the current prices? Any information will be nice to have. Thanks.[/QUOTE]I think the reference to the prices going up in an earlier post were from someone who hadn't been back to Rio in quite some time. When I was there Dec 10, Bubba Boys Guide accurately reflected 4x4 prices, including waived entrance if you take a girl before 5pm.