Rio de Janeiro Reports

[QUOTE=PatmarBeleza1;1579944]In a confrontation (not just in brazil, but everywhere), the most powerful weapon is a camera. Point it at a opponent, especially a criminal, and they will retreat.

Always be ready to call the police and report your location, accurately. Teach yourself this on a computer with a map and a translation program. (lots of stupid testosterone on this thread about fighting. Fighting is always stupid. The only realistic move is to give up quicklyif there's a real fight).

The locals will listen to your call to the police. Accurately calling in the police within earshot is another sure way to get a criminal or opponent actually running away.[/QUOTE]I never been robbed but I witnessed many robberies. They happens quickly. No time to call the police or make the thief pose for photos.

[QUOTE=PatmarBeleza1;1579944]In a confrontation (not just in Brazil, but everywhere), the most powerful weapon is a camera. Point it at a opponent, especially a criminal, and they will retreat.[/QUOTE]Sorry, but the most powerful weapon in a confrontation is a gun.

Never bring a camera to a gun fight.

[QUOTE=Christopherd;1580011]I don't know of the effect is immediate or not but Balcony it seems got a suspension notice yesterday.

[URL]http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/dois-estabelecimentos-sao-acusados-de-associacao-exploracao-sexual-de-menores-12819966[/URL][/QUOTE]Yup, Balcony is about to be shut down.

The most powerful weapon a person reading this board can legally carry.

And as a practical matter in gunfights everywhere cameras are the tipping point deciding the winner of the actual fight and the winner of who writes the history.

The goal is to get the Brazilians who do legally carry guns on your side asap when required.

[QUOTE=ExecTalent;1580108]Sorry, but the most powerful weapon in a confrontation is a gun.

Never bring a camera to a gun fight.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=FuckAfMedDig;1580150]Yup, Balcony is about to be shut down.[/QUOTE]That's stupid. The bar owners aren't doing anything to promote the actions of the people there. Termas are worse offenders. Its a nice beachside bar that only swings that way after midnite. The cops should be worrying about other stuff right now rather than closing down bars.

Wach out:

[URL]http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/turista-americano-sofre-tentativa-de-assalto-na-lapa-12821565[/URL]

Take care!

much as i respect patmar's posts i have to confirm sperto's and ec's posts. rio is not everywhere and can't be judged on what generally might work, although i can't imagine the 'camera' thing working anywhere where muggings occur really.

most robberies in rio happen so fast that they will often be over before the victim has even gathered his wits. dsitraction, a second person in your pockets from behind, and then they run, fast. the slightest objection / provocation is met with increased level of threat. if a robbery occurs in copa people will stand and watch it happen. all you can do is a) get better at avoiding being robbed, and b) make sure that what is taken in the event you are robbed is not something you can't live without.

the post that triggered the well-meaning replies was not even about a mugging, but a robbery by stealth that occurs in vm occasionally, which i why i tried to reply with advice for that specific situation. with your clothes off and a woman's body wrapped round you, often in dim light, you don't have many options. even if yiou break free at lightning speed, kick the door open, chase the thief like batman on steriods, they will probably have dumped the camera or, if it is cash (which they will probably take out of your wallet rather than take your wallet), claim is theirs anyway. in a dispute between a gringo and a brasilian, where there is no absolute proof, people will generally side with the brasilian.

if you are a big tough guy, preferably with some tough-looking buddies nearby, it might improve your chances, but the only surefire protection not to get robbed is avoidance or, if you don't manage that, making sure it is only for something negligible. it's not that hard, to just carry what you really need and in an unobtrusive manner, and avoid situations that make you an easier target. if a person looks suspicious, avoid being near them: change your mind, cross the street, go somewhere else, or if he gets up to follow you off the bus, sit down again and get off a stop later. think, "if i were a criminal trying to rob me, how would i do it? how easy / worthwhile would it be?

in copa or lapa, anyone is a target. in vm, only gringos usually carry enough to make it worth robbing them.

I was wondering if the famous porn star Mayara Rodrigues escorts in Rio or anywhere in Brazil. Can't find anything recent after an extensive search.

Thanks

Any plan B or C or D or E?

Sperto et al. Please advise.

[QUOTE=Manny51;1580154]That's stupid. The bar owners aren't doing anything to promote the actions of the people there. Termas are worse offenders. Its a nice beachside bar that only swings that way after midnite. The cops should be worrying about other stuff right now rather than closing down bars.[/QUOTE]

Balcony is making a shit load of money right now. Everyone wants a cut. Typical Rio. Balcony will be around for a long while. I just got back from Rio. Funny no newspaper articles while I was there. IMHO interview. Check I'd if any way possible. If no I the pass.

i agree my post was beyond the immediate issue of getting a phone taken at vm.

i also agree that robberies, violence, fights happen very quickly. it's all a matter of what you do before the 30 seconds that counts.

but the bigger points are:

treat your smartphone like a weapon (not a gun) and you're less likely to have it taken. carry two smartphones, a primary and a back up on different parts of your body / cloths.

always plan for the worst, hope for the best and make yourself a unattractive target. even in good parts of town, like botafogo, i go to the military police station (about 100 yards up sao clemente from panda), and get the officer of the day number, and put it in my smartphone. things go to shit, i want the police, especially the military police.

before i ever set foot inside of mosaico or red light club a few years ago i walked both of those areas in daytime, on foot, and walked to the military police building, and got the number, and programmed it in. at 2 am in mosaico, 4 military police, carrying assault rifles will come in and enjoy a hot morena raicca wagging her tail for the locals; same thing at club red light.

when i went to 502 a few weeks ago, i arrived with a isg buddy. i had to go get cash. i went to one bank, and chatted up a military police guy, talked about what weapons he was carrying, exchanged names, "prazer, etc. " had to go to another bank, and when i did he was standing outside with 4 military police guys, and he called over to me by name. we talked briefly about his rank, etc. now i'm on a first name basis with 4 guys with guns on av rio branco. so, if you're a criminal / thief looking for a easy target gringo, who are you going to target? the guy who just talked to 4 armed, uniformed military police, or the next gringo who comes along 60 seconds later?

if you're going to have a "wingman" (think about where that term comes from), then agree upon:

- whether you're going to fight or not.

- if you're not going to fight (and i would never in a foreign country), you're going to take pictures of each other on phones and call the cops, and get into a taxi asap.

anyway, it is predictable that personal violence and security for tourists will become harder for the rest of the year, not least because:

july 15 wc cash inflows end.

oct elections take place for politicians who have borrowed to build european stadiums, with african schools / hospitals for 95% of the population (who are going to look to many sources, including tourist victims, to get their dinero).

[quote=christopherd;1580220]much as i respect patmar's posts i have to confirm sperto's and ec's posts. rio is not everywhere and can't be judged on what generally might work, although i can't imagine the 'camera' thing working anywhere where muggings occur really.

most robberies in rio happen so fast that they will often be over before the victim has even gathered his wits. dsitraction, a second person in your pockets from behind, and then they run, fast. the slightest objection / provocation is met with increased level of threat. if a robbery occurs in copa people will stand and watch it happen. all you can do is a) get better at avoiding being robbed, and b) make sure that what is taken in the event you are robbed is not something you can't live without.

the post that triggered the well-meaning replies was not even about a mugging, but a robbery by stealth that occurs in vm occasionally, which i why i tried to reply with advice for that specific situation. with your clothes off and a woman's body wrapped round you, often in dim light, you don't have many options. even if yiou break free at lightning speed, kick the door open, chase the thief like batman on steriods, they will probably have dumped the camera or, if it is cash (which they will probably take out of your wallet rather than take your wallet), claim is theirs anyway. in a dispute between a gringo and a brasilian, where there is no absolute proof, people will generally side with the brasilian.

if you are a big tough guy, preferably with some tough-looking buddies nearby, it might improve your chances, but the only surefire protection not to get robbed is avoidance or, if you don't manage that, making sure it is only for something negligible. it's not that hard, to just carry what you really need and in an unobtrusive manner, and avoid situations that make you an easier target. if a person looks suspicious, avoid being near them: change your mind, cross the street, go somewhere else, or if he gets up to follow you off the bus, sit down again and get off a stop later. think, "if i were a criminal trying to rob me, how would i do it? how easy / worthwhile would it be?

in copa or lapa, anyone is a target. in vm, only gringos usually carry enough to make it worth robbing them.[/quote]

[QUOTE=GrandMenino;1580245]Any plan B or C or D or E?

Sperto et al. Please advise.[/QUOTE]
You mean a plan B if Balcony closes?
For me Balcony never has been plan A (or B, C, D...). I couldn't care less if they close Balcony. Expensive beer, overpriced lowclass GPs and a bunch of gringos. The best thing with Balcony is their ice cream served in freshly made wafer cones.
Balcony will propably close but it will take some time.

Your plan B, C, D, E... could be be termas, privées, escortsites, streetwalkers, VM or non-pro's.

For you guys who are in Rio right now. How is the GP-situation in Copacabana? More girls on ho-beach, better quality at Balcony, more streetwalkers on the calçadão?

[QUOTE=FuckAfMedDig;1580150]Yup, Balcony is about to be shut down.[/QUOTE]I wonder where mongers will go at night if Balcony closes. I prefer the convenience of staying local, I don't want to travel all the way downtown in search of ass. Taking a 2 R van to Balcony and looking over the garotas was awesome.

[QUOTE=Bravo;1580524]I wonder where mongers will go at night if Balcony closes. I prefer the convenience of staying local, I don't want to travel all the way downtown in search of ass. Taking a 2 R van to Balcony and looking over the garotas was awesome.[/QUOTE]As the manager said in the article, if it is not at Balcony then it will be somewhere else. He added they thought the same (that it would go away) when they closed Help.