Rio didn't work for me last night
Well, I post this so some of you can get a great laugh.
Rio didn't treat me very well last night.
It was Sunday night, so things were understandably going to be slow, but I found Casablanca based on trying to find New Munich (Casablanca is the new name for New Munich). In retrospect it was hard not to find Casablanca since there are street pushers a block in every direction trying to hand out cards and walk you to the door. I suppose this should have been my first warning.
Anyway, I get to the front door and the gringo tax starts off right away. 100 R cover, with two "free drinks". I get inside and start talking to Jennifer with my rum and coke. I'm liking what I'm seeing and I'm on board (I knew she was going to be exceptional), and then the buy me champagne routine starts. I wasn't about to do it, but I had to ask - "how much is the champagne?" 550 are. Oh, and they have a cheaper option of 290 R. Yeah, fuck off.
Despite this disrespectful hustle, I was polite. I asked what they wanted for an hour with Jennifer. 500 R for the girl, and 250 R for the room rental. Add the door fee and that was going to be 850 R. I guess they thought they were in Switzerland or London?
I cut my losses right there and walked out without drinking my second drink.
I found what I thought was a lower rent place by walking into the "no cover" bar Cafe Sensoo "American Bar" which is across the street from the Hilton Copacabana. For an American bar, none of the girls spoke English (fair enough, it's their country, but the only thing American in that bar was the bourbon). I chatted using Google Translate with Patricia, who was very nice. She wasn't as sexy as Jennifer but I would have gone with her if the gringo tax wasn't still following me. Again with the goddamned champagne routine. Who falls for this shit? Anyway, they showed me a menu with a low price for a mimosa for Patricia. I don't really mind paying 10 bucks for a few drinks for her, since she's making an effort with the translator, etc. This was to end badly.
In the end when the rubber was to meet the road, it was going to be 400 R for an hour with Patricia and 100 R for the room. I said no thanks, I'll just pay for the drinks. One bourbon and two of P's Mimosas came to. Drumroll please. 220 R. I knew there was no point in arguing.
So, quite a night. 320 R and no sex, and treated like shit in two places.
Apparently Rio has not learned the old expression "You can shear a sheep many times, but skin him only once."
I think I will try Eden spa today, since massage parlors seem to be more up front and consistent with their pricing schedules. Honestly there is nothing I consider more disrespectful than the Gringo tax. You can call that naive if you like, I just want to pay the same price as the next guy. That's how it is in Europe.
So I have no idea how to establish with the locals that I'm not to be done that way.
If someone knows a place that is fair to North Americans (I'm Canadian) who speak English, please drop me a PM because I'm still here for a few more days, but pretty turned off based on last night.
Thinking also of trying Monte Carlo tonight. But it seems to be the pattern that any place that is "organized" with the whole setup seems to be hard wired to do the champagne sell and the whole routine.
Very disappointing, Rio.