General Info

[QUOTE=Delecti]I tried a search, couldn't find, but I thought this was posted before....so if anyone could point me to the post or give directions, much appreciated.

By using the metro and then bus, how would I go from Copa to Corcovado? I use the metro to go to centro, so that part is familiar. Which stop, which bus, etc.

Thanks[/QUOTE]


To get to Corcovado, do not go all the way to Centro. Take the Metro from Copa and get off at Largo do Machado. Then from there take the Metro Bus 584 outside the Metro station to Cosme Velho. At Cosmo Velho there is a single track railway that goes up through the forest to the christ statue.

I know that today is a religious holiday in Rio de Janeiro. More important, does that mean 4x4 is closed today! Appreciate an answer if anyone local knows.

[QUOTE=Jake993]V1,

Following supply and demand theory, one could argue that with the closing of HELP, you have effectively removed a large part of the supply (ie large numbers of GDP 'available' for sessions) and that the price should have gone up. But you report that just the opposite is true and that while the girls are trying to stage a replacement venue by moving to Balcony the price just cannot stay up. Not being there to witness the phenomenon first hand, I have to ask myself "why"?

Regardless of the local market, you would have to believe that if guys had migrated to Balcony in sufficient numbers, then the girls would be back in business with no lack of customers and therefore the price would stay the same. I can't believe that ALL the girls have migrated to Balcony 'en masse' have they? Is it REALLY a case of too many girls chasing too few customers? Has the closing of HELP really chased away the customers?

Could it be that the prices were being supported by the "HELP factor" that provided a venue for newbies and 'smart guys' to come and inflate the price? Could it be THAT simple?

Curious minds want to know!!!!

Anyone? Anyone? Are there any budding economists out there who care to explain the phenomenon?[/QUOTE]Well, I'm not so sure, yet, that prices really have dropped. The way that Help was structured, it supported a TLN style of program. Prices outside Help at TA for hour-long affairs were always much less. Balcony just doesn't have enough space for people to mingle, dance, seduce. It seems as if what's happening is that the TLN modality took a hit, but that the per hour program has become reinforced and is staying steady at about 100-150r. That was the price I was being quoted months ago in Balcony, though sometimes it would drop to 80r in the low season. And "hour" here is flexible, but then again it always was.

It looks like the women are thus going for shorter programs at lower prices.

Also remember that foreign tourism in general is down in Rio due to the on-going crisis. Things were already bad during last year's high season and they haven't improved much.

[QUOTE=Christopherd]To get to Corcovado, do not go all the way to Centro. Take the Metro from Copa and get off at Largo do Machado. Then from there take the Metro Bus 584 outside the Metro station to Cosme Velho. At Cosmo Velho there is a single track railway that goes up through the forest to the christ statue.[/QUOTE]
You can also stand on N.S.Copacabana and get on the bus when you see it rolling down the street in your direction.

Saint Sebastian exactly, he was a catholic saint, they told me, that's why all the termas are closed, even the ones in copa, I guess if the escorts works or not...

afaiaa it is Tom Jobim day today - ie Bossa Nova day. But yes, most termas may be closed as well as many other things. btw the new Bossa Nova Beatles album is pretty good. ;)

[QUOTE=Lukasek]Saint Sebastian exactly, he was a catholic saint, they told me, that's why all the termas are closed, even the ones in copa, I guess if the escorts works or not...[/QUOTE]

It is the birthday of Rio de Janeiro. It was discovered on St Sebastians day and christened..."The City of St. Sebastian on the River of January" Only a holiday in the city of Rio, nowhere else.

[QUOTE=Beach Star]It is the birthday of Rio de Janeiro. It was discovered on St Sebastians day and christened..."The City of St. Sebastian on the River of January" Only a holiday in the city of Rio, nowhere else.[/QUOTE]
Humm, sorry to quibble, but Rio's birthday is on March 1st - "Aniversario da Cidade" day. This year will be 445°.

There's usually lots of festivities all around town that day, notably a huge free concert (with most major Bossa Nova artists) on a beach. Was Botafogo last year.

A fairly happening event, much less commercialized and much cooler than Carnaval IMO.

Are the termas going to be open on March 19, St. Joseph's Day?

Since the demise of Help all the lazy GDP's have lost their guppy fishbowl. All the, as I call them, "smart folk", pretty much have been removed from the P4P scene for now. The experienced monger is what left now, so many of the GDP's know that their prices must match what the going rate for the locales they hang out dictates. This is something I just don't play or contemplate.
What am I talking about you may ask? It is the old "Charge where they GDP hangs out theory". If a GDP walks the street, she charges a certain rate. I she is in a disco (I.E. The big Sao Paolo discos, Cafe Photo, Bomboa, Love Story, etc. In other countries it also applies when the GDP is independent.), they want to charge you another rate, and so on. I compare the whole scene just like when you are about to buy a car. Would you pay big bucks for a Ford Fiesta because it is in a Mercedez Benz car lot? Heck no! On the other hand you can find that diamond in the rough in a not so nice place. That is what I crave and value, the bargain.
I don't particularly care where she hangs out that determines how much she is allowed to charge me. It boils down, for me, on her looks, personality, how we get along, what she will do and our chemistry. If all those things align, then we discuss a reasonable rate if that's what I wish to do. That is the girl that comes to my hotel room. Otherwise, it the Termas, massage parlors, clinicas, boites and prives with the set rates. There you can find also willing GDP's who will knock your socks off when you invite them to your apartment or hotel room.
[QUOTE=John Cricket]Well, I'm not so sure, yet, that prices really have dropped. The way that Help was structured, it supported a TLN style of program. Prices outside Help at TA for hour-long affairs were always much less. Balcony just doesn't have enough space for people to mingle, dance, seduce. It seems as if what's happening is that the TLN modality took a hit, but that the per hour program has become reinforced and is staying steady at about 100-150r. That was the price I was being quoted months ago in Balcony, though sometimes it would drop to 80r in the low season. And "hour" here is flexible, but then again it always was.

It looks like the women are thus going for shorter programs at lower prices.

Also remember that foreign tourism in general is down in Rio due to the on-going crisis. Things were already bad during last year's high season and they haven't improved much.[/QUOTE]

Would it be out of order to suggest that anyone using the Forum to get information for their own websites, tour guides, books, booklets, actually say so upfront?

I think there would be a percentage of members quite happy to help. It is the ´doing it quietly,´ and the increasing numbers of people using ISG for such things, that can be annoying.

Obrigado.

Has anyone taken one out of Rio? What was your experience?

Many people in Rio now are just passing through. I was told that two - three cruises a day, everyday, leave from Rio.

I'd be interested in hearing if TLN prices out of Balcony are lower than what they were at Help. They don't seem that way to me, but it could just be my experience.

Met this little cute one inside Help some years back, she is the last one on the line. She told me she also worked at 4x4 and there were 70 girls there, I went the next day, it was my first time there.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIcnSrotvPs[/url]

With all it's warts you have to admit this was some freak show and I'm going to miss it.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAT8VXiB_GA[/url]