Portuguese for the baths

[CT Dick]

I just got back from two weeks in paradise. It is all true!

 

Here are some tips on language:

 

First, I speak tourist-Spanish. That got me by very well in Brazil, once I learned some of the basics. (i.e. rua/street is pronounced who-ah, dia/day is chia, like the pet) The Brazilians were very appreciative of my efforts wherever I went.

 

The important vocab:

 

top is ativo, pronounced ACH (as in achoo)-ivo

bottom is passivo

versatile is dois (or ‘two”) pronounced DOUGH-eesh

dick is pau (or “wood”) pronounced pow }>

ass is bunda

cabine is that room upstairs

 

These, plus the polite words, were all I needed in the baths. I never asked if they kiss and never had a session where they didn’t.

 

Dick

[sf traveler]

I have to say I agree--and the phonetic pronunciations you've given are very good. Before I first went to Brazil, inspired by Trilingual's epoch-making and semi-world famous review on this site, I hired a private tutor and had all of 6 lessons. I just couldn't imagine going somewhere and not speaking any of the language. While I couldn't make witty repartee, it made all the trip much more enjoyable. But on the other hand, while there, I met up with a gentleman I'd met through this site who didn't speak a word of Portuguese and we hit the saunas together quite regularly. He had no problem at all--and the boys were more than happy to give lessons in all the "technical" vocabulary. I wish I'd gone to Brazil years earlier and don't you guys hesitate because you don't speak Portuguese! A cheerful, generous, and most of all, respectful disposition is by far the most important thing--with it, you can't go wrong.

[+ Axiom2001]

Thanks, CTDick, for the valuable and timely information. I shall use what you generated here. AX

[trilingual]

And a few more pronunciation hints:

 

Pau (wood/stick or dick) is pronounced "pow!"

Pão (bread) is pronounced like "pound" but dropping the final d.

Note the difference in the nasalization between these two similar-sounding (to the English-speaking) words. It changes the meaning.

 

Similarly, São is pronounced like "sound" with the the final d.

 

Words that end in "tion" in English usually end in "ção" in Portuguese. (Pronounced just like são.) The plural of words that end in "ção" is "ções." That "õe" sound is basically "oink" without the "k". So it comes out something close to "soyns". Ask a Brazilian friend to say it for you a couple of times so you can hear the exact sound and repeat it.

[Guest Jake]

>I have to say I agree--and the phonetic pronunciations

>you've given are very good. Before I first went to Brazil,

>inspired by Trilingual's epoch-making and semi-world famous

>review on this site, I hired a private tutor and had all of

>6 lessons. I just couldn't imagine going somewhere and not

>speaking any of the language. While I couldn't make witty

>repartee, it made all the trip much more enjoyable. But on

>the other hand, while there, I met up with a gentleman I'd

>met through this site who didn't speak a word of Portuguese

>and we hit the saunas together quite regularly. He had no

>problem at all--and the boys were more than happy to give

>lessons in all the "technical" vocabulary. I wish I'd gone

>to Brazil years earlier and don't you guys hesitate because

>you don't speak Portuguese! A cheerful, generous, and most

>of all, respectful disposition is by far the most important

>thing--with it, you can't go wrong.

Well now, SF, I do speak a FEW words of Portugese - in fact, even a few more since we were doing the Sao Paulo Sauna Fling. But, in fact, your linguistic skills and those of CTDick who I just partnered with in Rio were very helpful to me. The point I guess is that I did and do have no problems at all communicating the really important things in a sauna with or without help. Abracos!

[marko]

Trouble in Paradise

 

I am just back from a harrowing experience. I had gone to Cinelandia (a public square in downtown Rio) where I have had great luck picking up men. Tonight I went to a hotel with a terrific looking black man(very black) and when the clothes came off he was breath-takingly beautiful: handsome, powerfully built and perfect where it counts--big, proud, and HARD. He gave me a great time, the sex was first class. Then he tried to rob me. He grabbed my pants and from somewhere produced a penknife and slashed the pockets looking for my wallet. I grabbed the pants also and we struggled and I shouted like a madman. We lurched towards the door which had the key in it, and I managed to open the door and yell at the top of lungs for the police. We were both naked. Two guys from the hotel rushed into the room, one of them brandishing a fat stick and yelling at the guy to stop. They asked if he robbed me and, hilariously, he had actually missed the wallet which had fallen to the floor! He yelled that I had refused to pay him which was, of course, total bullshit, and they didn't buy it for a minute. So, I paid him fifty reals and he yelled that I had promised him more--which I had not--but I gave him another twenty and that shut him up. He was thrown out of the place and the management called a cab for me and made sure I got in it and outta there with no more trouble...all in a day's work for them, I guess.

I somehow knew in all of this that he would not really hurt me because there was no escape from the hotel's complicated and twisting hallways since I had raised the alarm pretty effectively. Either of us might have been injured in a fall during the tug-of-war with my pants, but thankfully that didn't happen. It crossed my mind that he might slash me with that penknife, but I didn't think that he'd do that. The consequences would have been really bad for him (do doubt a long jail term)--and, of course, most unpleasant for me. In any case, I decided that I would not cooperate with my own victimization and shouted as loud as I could. I think he was really surprised by my strong reaction and that element of surprise threw him off balance. And in the end he got only a little more than he would have otherwise...hardly worth it. I was VERY lucky, of course. And I am not in the least angry at him, and I am not sure why. I just feel really sorry for him. No doubt I'd have very different feelings if he had hurt me or got away with robbing me, or both.

This is the first bad experience (and believe me it was bad) I have had here in Brazil and I thought that I should write about it to warn readers to be extremely careful about picking up guys on the street here (or anywhere else, for that matter). I have had terrific good luck in Rio--on the streets, with a cabbie and in the saunas--but it seems that the lucky streak may have run out. I plan to stay away from Cinelandia, that's for sure, and I'll stick to the saunas. They're much safer than the streets.

[trilingual]

RE: Trouble in Paradise

 

Sorry about the bad experience. Where did you meet this guy? In the square itself, or in one of the movie theaters? Also, can you describe him a bit more specifically (height, weight, facial hair, etc.) and did he give a name? At least that way anybody who may run into him in the future can give him a wide berth before going somewhere with him.

 

As you've learned, there is a reason for using the baths: it's safer! But, let's be honest, sometimes the thrill of the chase in other locales is pretty exciting, and this kind of thing doesn't happen all the time. You certainly did the right thing by taking the guy to a "motel," and not back to your place, and in my opinion you also did exactly the right thing by yelling at the top of your lungs and not giving in easily, although with a knife there obviously was a risk of getting hurt. He must have been pretty desperate to try something like that at a "motel." Frankly, R$50 is pretty good money for a Cinelândia hustler, so if you'd made a deal beforehand I would have thought he'd be happy with that without having to go through all the drama. But we've all made these kinds of mistakes, if we're the trashy cruiser types! Hasn't happened to me in Rio, but there's been the occasionial scene and aria in NY over the years. Not enough of them, or serious enough, to keep me from doing it again! ;-)

 

If you DO try it again, remember to take only as much money as you're going to need for your adventure, leaving all your credit cards/ATM cards back at your hotel/apartment, and try to divide the money you take with you among different pockets, so the money to pay the guy is one place, and the money to pay the "motel" and take a taxi home is elsewhere.

[Guest pshaw]

I agree that it is not an absolute necessity to learn some Portuguese to handle the basics of getting together with a young man at the Brazilian saunas, but I do think that most people will find it useful in terms of getting through the day and actually chatting with the sauna guys. Outside of the hotel or the tour bus, in the course of the day you will not encounter many brasileiros who can speak English, even in the tourist areas. Many of bathboys are nice, funny guys - there were a couple who I would have liked to get to know better if my Portuguese skills had been a bit better. It's nice if you can go beyond the absolute basics of "Eu activo. Você passivo?"

 

A book I found to be very helpful was "Hot! International Gay" edited by David Appell. Obviously, most phrasebooks are helpful when you want to buy a shirt or a ticket, but not that useful when you want to fuck someone. This book fills the gap. In 7 languages, including Portuguese, it provides many of the phrases and terminology that come in handy in the course of meeting someone, having sex with him, and bidding him tchau.

[straightshooter]

RE: Trouble in Paradise

 

sounds like you were looking for some rough trade - and found exactly what you were looking for! i note yr honesty in stating that you are not angry. far from it!! many men, foreigners and brazilians alike, go for the excitement that trade can bring to escape the sterility of the saunas. just one major correction - don't assume that if you had been cut up, yr stud would have been subjected to a jail term of any length. brazil is way more complicated than you give credit for

[CT Dick]

RE: Trouble in Paradise

 

I met an ex-pat who is fluent in Portuguese. He had the experience once of being drugged and robbed in his own condo.

 

 

He now only takes pick-ups to a sauna. As he says, they have to leave all their clothes (and weapons?) in the locker and go to the room in just a towel. Sounds good to me.

 

Dick

[sf traveler]

OK, OK maybe I exaggerated a bit for dramatic effect, but the real point is--learn some Portuguese if you can, but don't delay your first trip to Brazil, it won't be your last! And Jake, are you going back to Brazil in the Sept/Oct time frame, since I want to go at that time too.

[Guest Ernani]

RE: Trouble in Paradise

 

You must be crazy to pick up guys in Cinelandia, but I don't blame you.I had a bad experience too...

I'm a good looking escort and can pick up lots of good looking guys without paying anything, but, even so, I decided to go to Campo de Santana (a big dangerous park in Centro) for some excitment. The hustlers there are really scary, but I decided to pick one of them to a Hotel. We had an agreement that I would only pay for the Hotel, since I'm an escort and do not need to pay for sex.

 

He seemed really sweet, but, once I locked the door, the real side of him came up: he put a knife in my throat and asked me for my money, but, before he robbed me, he caused me to suck his dick. Fortunatelly, it was a huge one. He came in my mouth and wanted me to cum, but I was so scared that I couldn't. So, he ran away with my money (not a big loss, but a traumatizing experience).

But, every time I remember him forcing me to suck his big dick, I jerk off and hope to meet him again - Well... this time I will bring a knife too

[marko]

RE: Trouble in Paradise

 

I don't think Brazil is uncomplicated, but I know of people who have been given very long sentences for robbing taxis and other more or less petty crime. In any case, I'm very glad not to have to worry about it for the present. And my guy has been in jail already, I'd bet. Like I said, I feel more sorry for him than anything else and wish him no ill at all. On the contrary, if it hadn't been for that bad business at the end, I'd see him again and again! I told him twice I wanted to see him again before the rough stuff began. I'd have been worth a lot more to him in the long run! Oh well...live and learn, I guess.

[Guest Jake]

>OK, OK maybe I exaggerated a bit for dramatic effect, but

>the real point is--learn some Portuguese if you can, but

>don't delay your first trip to Brazil, it won't be your

>last! And Jake, are you going back to Brazil in the

>Sept/Oct time frame, since I want to go at that time too.

 

SF - Am definitely planning a trip for October - after all, it's springtime in paradise - but don't have dates yet. Will keep you posted by private e - pls do the same.

[CT Dick]

There is another verb you might like to know:

 

Gozar means to cum (literally it means to enjoy)

 

Eu gozo = I'm cumming

Gozou você? = Did you cum? }>

 

Dick