Rio Saunas - my second trip there

[Driver]

A few details

 

A few things i missed from my last post

 

Firstly to use the cubicle in the toilet in maxims you have to ask for a key - i nearly forgot that. oh and you cannot flush any toilet paper.

 

Louis likes maxims but i do not like the over attentive waiters wit there fixed grins. Corujihna is much busier at night and you would pay good money in Paris to be ignored as well as you are in Corujihna.

 

I ordered a beer and they were happy to leave me alone for as long as i wanted. only comming to my table when i signalled. Ordering food earns you a sheet of paper over the garden furniture.

 

The fact some of you americans like it there helps break down the stereotype of the american who goes everywhere by chauffuer driven coach each day and eats local fod at the sheraton.

 

To eat at Corujihna is an experience especially when so mant street boys are so close. Usually leaning against the cars opposite flexing stomuch muscles and poncing cigarettes.

 

I would like to take a sledgehammer to the bongo drums that come around some nights - god knows what the neighbours think.

 

117 had about 30 boys last night and about 15 clients. Not a good night i think. Nick spoilt it a little when i said not tonight he said it would help him with money. Mind you he probably would have been a better shag than the two i did go with.

[trilingual]

>it sounds like fedgewaader its normally a saturday meal with

>the highligth being a selection of hot pots many based on

>black beans.

>The columbo in centro has it like a buffet with salads and

>delicacies and about 10 hot pots and many types of cake. You

>eat as much as you want. Personnaly i avoided the pots with

>tongues or pigs ears in them but the beef and pork and bean

>hotpots were lovely last time. Im not sure but it mite be

>cooked slowly to make the meats tender.

 

This dish is spelled "feijoada." It comes from the word "feijão" ("beans") which, along with rice ("arroz") is the basic staple of the Brazilian diet. Feijoada is considered to be the "national" dish; the story is that it was an invention of the plantation slaves, who would cook up with beans the parts of the pig (like the ears and tails) that the masters in the big house wouldn't touch. Nowadays, they still use ears and things, but also other, nicer cuts of meat, including sausages and "carne do sol," a kind of sun-dried beef (an early form of preserving meat) that holds up well as it rehydrates during the long, slow cooking of the beans and spices. You could think of this as a kind of tropical cassoulet.

 

As Driver describes, at hotels/restaurants the meats are often separated into separate pots after cooking. Traditionally, you start off with a good stiff caipirinha. Often, your meal begins with a small cup of the bean broth. Then you load up your plate with black beans, rice, meats, couve (stir-fried shredded collard greens) and some slices of orange. For heat-lovers, sprinkle a few drops of the devilishly hot malagueta pepper sauce over all (it also adds a deliciously smoky flavor of its own). Accompany all this with ice-cold Brazilian beer or guaraná. If you have any room left afterwards, follow-up with a typical Brazilian dessert, like a quindim (a small, intense confection of butter, egg yolk, sugar and coconut).

 

In Brazil, this is considered to be a very heavy meal, so it's commonly a Saturday afternoon event so people can stagger home and take a snooze afterwards for digestive purposes before heading out for other festivities later that evening

 

Sorry, gotta go now. Just made myself hungry. . . :9

[Driver]

Credit cards amongst other things

 

I forgot that last night the citicorp machines in blockbusters had all ran out of money as advised here by another. Louis card was rejected by HSBC but American Express was OK there. He said American Express always come through for him.

 

He would eat hs words less than two hours later at maxims when american express was rejected by them but his visa was accepted.

 

At a LaCoste shop my visa card was rejected by the machine but a phone call got authorisation - that had to finish the transaction using a paper voucher. Hmm thats why they put a chip in my card is it?

 

Phillipe (not his real name of course) an i had some food at maxims - i had the asparagas salad. Hmm 6 stick of asparagas on a slice of onion and a slice of lettace is a salad now is it?

 

I'm really starting to dislike maxims now. I need to kill 2 hours so plan is to visit Rogers to see who is there though not too fussed if i dont do anything but i musnt get drunk. Then jabbas hut then maybe incontrus.

[Driver]

RE: Credit cards amongst other things

 

OK so its now 8:00pm and i’m at Rogers. There are about 15 boys there and about 5 clients. Gagdes is there also and hangs around me which really gets annoying very quickly. The only really Nice boy there is André who is always there. After one hour i decide to leave. As i’m changing a short guy late twenties maybe early thirties arrives very muscular with a name that sounds like Yannish. I’m tempted but being in a black mood i continue to get dressed and leave.

 

Thats the second time i have left Rogers without hiring a room. I do not think i will go there again.

 

I’m walking towards the beach knowing its tôo early for the restaurant and i do not want to go back to hotel so i decide for you guys that i would see what Estácio is like on a monday.

 

Well I go through the whole locker procedure again and estácio is very different. 40+ boys and maybe 15 clients. I’m pretty much left alone so i gues that black stormcloud above my head is putting people off. Now then comes along a guy i met the first time in Rio. His name is also Alexei he hás a lovely face but last time wanted more money becuase he said he came. (I remember looking at my chest at the time and could not spot anything). He wanted me to go with him and I said no just as he was starting to stroke me. Well what a change in mood. It was payback time even though he obviously did not remember me.

 

Well there well a few guys I could go with one of whom was honario who was part of my first threesome there with Kevin. Kevin was also there and good spirits so i guess he had worked and i suspect he had been drinking (both guesses could be wrong i discover)

 

Now one guy there was very familier then it came to me – he was the one at maxims with ermani days ago and an american. Kevin saw me looking at him so i asked Kevin his name. Kevin told me it was Gil. Just as i was telling Kevin that i had read about Gil he góes and cals him over. NOOOOOOO!!!

 

Thank God i did not say i had read BAD things about him. Well something between Gil and Kevin did not trnslate very well as Gils says to me “You have seen me somewhere?’’ Relieved I tell him i saw him at Maxims but did not mean Kevin to disturb him by calling him over. No problemo he says and returns to his friend. PHEW. Managed to shift the blame to Kevin.

 

Alexei comes over again and says I look a bit stressed – i assure him i’m ok. (Bitch) Hmm little storm cloud appears over my head. Worse still all my shags i had lined up have dissappeared.

 

Hmm leave Estácio without having been in cabine. Desk clerk canniot believe his computer and checks the room list. I assure him its correct, payup and i go. Wow a Record – 2 saunas and no shag.

 

In England there is a saying for imcompetent people ‘’Could not organise a pissup in a brewery’’

 

There me could not get a shag in a whorehouse.

 

10:00 Jabbas palace (Corujihna) Now I am really confused. I have a new Black Jabba in a pink pólo shirt and his White Jabba friend in his lime green pólo shirt. Thats three Jabbas now. The bongo players turn up and thankfully the drum is silent. I did not realise Incontrus was just two doors down – somehow I had got the impression it was across the square.

 

Ok so i order a drink open my menu and start to say ‘Erm I think i will start with’ when i look up the waiter hás already walked off and ignored me EXCELLENT. In my odd mood last night i thought that was very funny. But it then dawned on me that there was no hurry and i relaxed a little. This was the first sign that finaly i am starting to slow down. Later I catch his eye and ask for a half potion of olives but i tell him i will order more food later. At this time i notice some people will sit there for half an hour, not order anything then leave. The waiters dont as anything to them which puzzled me at first but later i would see the difficulties and the reasons.

 

My olives turn up, all 75 of them. I cannot eat 75 olives and this was a half meassure. I was thinking of the salami later but god knows how much of that would turn up. There was a lovely cool breeze and i noticed the local street boys were on my side of the curb tonight leaning against the parked cars.

 

I earn major brownie points with the waiter by ordering my crab starter in its portuguese name without the aid of the menu and by not having paper on the table. (it was a little breezy)

 

There is definately a break between regular clients most of whom have left by 11:30 and the next lot at 12:00 onwards. By 12:20 the place is really buzzing. My crab starter was excellent and i tell the waiter i also want a prawn pizza but i want it in half an hours time. (it would be another two hours before it turns up when i ask the waiter for it to be served)

 

Kevin appears and joins me. He is drinking mineral water. I Express surprise that he is not wanting anything stronger but he insists he wants mineral water. Gagde also appears but thankfully stays away from me.

 

Kevin warns me about the dnagers of drinks here and i tell him i am careful and i explain that the watch is cheap and supplied by work. If i loose it they give me another. He looks at the watch and says he likes it so i gave it to him. He is chuffed by this but it was a silly thing to do becuase i dont have a watch now here LOL

 

He knows a lot of people and would Wander off from time to time and come back to my table. He is positively charming tonight and is not making any attempt to have sex with me.

 

There are a lot of people moving through the bar and some get invited to tables and some not. Its clear the waiters are used to this but they do look hassled. The boys can be quite demanding. Marcos turns up also and joins my table. At 3:00 i invite him to my hotel to sleep. I register him, give the desk manager $R10 and he comes to my room. (No sex takes place)

 

Overall a pleasant night. Today its raining all day so i have not ventured out m

[trilingual]

RE: Credit cards amongst other things

 

Don't feel pressured to have sex if you find you aren't in the mood. You're not a performing seal! ;-) Even Trilingual has found himself at the saunas on occasion suddenly realizing that the lighting was wrong or the stars were in CaCa or it was a bad hair day or whatever. I end up just having a guaraná, taking a nice refreshing sauna (I'm a firm believer in at least getting my money's worth for the price of admission, and I always enjoy the relaxing steam and heat) or maybe having a massage. Then I just go on my merry way.

 

Business must be off at Maxim's if the waiters are all wearing phony smiles! :7 Most of them seem to scowl a lot! But there are a few who seem to have perfected the Perma-Grin. On the other hand, service is somewhat better than at Corujinha, which can be haphazard, as you've pointed out.

 

The crab starter, by the way, I assume is "casquinha de siri" (pr. kas-KEE-nyah de see-REE). Anyone familiar with New Orleans or the Gulf Coast will recognize it: it's stuffed crab! It's a common appetizer in Brazil. I haven't had it at Corujinha, but it's almost always good wherever I've tried it. It must be one of those fail-safe recipes!

 

Rainy days are good for going to the saunas. Locals who don't usually go will show up there because they've been unable to go to the beach that day. Things can get very festive, indeed! There are also the cruisy porn movie houses, if you're into that scene! They're usually very active on "non-beach" days!

 

If you're not "in the mood," rainy days are great for hitting the shopping malls. RioSul is the closest major mall to Copacabana. Just take a bus or cab through the tunnel going towards downtown. If you take the bus, it's the first stop after the tunnel. Window shop, buy souvenirs, have lunch, check out the pretty people. . . You can also catch up on your movie-going on a rainy day. There's usually a wide choice of films, and non-Brazilian films are almost always shown in the original language with Portuguese subtitles. Newer theaters, like multiplexes at the shopping malls, are usually comfortable and up-to-date. So don't feel that you have to be trapped in your hotel just because it's raining!

[+ Axiom2001]

RE: Credit cards amongst other things

 

Greetings, Driver, I hope everything is all right with you. Yesterday was a rainy day in Rio. What did you do, etc... Since you communicated almost each day now during your stay, my eyes are in need of the continuation of your personal saga.. With support and faith in you...

[Driver]

Apologies for the delay

 

Sorry for the delay - two days worth here.

 

Ok Tip for today. If you use the hotels computer, type your text in Word then cut and paste into the online browser svaes being online for 40 minutes.

 

Tuesday night and 117 is quite busy but not exceptional considering its free cabines. Possibly one or two there that i like but i decide to go with Guilheme who i have been with before.

 

Well he was very attentive and it was lovely at the club, he knew he was comming back with me to the hotel for na overnight and was quite happy. He makes me laugh and is quite sexy (His real name is alexandroj or something like that). I susppose the warning bells should have started when he had his 5th Kaiprahihna in club 117 and my bill came to R$94 (no cabines remember)

 

The rain was pissing down and we went to corujinhas. I had a tuna salad which was nothing of the sort. It was tuna and boiled potato and moyaniase on one piece of lettace. Now at this stage i realise thats what i buy in a tub at home – potatoe salad. It never occured to me that other salads would be so limited. Suspect you have to order a mixed salad to get all the vegetables together.

 

I digress, it didnt help at the hotel desk that i Said the wrong name. DOH now he wants $R25 to register the guest. Upstairs my frined hás had 7 drinks and cannot get hard. I have sex with him and he then tries to get me to go to sleep. HMM i here warning bells here so i feign sleep.

 

He showers, sees how the front door works, then lies on the bed, switches on the tv and starts to call his friends on the hotel phone. (I never use the hotel phone). After 40 minutes of this i wake up of course complain about the noise and light. I ask if he wants to go home (Hello big hint here boy-he says no)

 

 

He very thoughful though. He puts the phone on the bedside cabinet and góes and uses the one in the bathroom GRRRRRR

 

I put my trousers on and pour a drink – i know how this is going. He comes back in the room expresses surprise that i have my trousers on and proceeds to make another call. Hmm what a romantic overnight this is.

 

I tell him to terminate the call which he dfoes, i count out the táxi fare and hand it to him telling him to go home now. I tell him tôo much light toom much smoking and tôo many calls but i suspect he is tôo drunk or high to really understand. After pocketing the táxi money he refuses to go. (no surprise there)

 

I have though already got my self fully dressed by now and he is naked and i make it clear if he does not go now i will go downstairs and bring the police up to eject him.

 

He thinks for about 10 seconds i am really angry by now) then gets up and puts his clothes on and góes. I ring down to reception and tell them my guest is leaving and that he will not be returning. They ask if everything is ok which i say yes to. In fact it hás upset me a bit. He is a sweet lad and i feel bad at what happened.

 

Now i realise that in fact i am beginning to agree with Louis. These guys are out to get what they can get. Even the ones that are really sweet to start with (with on exception that i will come to later).

Go with them to the cabines by all means, feed them by all means but any first timers do not go any further than that. They always become a nuisance later at some stage if you go further. Either begging money off of you are asking to go shopping, turning up at your hotel unnannounced etc

 

The only exception seems to be phillipe who is the sweetest guy i have seen so far. And whilst he takes care in what he does i suspect if his regular job paid more he would pack up the sauna. He does it the smallest amount necessary to get by. His perhaps is the saddest tale of all. I think if i came back again i would like him as my friend and do many things with him for no sex. sex at the saunas and friendship from my special friend.

 

The next day it rained all day absolutley pissing down. My sore throat is comming back and is starting to affect my ear. Fortunately i recognise the symptoms, its whats called a quinsy at home. It will get extremely painful in 24 hours time to the point i will need a doctor. Luckily i remember the name of the only penicylin that will cure it and i find in the local drugstore (again no prescription needed)

By 9:00pm its very painfull and i retire to bed.

 

Now i have blitzed this thing every four hours with pills but still in the morning i can barely mover my jaw and i can hardly swallow. Scambled eggs were about all i could manage together with a Nice bomba drink with coconut milk and mellon juice.mmmmm Some two hours later and its starting to ease off and im feeling brighter. Im pretty sure i got the last quisy the same way i got this one LOL

 

Now i just need a lip sauve, aspirin and im ready. I thought i would have an early look at spa73 for you guys.

[Guest bam]

RE: Apologies for the delay

 

gee i hope you are sitting down when you see the phone bill

[Driver]

Spa73

 

So off I trot to the táxis and show the driver the address for spa73. He looks puzzled but starts off anyway. I explain its twice the distance of Copacobana to Gloria (or at least thats what i thought i explained). Once we get to Gloria it seems its decision time as to which district to go to and i have managed to find one of the many táxi drivers that does not have an A-Z of Rio. So he thinks he can drive around and ask as we go along. Guess again. I make him stop and I get out and pay for what i have ridden. Now he hás dropped me off some 500 yards from 117 which was tempting me but then i remembered i am on a mission. As luck would have it, although the next táxi driver was on his break, he spoke some english and had a map. He located the street but had some difficulty understanding i actually wanted to go there. Hmm guess its not going to be tourist central.

 

Well all i can say is that if you have not travelled much and you are a city gent i would advise you not to make this journey. Its a very run down área and whilst most people im sure are decent and hard working, im sure it could be easy to get mugged here. The spa itself was clean and quite large. It was on 4 floors the lower floor being reception (two friendly ladies) locker room and small seating area next to reception. Next floor up is a long thin bar with a slightly larger área at end with a stage and small dance área where the shows take place. The furnishings are decorated in a tiger stipe style but are also shrinkwrapped is the best way to describe them. Covered in some sort of plastic.

Next floor up hás the shower rooms, steam room, sauna room and pornô roon. (I did check for you guys and it was gay porn)

The next floor was cabines and it apeared maybe another floor above that with cabines. It gets busier on weekends according to a foreign regular who Said it was his favoutrite sauna, there were about 10 boys and maybe 4 clients. The boys were varied with more athletic than bodybuilder types. Most had Nice pecs and arms. Im not sure what twinks means anymore so i could not say whether it had more than the others. Probably the one thing it might have going for it than the others is less professionalism in the money chasing department. I had a professional massage from the house massuer (who doesnt do sex) and it was quite nice. Shortly after that i left. I had a chicken flavoured rat kebab from the little stand outside and a pork flavoured rat kebab as well. They were very yummy.

 

When i hailed a cab there were a few suprised looks. Mind you the police seemed to pass quite often as did the cabs though this was earlyish.

 

On to 117 – hmm nothing special there – hmm how quickly i have turned into super tart able to scan 117 in seconds for fresh meat to suck the life out off in an effort to rejuvenate my body. Guileeme was there trying to tell me how much i hurt his feelings- yeah rite i would have offered to buy him a kaiprahihna but the sublety would be lost on him. Marcos another crap overnighter was there also.

 

Ok its 10pm and on my way out what do i see. Cute straight guy with motorcycle offering a táxi service. Oooh i love cute str8 guys and i love motorcycles. So i turn up at curojihna restaurant in style on the back of a motocycle.

 

I had a small garlic and olive pizza to start followed by fish with prawn sauce. I had half the fish but the speed in which he whisked he other half away i guess the poor wont be seing that other piece of fish later.

 

I was enjoying my night out and had high hopes that i would finnaly make it to lê boy last night but i was a bit tired (having slept badly the night before) and decided not to push my luck any further with my health. So i had an early night.

 

I am not missing my watch at all so just maybe i am running at the right speed now. Tonight Estácio as the english speaking locals will be there as i hope Phillipe will be to. Tommorrow is their 2 nd birthday and they are having a party but rather naughtily 117 is throwing an event tommorrow night also.

 

Well someone is going to recieve a sex ball of energy tonight i wonder who it will be?

More later as always . . . . . . . .

[trilingual]

RE: Hotel Phone Charges

 

>gee i hope you are sitting down when you see the phone bill

 

Unless Driver's annoying little friend was making long distance or international calls, there shouldn't be any extra charge on his bill. At Brazilian hotels, local calls are ordinarily free. Long distance calls within Brazil are usually billed at the usual direct dial rate. (I don't know if international chains like Marriott charge US$1 or some other ridiculous amount per local call in Rio, or add outrageous surcharges to long distance calls, just to keep their foreign visitors "trained." I never stay at international chain hotels when traveling on my own dime.)

[+ Axiom2001]

RE: Hotel Phone Charges

 

Last month when I stayed at Hotel Atlantico Copacaban, I made 12 local calls. When I checked out, my bill indicated dates the calls were made along with time spent on the phone and the charges which ranged from 5 mins. 6.90 to 6 mins. 8.85; the total phone component of my bill totaled 43.35. So I guess now that some of the local hotels do charge. (submitted as an FYI only)

[Driver]

RE: Hotel Phone Charges

 

It is late tonight and i have had a good day so a full post tomorrow but enough to say his three calls came to R$70 so i guess all were to mobiles (cell phones). I cottoned on quickly so not much damage done.

In the morning i will tell you aboy three ocal gay bars including Le Boy. its 4:00am here and i go to bed - Boa noite

[trilingual]

RE: Hotel Phone Charges

 

Sorry. Forgot about cell phones. Calls to those ARE billed by time, like long distance calls, so those could build up. To avoid surprises, remember that in Brazil all cell phone numbers have eight digits beginning with the number "9". A number like (021) 9043-2281 would be a cell phone. So if you're calling such a number, don't gab on and on. Keep your call short.

[Driver]

Another night in paradise

 

Well friday refused to go to plan but i dont really care anymore. Philipe rang and i am glad he did. We went to sugarloaf mountain. Then maxims and the hotel then dinner at jabbás diner. (BTW any unusual punctuation is down to brazillian Word)

 

I met an American called Chuck at Jabbas Diner and we agreed to go to do some bars as it was his last night. We stopped off at his apartment which was decorated in 70s style but he had the entire floor for about $US40 a night. Three large bedrooms two ensuite.

 

We went to cueva (spelling?) bar where the older guys go and their admirers. There seemed to be a lack of admirers but the place was busy and almost full. We then went to Blue Angel which was packed though it is very small. I must admit i liked it there. It was again mostly locals but they had a comsumption ticket like they have in Prague. They mark what you drink and you pay at the end.

 

We fiannly made it to lê boy with and agreement neither of us would get drunk (yeah rite). About 3:45am we left both drunk LOL. It is a massive place with the biggest mirror ball i have ever seen. You queue and pay for your drinks at one booth then take your tickets to the bar and exchange them for drinks. I tipped a dollar each time but even drunk i noticed the locals didnt tip at all even when drinking their local champagne which requires some effort on the part of the barman.

 

The táxi driver would not turn on his meter for some reason. He charged $R10 t drop my friend off when it should have been about 5-6 so i refused to go any further in that cab and got out as well. I may be drunk but im not stupid. Well not anymore stupid than i was sober.

 

Next day massive headache so i pop 2 advil. 10 minutes later Louis rings and he hás had a great time in the country. I am pleased he hás not been murdered (again).its a great day today and at maxims for a drink it strikes me how lucky i am to be here now. ( i might have just had another moment there)

 

We have lunch in the italian that he likes and we did 2 bottles of wine (when will i learn). We go to estácio and i pick a guy i have liked for ages and i am sure he will be bad because of his looks. In fact he turns out very good. His name begins with “”H”” and hás some “n’s in it and some “R”s in it as well.He told me twice what it was but it sounded like nother ive heard before. He is about 5-9 dark hair with mustouche and goatee beard. His sideburns turn into just a fine line of hair which follow his jaw to his chin. He hás a tattoo on his right hand side about waistline which looks slike it mite be a south american bandit.

 

I was not in the mood to be fucked to i asked him to come on my chest which he did. Very very Nice i wish i had used him earlier, thers not an ounce of fat on him. My next choice was honario who i knew could be passive and he was good also ( i had done him earlier with Kevin in a threesome)

 

It struck me then how similar the two looked. Both latino looking with a light amount of body hair. both yummy.

 

One odd thing that happened was a local guy who spoke english started being very friendly. as the night wore on he could not belive that louis had had 4 guys and i mite go on to my third. he then says to me tha we are both very rude. now i cannnot believe my ears here and i honestly think i misheard. he then says he thinks we are both sons of bitches. now it mite be a weird joke on his part but i waste no more time on him. i have drunks in my own country who can turn like that really quickly and start calling you all the names under the sun. usually its the drink.

 

My last choice was the usual disarster and it was my fault of course. I knew he had fucked a friend of mine very well but i had established he could be passive. It was estacios 2nd birthday and it was noisy and packed absolutely packed. We go upstairs and it is clear he is in a hurry. When i remind him im going to fuck him he want more money becuase he is not passive. I offer 70 but he wants 90 then when he thinks i mite agree it becomes 100. I pick up my stuff and leave the room. Needless to say he wants money for his 5 minutes but i dont understand what he is saying and frankly i dont give a shit.(having just been put in this foul mood by the local guy)

 

Matters are not helped by Louis who had a good time with this guy and wants to cuddle him and be friendly with him (he is a bit drunk and doesnt read my signals that this is a bad situation). This is just as im about to blow my top with the guy. So i go to the locker room and start to get dressed. Now its two boys talking to me telling me i must pay. Well i know by now not to árgüe with the boys if it matters that much i will discuss it with the owner not the boys.

 

So i get dressed, pay my Bill (including the room i used for just 5 minutes as i dont have a problem with the house and dont want a problem with the house). The guys are still yammering at me and i have stayed very polite, the guy (called cláudio i just remembered) looks like he might try to block my exit but i have a whole arsenal of weapons i havnt even drawn on. In any event its irrelevant as someone sat down motions him to stand aside which he does. I wish the guy sat down a good night and smile at him.

 

End of problem. ( sometimes i think some people can see the stormclouds above my head but no one was going to fuck with me tonight)

 

I had one drink at jabbas hut but im not in the best of moods so im having an early night. If the weather is good tommorrow im going to sit on the beach all day undisturbed by everyone.(well unless they are cute of course)(yes i know about the warnings etc i thank you all for caring)

 

Good night and more later (but not too much more now)

[trilingual]

RE: Another night in paradise

 

LATE NIGHT TAXIS: Driver's experience isn't uncommon. Brazilian taxi meters come with two rate settings (1 and 2). During the day, meters should be set on number 1 (the standard rate). Nights after a certain time (I don't remember the exact time they change), Sundays (I think) and holidays cabs are authorized to use the slightly higher number 2 rate.

 

You'd think this would be enough, but if you try to get a cab very late at night in front of a bar/club or theater you'll inevitably run into Driver's situation. If you're in the middle of nowhere (like in the days of the late lamented Papagaio club on the Lagoa -- an enormous place kind of like Hula's in Honolulu, with the hottest men in the Southern Hemisphere) you don't have a lot of choice. You pay the high flat rate they ask for, or face a loooong walk home in the dark! On the other hand, if you're in Copacabana, just walk a block or so, away from the bar, and hail a cab on the street. Or catch a bus; they run all night, and as long as you're in Copacabana it's fairly hard to catch the wrong bus, as virtually all run along Av. Copacabana (going towards town) or Barata Ribeiro (going towards Ipanema). If you're not sure, just ask the bus cashier if it stops at whatever your cross street is.

[Guest Jake]

RE: Another night in paradise

 

Another note on the taxi front - There has been a LEGITIMATE increase in the fares just recently that the meters had not yet been recalibrated for as of two weeks ago. It's a fairly minor increase but not a flat percentage so the drivers are carrying conversion charts.

[Guest bam]

RE: Another night in paradise

 

it appears that the message center update deleted the old messages?

 

can anyone give me some feedback on le boy fitness?

 

CLUB 117

Rua Cândido Mendes, 117 - Glória

Tel.: (0xx21) 252-0160

 

 

 

ESTAÇÃO

Rua Tonelero, 217 - Copacabana

Tel.: (0xx21) 547-9953/9611-6495

 

 

 

ROGERS

Rua Min. Alfredo Valadão, 36 - Copacabana

Tel.: (0xx21) 549-9096

 

 

 

STÚDIO 64

Rua Redentor, 64 - Ipanema

Tel.: (0xx21) 523-5670/513-4229

 

 

 

LE BOY FITNESS

Rua Raul Pompéia, 102 - Copacabana

Tel.: (0xx21) 522-9175

[Driver]

RE: Another night in paradise

 

Ok well apologies again for the late post but the hotel computer didnt want to connect to the host for a day and a half and frankly i coulnt be arsed to look for internet cafe for just maybe two posts.

 

So this is typed from home and JOY a keyboard that works.

 

Ok if you remember I have left Estacio and Louis is still in there. Louis is a bit pissed again and goes up with his 5th Boy. Now Louis thinks he was drugged as he passed out for and hour and a half upstairs. It could have been the drink as I have gone to lseep before under the hands of a skilled massuer. Whether drugs or not its always best to remember to keep an eye on your drink at all times.

 

Well he wakes up and finds that the two hundred R$ in his locker has gone and the bar tab was something like R$484.

 

Now a few things strike me here, firstly when you are a bit pissed or worse drugged simple things wont necessarily occur to you for instance asking the house who you went upstairs with? They keep a record so it should be a simple question.

 

The boy behind the desk assured louis the bill was correct and of course it was. If you were a group of hungry boys with a loose key wouldnt you be tempted to have a feast?

 

Ordinarily I would accuse the house of playing a hand in this and certainly the staff behind the cafe/bar but you must remember that this was the 2nd birthday bash and the place was packed. probably the one time staff would not suspect a scam. The management agreed the bill should not be that high and i believe an adjustment was made. Luckily no cards were taken from the locker.

 

Sunday was a gorgeous day and the beach was packed. Being sunday there were more vendors about and it was rather noisy but still pleasant. I dont want to burn again so after a few hours i go back to my room as i have some things to buy. Louis rings and invites me to maxims which im not keen on doing but aparently his love fabio is comming over with a friend who is just my type. (yeah rite).

 

Well I smell some matchmaking going on and its not going to work. I agree to meet at maxims but thats the extent towhich his emotional blackmail is going to work on my today LOL

 

Luckily when fabio and his friend get to Maxims i recognise his friend from the suanas and he would never be my type. Louis has made plans for us all to go to this restaurant and i absolutely refuse and dig my heels in. Its my last day and i must get some last minute bits and pieces. I gather the restaurant was very nice becuase i did not see louis that night at 117. (He later told me that a few kaiparihnas had caught up with him and he retired at 7pm) - hmm no comment.

 

I had forgotten that 117 was not as busy on a sunday - i think the boys mite go home to their familes. Bingo draws a few people out but after about an hour later it starts to dry up again. Viktor was there, it seems he has moved from rogers to 117 in voiew of the better facilities at 117. We have some fun togther then i go back to the bar. Hmm much quiter now and the karioke machine is out.

 

I give my goodbyes to the two barstaff who i have had many a good time with and i tip them.

 

Victor and I eat at corujihna but its incredably windy, so much so that chairs are being blown around and branches are comming off trees etc.

 

The next day philipe comes with me to airport.

 

Strangely the metered fare to the airport from copacobana was just R$23. (helps if you have a local with you i suppose)

 

(After lunch at maxims). Luckily he lives near airport becuase otherwise there would not be much to see for him. Of all the guys there phillipe is the one who has never hustled me for extra money or food or gifts, he works extremely hard in a low paid job and only supllements his income at the sauna once a week and with only one guy if he needs the money.

 

Despite being straight he gives his best and i have a great deal of respect for him. I must admit saying goodbye at the airport i could feel a tear welling up. anyways im going to write to him from time to time and i have bought a cheap translator at the airport to help with the letters and it seems remarkably good.

 

I will leave it a few days before penning my final thoughts, i need to reflect on my five best tips ( though i suspect at least 3 will be well rep[eated advice from others here)

 

 

More later? - hmm well maybe just a little bit

[+ Axiom2001]

RE: Another night in paradise

 

Obrigado, Driver! For the two or three weeks-- I've enjoyed reading your adventures immensely. If I had not changed my plans, we perhaps would have met at one or more of the saunas or at Maxim's or at a like venue. When you write back upon your return after having time to reflect, could you cite what objectives you listed in the opening were completed/satisfied and the ones which were not? I'm just "curious yellow"-- not green with envy.

 

(What nationality is Louis? Again, I am curious, for his experiences have little to do with nationality but other things... I await your response in this open forum to the above.)

[Driver]

Shrimp cocktail

 

I will hapily do that. Louis is American from Washington. I also need to think further about my top tips.

 

 

But by the way - do not under anycircumstances oprder the shrimp cocktail from Maxims - the look of horror on my face as it turned up. Phillipe thought it was hilarious - it was the campest thing i have ever seen. If anyone has made the same mistake, what was the red juice underneath the sauce bowl please? Was it alcoholic? We could not get it off the table fast enough (after i ate the shrimps of course)

[IamI2002]

Driver, what a delightful diary. It was all done in what I would call "Paysan Naif" style -- so fresh and so... from the heart.

 

From your handle, DRIVER, I picture you in the service of a quasi-aristocratic English couple, something akin to the Afro-American driver in "Driving Miss Daisy." You're probably not Afro-English, but more, perhaps, Anglo-Indian, in you early 60's.

 

For years you have been loyal and caring. You have accepted the baseless reproaches of "madam" and the relentless commands of "sir" to be on time, to be at this place ot that, etc.

 

Now comes your turn. You rebel, and, with the few pounds saved, you fly to Brazil to "let go." Your first delight is being called "sir" yourself on the Iberia flight and then being treated with doting adulation by the sauna boys. You get sick; you grumble about service; you are upset by the smoking twink in your room, whom you finally dismiss; you are upstarted by an American from Virginia for the boy you wanted... But you hang in there and describe it all with delightful naivete, even when you overpay at restaurants and the sauna boy does you out of your watch with a story. To you -- it's worth it -- and it should be, as it is the ultimate expression of your freedom from "sir" and "madam."

 

Once again, I loved your diary and will probably publish it with a few embellishments (poetic licence, you know). Thank you! Thank you!!

 

Looking forward to more from you soon.

 

[Driver]

I was dwelling too long on my final thoughts which will come soon. Its inly fresh because it was my first lengthy journey to Rio. My next post on my next hols will be no doubt be more erm . . . .

 

focused i suppose.

 

Looking at finances I'm guessing a 2003 holiday between August and October.